Increasing the Clinical Utility of the Stroop Color-Word Test through Process Analysis

Jack Demick,Casey Marks

doi:10.4172/2471-271x.1000126

Abstract

Studies and surveys undertaken by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work indicate an “increasing number of workers exposed to psychosocial risks at work and affected by work-related stress” affecting mental health. Any innovative methods for psychosocial risk assessment at work are thus welcome. On the basis of the Square of Perceived Action model elaborated regarding competencies in action for work activities integrated in a psychodynamic approach, a protocol was developed and applied in a French company for psychosocial risk assessment regarding 35 professions and focusing on difficulties related to skill discretion. Four illustrating cases, the insight of the in-depth analysis for one profession and a macro-approach taking all the professions into account were considered. Beyond the characterization of the psychosocial risks and the orientation regarding remedial measures implemented, the method enabled analysts to objectify and quantify the risks and helped them to center the remedial measures on the right target or to better assess the degree of emergency of remedial measures. These results also showed that the method is exhaustive for psychosocial risk assessment provided that it is combined with other tools. Benefits and limits of this innovative method are discussed.

Highlights

Studies and surveys undertaken by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work indicate an “increasing number of workers exposed to psychosocial risks at work and affected by work-related stress” [1]
We first describe the general protocol applied for psychosocial risks assessment in industrial companies, we explain how the Square of Perceived Action model (SPEAC model) is integrated in the analysis of data and we describe the model and how it may contribute to the analysis we present the context and subjects for psychosocial risks assessment [22,23,24]
Psychosocial risk assessment at work was undertaken by work analysts (Human Factors Consultants, Work Psychologists) in a French company emanating from a request by the head management, applying a protocol elaborated on the basis of the conclusions of a collective research study and a psychodynamic approach

Summary

Introduction

Studies and surveys undertaken by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work indicate an “increasing number of workers exposed to psychosocial risks at work and affected by work-related stress” [1]. The possible consequences include “anxiety, fatigue, insomnia, boredom, relationship problems, emotional instability, depression, psychosomatic diseases, excessive smoking, cardiovascular problems, increased alcohol consumption, drug abuse, eating disorders or even suicide” [2] affecting mental health. Sheldon and Elliot [3] noted that “there are natural satisfactions to be found in the process of exercising one’s competencies to move toward desired outcomes” (see [4]). Attainment-to-well-being effects are mediated by need satisfaction among which daily activity-based experiences of competence. All models aiming at describing mental health of workers include this aspect (see for example the reviews [5,6])

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion