Application of a comprehensive framework to investigate worker well-being among head start staff

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate sociodemographic factors associated with five domains of worker well-being as well as overall well-being based on a multilevel framework among a large sample of Head Start staff. The National Institute of Occupational Health and Safety’s Worker Well-Being Questionnaire (WellBQ) was completed by 332 Head Start staff in Colorado. We ran linear regression models to investigate associations between demographics, each domain, and overall well-being score. The strongest correlations were between work evaluation and experience, and workplace policies and culture (r = .72, p < .01), between work policies and culture, and workplace physical environment and safety climate (r = .64, p < .01), and between work evaluation and experience, and workplace physical environment and safety climate (r = .58, p < .01). Non-White individuals reported higher satisfaction related to the environment and safety climate domain (p < .05) and the home, community, and society domain (p < .01) compared to White individuals. Support staff reported higher satisfaction related to the work evaluation and experience domain and workplace policies and culture domain compared to classroom staff (both p < .05). Staff in supervisor roles reported statistically significantly poorer health status compared to classroom staff (p < .05). These findings inform future application of the WellBQ to the ECE workforce including the development of multilevel well-being promotion interventions.