Promoting Psychological Well-Being at Work by Reducing Stress and Improving Sleep: Mixed-Methods Analysis (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Workplace programs designed to improve the health and psychological well-being of employees are becoming increasingly popular. However, there are mixed reports regarding the effectiveness of such programs and little analysis of what helps people to engage with such programs. OBJECTIVE This evaluation of a particularly broad, team-based, digital health and well-being program uses mixed methods to identify the elements of the program that reduce work stress and promote psychological well-being, sleep quality, and productivity of employees. METHODS Participation in the Virgin Pulse Global Challenge program during May to September 2016 was studied. Self-reported stress, sleep quality, productivity, and psychological well-being data were collected both pre- and postprogram. Participant experience data were collected through a third final survey. However, the response rates for the last 2 surveys were only 48% and 10%, respectively. A random forest was used to estimate the probability of the completion of the last 2 surveys based on the preprogram assessment data and the demographic data for the entire sample (N=178,350). The inverse of these estimated probabilities were used as weights in hierarchical linear models in an attempt to address any estimation bias caused by the low response rates. These linear models described changes in psychological well-being, stress, sleep, and productivity over the duration of the program in relation to gender and age, engagement with each of the modules, each of the program features, and participant descriptions of the Virgin Pulse Global Challenge. A 0.1% significance level was used due to the large sample size for the final survey (N=18,653). RESULTS The final analysis suggested that the program is more beneficial for older people, with 2.9% greater psychological well-being improvements observed on average in the case of women than men (P<.001). With one exception, all the program modules contributed significantly to the outcome measures with the following average improvements observed: psychological well-being, 4.1%-6.0%; quality of sleep, 3.2%-6.9%; work-related stress, 1.7%-6.8%; and productivity, 1.9%-4.2%. However, only 4 of the program features were found to have significant associations with the outcome measures with the following average improvements observed: psychological well-being, 3.7%-5.6%; quality of sleep, 3.4%-6.5%; work-related stress, 4.1%-6.4%; and productivity, 1.6%-3.2%. Finally, descriptions of the Virgin Pulse Global Challenge produced 5 text topics that were related to the outcome measures. Healthy lifestyle descriptions showed a positive association with outcomes, whereas physical activity and step count tracking descriptions showed a negative association with outcomes. CONCLUSIONS The complementary use of qualitative and quantitative survey data in a mixed-methods analysis provided rich information that will inform the development of this and other programs designed to improve employee health. However, the low response rates and the lack of a control group are limitations, despite the attempts to address these problems in the analysis.

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The effects of social isolation on well-being and life satisfaction during pandemic

Humanities and Social Sciences Communications ◽

10.1057/s41599-021-00710-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ruta Clair ◽

Maya Gordon ◽

Matthew Kroon ◽

Carolyn Reilly

Keyword(s):

Life Satisfaction ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Extended Period ◽

Well Being ◽

Modern World ◽

Negative Consequences ◽

Psychological Well Being ◽

Work Related ◽

Related Stress ◽

Perceived Social Isolation

AbstractThe SARS-CoV-2 pandemic placed many locations under ‘stay at home” orders and adults simultaneously underwent a form of social isolation that is unprecedented in the modern world. Perceived social isolation can have a significant effect on health and well-being. Further, one can live with others and still experience perceived social isolation. However, there is limited research on psychological well-being during a pandemic. In addition, much of the research is limited to older adult samples. This study examined the effects of perceived social isolation in adults across the age span. Specifically, this study documented the prevalence of social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the various factors that contribute to individuals of all ages feeling more or less isolated while they are required to maintain physical distancing for an extended period of time. Survey data was collected from 309 adults who ranged in age from 18 to 84. The measure consisted of a 42 item survey from the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale, Measures of Social Isolation (Zavaleta et al., 2017), and items specifically about the pandemic and demographics. Items included both Likert scale items and open-ended questions. A “snowball” data collection process was used to build the sample. While the entire sample reported at least some perceived social isolation, young adults reported the highest levels of isolation, χ2(2) = 27.36, p < 0.001. Perceived social isolation was associated with poor life satisfaction across all domains, as well as work-related stress, and lower trust of institutions. Higher levels of substance use as a coping strategy was also related to higher perceived social isolation. Respondents reporting higher levels of subjective personal risk for COVID-19 also reported higher perceived social isolation. The experience of perceived social isolation has significant negative consequences related to psychological well-being.

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Oncologist Burnout: Causes, Consequences, and Responses

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2011.39.7380 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 30 (11) ◽

pp. 1235-1241 ◽

Cited By ~ 146

Author(s):

Tait Shanafelt ◽

Lotte Dyrbye

Keyword(s):

Well Being ◽

Daily Basis ◽

Personal Distress ◽

Substantial Evidence ◽

Life And Death ◽

Work Related ◽

Medical Oncologists ◽

Rapid Pace ◽

Related Stress

Although the practice of oncology can be extremely rewarding, it is also one of the most demanding and stressful areas of medicine. Oncologists are faced with life and death decisions on a daily basis, administer incredibly toxic therapies with narrow therapeutic windows, must keep up with the rapid pace of scientific and treatment advances, and continually walk a fine line between providing palliation and administering treatments that lead to excess toxicity. Personal distress precipitated by such work-related stress may manifest in a variety of ways including depression, anxiety, fatigue, and low mental quality of life. Burnout also seems to be one of the most common manifestations of distress among physicians, with studies suggesting a prevalence of 35% among medical oncologists, 38% among radiation oncologists, and 28% to 36% among surgical oncologists. Substantial evidence suggests that burnout can impact quality of care in a variety of ways and has potentially profound personal implications for physicians including suicidal ideation. In this review, we examine the causes, consequences, and personal ramifications of oncologist burnout and explore the steps oncologists can take to promote personal well-being and professional satisfaction.

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Sense of coherence as a predictor of quality of life in adolescents with congenital heart defects: A register-based 1-year follow-up study

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/s0924-9338(11)72267-2 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 26 (S2) ◽

pp. 560-560 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

B. Neuner ◽

M. Busch ◽

J. Wellmann ◽

U. Nowak-Göttl ◽

H.-W. Hense

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Congenital Heart Defects ◽

Sense Of Coherence ◽

Congenital Heart ◽

Linear Models ◽

Heart Defects ◽

Well Being ◽

Psychological Well Being

ObjectiveSense of coherence (SOC) is a resource for health and quality of life (QoL) in adults. Aim of this investigation was to evaluate the association of SOC and QoL in adolescents with congenital heart defects (CHD).MethodObservational study among 770 adolescents aged 14 – 17 years from a national CHD register. SOC was measured at baseline with the SOC-L9 questionnaire. At baseline and at 12-months follow-up, QoL was measured with the KINDL-R questionnaire, evaluating overall well-being and six subscales. The association of SOC with QoL was evaluated in multi-level linear models separately for overall well-being and KINDL-R subscales. Initial models comprised SOC as only fixed effect while the final models were adjusted for age, gender, medical and socioeconomic status and behavioral factors.ResultsOverall well-being, self-esteem and school-related well-being was significantly higher at follow-up compared with baseline. SOC at baseline (median 50 [range: 16 – 63] points) was positively associated with overall well-being and all KINDL-R subscales. There were significant negative interactions between SOC at baseline and time to follow-up for overall well-being and all KINDL-R subscales except psychological well-being. But even in fully adjusted models associations of SOC at baseline with overall well-being and all KINDL-R subscales at follow-up remained significant.ConclusionSOC is an independent predictor of QoL in adolescents with CHD. Except for psychological well-being, this effect attenuates over one year but remains positive inoverall QoL and sub-dimensions. Further studies should evaluate whether interventions aimed to increase SOC in children with CHD improve QoL.

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Associations Between Resilience, Psychological Well-Being, Work-Related Stress and Covid-19 Fear in Forensic Healthcare Workers Using a Network Analysis

Frontiers in Psychiatry ◽

10.3389/fpsyt.2021.678895 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Stefan Bogaerts ◽

Marianne van Woerkom ◽

Yasemin Erbaş ◽

Elien De Caluwé ◽

Carlo Garofalo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Network Analysis ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Well Being ◽

Workplace Stress ◽

Self Report ◽

Work Related Stress ◽

Psychological Well Being ◽

Work Related ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Related Stress

Forensic healthcare workers deal with patients with severe psychiatric and behavioral problems that put them at an increased risk of developing work-related stress and burnout. Working with this target group of patients during the Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic with far-reaching restrictive measures can negatively affect the psychological well-being of forensic workers. Research suggests that resilience can buffer workplace stress and contribute positively to psychological well-being. However, research on resilience, psychological well-being and work-related stress among forensic healthcare workers is still lacking. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the interrelations between psychological well-being and resilience on the one hand and work-related stress and Covid-19 fear-related symptoms on the other hand. Self-report data were obtained from 318 healthcare workers (73.9% women) working in three Forensic Psychiatric Centers (M age = 44.20, SD = 14.31) and are in direct contact with forensic patients. The data were analyzed using network analysis. Consistent with previous research, the results showed that workplace stress and fear associated with the Covid-19 pandemic can be detrimental to workers' psychological well-being, while resilience can serve as a protective factor against being personally attacked or threatened by patients at the workplace. Last but not least, we identified highly central symptoms, namely tremors due to the fear of the coronavirus and anxiety when other people coughing, which would be the best candidates for future treatment targets. This knowledge can help clinicians optimize interventions to reduce workplace stress and fear due to the pandemic. Future studies should aim to replicate our findings in a larger and more representative sample of forensic healthcare workers.

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Work-related stressors, depression and quality of life in Danish managers

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/s0924-9338(05)80183-x ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 20 (S3) ◽

pp. S318-S325 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

P. Bech ◽

M.B. Andersen ◽

G. Bech-Andersen ◽

S. Tønnesen ◽

E. Agnarsdottir ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

At Risk ◽

Major Depression ◽

Life Events ◽

Well Being ◽

Specific Work ◽

Work Related ◽

Related Stress ◽

Work Related Stressors

AbstractBackgroundBy use of valid questionnaires to investigate work-related stress and distress in Danish managers.MethodsThe survey focused on members of the Danish Association of Managers and Executives who no longer were active (formermanagers' group). Acting managers (active managers' group) served as controls. Questionnaires measuring stressors at work and general life events were used. For the measurement of distress, scales for depression and quality of life were used.ResultsThe Mokken analysis proved the validity of the questionnaires, i.e. their summed-up total scores were sufficient statistics. No differences were found between former (n = 1256) and active managers (n = 942) as to life events. Approximately 20% of former managers were at risk of depression and 12% had developed major depression. Among the specific work-related stressors were role overload, lack of team spirit and lack of social support. The percentage of active managers at risk of or suffering from major depression did not differ significantly from the Danish general population. Approximately 37% of the former managers had a decreased well-being. Alcohol use was found to be significantly associated with depression.ConclusionsThe study identified specific work-related stressors in managers, 12% of whom developed a major depression.

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They Care for Others, But What About Themselves? Understanding Self-Care Among DSPs' and Its Relationship to Professional Quality of Life

Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities ◽

10.1352/1934-9556-58.3.221 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 58 (3) ◽

pp. 221-240 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

John M. Keesler ◽

Jess Troxel

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Online Survey ◽

Self Care ◽

Well Being ◽

Professional Quality Of Life ◽

Work Related ◽

Professional Quality ◽

Direct Support Professionals ◽

Related Stress

Abstract Direct support professionals (DSPs) are instrumental to the daily operations of organizations that support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). With extensive responsibilities, DSPs often experience high levels of stress and burnout that can result in turnover and vacant positions. Self-care is the practice of behaviors that promote well-being, counter work-related stress, and foster resilience. The current study explored self-care and resilience, and their relationship with professional quality of life (i.e., satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress) among DSPs. Using a convenient sample, 153 DSPs (71% female) completed an online survey comprised of multiple measures. Results indicated that DSPs often engaged in self-care behaviors across physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual, relational, and workplace domains, however, less than 40% engaged in self-care behaviors directly related to work. On average, DSPs reported high levels of resilience. Collectively, self-care and resilience accounted for 12% to 28% of variance in DSPs' professional quality of life. Given the contribution of self-care to resilience and professional quality of life, an active approach by IDD organizations to foster self-care among DSPs may help promote their longevity and retention.

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