The Growth of Occupational Health Psychology

Abstract

Since its origins in the early twentieth century, occupational health psychology has transformed into an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary fields focused on promoting healthy workers and healthy organizations. Through this period of growth, many theories were developed that have guided much of the research in identifying environmental and psychosocial risk factors for negative health outcomes in the workplace. A central focus has been placed on stress and its adverse effects on outcomes, such as productivity, job satisfaction, and employee health. Additionally, stress management interventions have become the mainstay for successful preventative occupational health programs. National organizations have also emerged to help support researchers in the development and implementation of workplace interventions. Overall, the field has made great strides and is primed for further investigation into such topics as the bidirectional relationships between organizational health and employee health, the reciprocal influence of other life roles on work stress, and the broader dissemination of practices that have demonstrated effectiveness in occupational health settings.