Can the Psychosocial Safety Climate Reduce Ill-Health Presenteeism? Evidence from Chinese Healthcare Staff under a Dual Information Processing Path Lens.

Beini Liu,Yue Zhao,Qiang Lu,Jing Zhan

doi:10.3390/ijerph17082969

Abstract

Because of heavy workloads, non-transferable responsibilities, and shift systems, healthcare staff are prone to ill-health presenteeism. Based on social information processing theory, this study explored the influence of the psychosocial safety climate (PSC) on ill-health presenteeism. The mediating effects of perceived instrumental support and perceived emotional support and the moderating effect of organic structure in this process were observed. Using a time-lagged research design, data from 386 healthcare staff were gathered and multiple regression and bootstrapping were used to test each hypothesis. The results showed that: (1) PSC negatively relates to ill-health presenteeism. (2) Both perceived instrumental support and perceived emotional support mediate the relationship between PSC and ill-health presenteeism. The affective information processing path is more effective than the cognitive information processing path, but they do not convey a positive interaction effect on ill-health presenteeism. (3) The organic structure moderates the mediating effect of perceived emotional support but does not exert a significant moderating effect on the mediating process of perceived instrumental support. This study particularly identified PSC as a contextual antecedent of ill-health presenteeism. By combining organizational, work-related, and person-related factors, a more comprehensive theoretical framework for the understanding of ill-health presenteeism is developed, thus informing health promotion management.

Highlights

Presenteeism is generally defined as the phenomenon of attending work despite existing health problems [1,2]
Based on social information processing (SIP) theory, this study explores the theoretical model of the influence of psychosocial safety climate (PSC) on ill-health presenteeism through perceived instrumental support and perceived emotional support from the two information-processing pathways—cognition and affect
The following hypothesis is proposed: H1: PSC negatively relates to ill-health presenteeism

Summary

Introduction

Presenteeism is generally defined as the phenomenon of attending work despite existing health problems [1,2]. Presenteeism refers to the individual-centered behavior of working in ill-health conditions. Restricted by health-related diseases and pains, ill-health presenteeism places employees in a gray area between full work engagement and absence from work [3]. Ill-health presenteeism often causes employees to make more errors, have more accidents [4], and leads to lower levels of work performance and productivity because of health-related issues [3]. Ill-health presenteeism may cause higher productivity losses for an organization than absence [5,6]. Based on the Confucian traditional culture of diligence, dedication, and persistence, Chinese employees are more likely to attend work even though they are ill [7,8,9]. Since loyalty and reciprocity are highly respected and valued virtues within the Chinese culture, Chinese employees

Methods

Results

Conclusion