Abstract
The perceived risk of being infected at work (PRIW) with COVID-19 represents a potential risk factor for workers during the current COVID-19 pandemic. In line with the job demands–resources (JD-R) model in the context of safety at work, in this longitudinal study we propose that PRIW can be conceptualized as a job demand (JD), whereas communication (i.e., the exchange of good-quality information across team members) can be conceived of as a job resource (JR). Accordingly, we hypothesize that PRIW at Time 1 (T1) would positively predict psychophysical strain at Time 2 (i.e., four months later), and that communication at T1 would negatively predict psychophysical strain at T2. Overall, 297 workers participated in the study. The hypothesized relationships were tested using multiple regression analysis. The results support our predictions: PRIW positively predicted psychophysical strain over time, whereas communication negatively predicted psychophysical strain over time. The results did not change after controlling for age, gender, and type of contract. Overall, this study suggests that PRIW and communication might be conceived of as a risk and a protective factor for work-related stress, respectively. Hence, to promote more sustainable working conditions, interventions should help organizations to promote an adequate balance between JDs and JRs related to COVID-19.
Highlights
To promote more sustainable working conditions aimed at fostering employees’ health and well-being during the ongoing pandemic, work-related factors that may be associated with physical and/or psychological consequences related to COVID-19 risk need to be thoroughly considered and addressed
The fit indices showed a good fit to the data: χ2 (66) = 94.72, p = 0.01; root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.038, 90% CI = 0.021–0.053, comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.982, SRMR = 0.038
Recent research by Falco et al [6], carried out among workers from different organizations in Italy, showed that perceived risk of being infected at work (PRIW) as a job demand (JD) was positively associated with emotional exhaustion, a core component of job burnout [32], and that job resource (JR) related to COVID-19 buffered this association, which was stronger for individuals with low levels of resources
Summary
To promote more sustainable working conditions aimed at fostering employees’ health and well-being during the ongoing pandemic, work-related factors that may be associated with physical and/or psychological consequences related to COVID-19 risk (e.g., being infected with COVID-19 and psychophysical symptoms associated with work-related stress, respectively) need to be thoroughly considered and addressed. In light of this scenario, in this longitudinal study we investigated the association over time between two work-related factors linked to Sustainability 2022, 14, 1037.
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