Abstract
The present study applies a salutogenetic approach to psycho-social stress and wellbeing at work and for the first time analyzes the relation of an extended model of four work-related behavior and experience patterns to work related perceptions, like work ability, job satisfaction and turnover intention, or engagement. Employees of an international financial services company (N = 182) completed the questionnaire Work-related behavior and experience pattern (Arbeitsbezogenes Verhaltens- und Erlebensmuster; AVEM). The AVEM has oftentimes been used for research in helping professions, but research in non-helping professions is scarce. In addition to the AVEM, measures of job satisfaction, work ability, work engagement, presenteeism, and turnover intention were included in this study. Almost half (46.2%) of the sample showed a rather unambitious attitude towards work, followed by a burnout-related risk pattern (22.0%), a healthy pattern (19.8%), and a pattern at risk for overexertion (12.1%). Significantly more favorable scores were found for all work-related perceptions in participants with the healthy pattern compared to those with the burnout-related risk pattern, except for turnover intention where no significant differences were found. For work ability and vigor, those with a healthy pattern also had significantly higher scores than those with an unambitious pattern and a pattern at risk for overexertion. Being at risk for burnout not only affects job-related wellbeing and coping resources, but also work ability and work engagement. A need for personnel and organizational development and health promotion is indicated by a high number of individuals with reduced working motivation and risk patterns for overexertion or burnout.
Highlights
One major threat for the workforce in industrial countries is the increasing number of employees suffering from mental health symptoms
In addition to the AVEM, measures of job satisfaction, work ability, work engagement, presenteeism, and turnover intention were included in this study
Based on the Job Demands–Resources Model (JDR) [11], and the Conservation of Resources Theory (COR) [12], we investigate how the AVEM patterns relate to work ability as a valuable predictor of workforce participation [13,14,15,16]
Summary
One major threat for the workforce in industrial countries is the increasing number of employees suffering from mental health symptoms. In 2017, mental illness was the second most common reason for absence from work due to illness [1], and the primary cause for early retirement [2]. In the face of a shrinking workforce and the so-called “war for talent” [3,4], the maintenance and improvement of the workforce’s health and wellbeing has become an important topic. The continuing increase in life expectancy, especially in western countries [5], in conjunction with a stagnation or at least slower increase in retirement age [6] has fueled efforts to increase work force participation. Res. Public Health 2018, 15, 1521; doi:10.3390/ijerph15071521 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
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