What factors contribute to the meaning of work? A validation of Morin’s Meaning of Work Questionnaire

Background Considering the recent and current evolution of work and the work context, the meaning of work is becoming an increasingly relevant topic in research in the social sciences and humanities, particularly in psychology. In order to understand and measure what contributes to the meaning of work, Morin constructed a 30-item questionnaire that has become predominant and has repeatedly been used in research in occupational psychology and by practitioners in the field. Nevertheless, it has been validated only in part. Method Meaning of work questionnaire was conducted in French with 366 people (51.3% of women; age: (M = 39.11, SD = 11.25); 99.2% of whom were employed with the remainder retired). Three sets of statistical analyses were run on the data. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis were conducted on independent samples. Results The questionnaire described a five-factor structure. These dimensions (Success and Recognition at work and of work, α = .90; Usefulness, α = .88; Respect for work, α = .88; Value from and through work, α = .83; Remuneration, α = .85) are all attached to a general second-order latent meaning of work factor (α = .96). Conclusions Validation of the scale, and implications for health in the workplace and career counseling practices, are discussed.

Analyzing Individual Differences in Intervention-Related Changes

Intervention studies can be expensive and time-consuming, which is why it is important to extract as much knowledge as possible. We discuss benefits and limitations of analyzing individual differences in intervention studies in addition to traditional analyses of average group effects. First, we present a short introduction to latent change modeling and measurement invariance in the context of intervention studies. Then, we give an overview on options for analyzing individual differences in intervention-related changes with a focus on how substantive information can be distinguished from methodological artifacts (e.g., regression to the mean). The main topics are benefits and limitations of predicting changes with baseline data and of analyzing correlated change. Both approaches can offer descriptive correlational information about individuals in interventions, which can inform future variations of experimental conditions. Applications increasingly emerge in the literature—from clinical, developmental, and educational psychology to occupational psychology—and demonstrate their potential across all of psychology.

Sex, gender or occupational psychology: what matters most to preventing heat-related illnesses and improving outcomes for women in ground close combat?

Since the advent of women in ground close combat (WGCC) roles, the impact on women of the attendant risk of heat stress and heat illness has been considered. Much emphasis has been placed on sex differences in thermal physiology. This article considers the application of evidence of sex-associated thermoregulatory variation to the occupational and environmental setting of WGCC, and weighs the relative importance of physiological differences arising from biological sex, and behaviour associated with gender normatives. Quantifying the risk of heat illness to WGCC should draw on data from their real-world occupational context.

Historical Review of Occupational Psychological Health Research and Philosophy

Historical review on earlier research works provides a broader perspective on the subject area to help improve on current research efforts. Santayana, a philosopher in 1905, stated that when one does not remember the past, it is likely the same mistakes will be repeated in the future. Historical perspective also allows for possible right guesses to be made for future outcomes. This study conducts a historical review on occupational psychological health research, its evolution, and key research perspectives. A comprehensive review of pertinent literature was undertaken to understand the scientific concept of occupational psychology and applications. The historical review provides a perspective that occupational psychological health research is an excellent and important area for exploring behavioural issues in organisations and one in which an original contribution to research as well as practice can be made

Mines in the End Zone: Are there Downsides to Team Performance?

Research on teams in organizations tends to focus on understanding the causes of team performance with a focus on how to enjoy the benefits of team success and avoid the negative consequences of team failure. This paper instead asks the question, ‘what are some of the negative consequences of team success?’ A review of the literature on teams is augmented with research from cognitive science, sociology, occupational psychology, and psychology to explore the potential negative long-term consequences of teamwork success. The general topics of groupthink, overconfidence bias, regression to the mean, role overload, and strategy calcification are reviewed while discussing the implications for future research streams and practical team management.

Emerging adulthood: Millennials, work, and pain

Millennials, born from 1980 onwards, may differ in important ways from previous generations. Differences have been explored in personality and occupational psychology, but largely ignored in medical and clinical psychology. Chronic pain, which peaks in incidence during puberty, can have negative effects on adolescents socially, emotionally, and physically. If unresolved, it may persist into adulthood, limiting opportunities. This brings challenges in understanding what it means to have chronic pain as a millennial and how this impacts on expectations and actions. In this chapter, we explore what we know from research on the millennial generation, including how millennials engage with work and with health care, and how an understanding of millennial generational features can help us determine how young people cope with pain. Finally, we consider what it means to be a millennial health-care provider, all within a generational framework.