Levels Of Psychological Strain Research Articles

Leader-member exchange differentiation and followers’ psychological strain: exploring relations on the individual and on the team-level

Due to social comparison in the team, leader-member exchange (LMX) differentiation has been shown to play a crucial role for explaining follower outcomes. LMX differentiation may be beneficial for some followers, but also detrimental for others, when perceived as unfair. In order to understand the impact of LMX differentiation on work-related outcomes, LMX differentiation should be described by three properties (relative LMX position, LMX variability, and team-level LMX). The aim of the study is to focus on LMX differentiation and test relationships between different properties of LMX and followers’ psychological strain. In sum, 75 teams with 322 followers answered an online survey about their leaders’ LMX and their individual levels of psychological strain. Results of multilevel modeling showed that the relative LMX position was negatively related to psychological strain on the individual level. This relation was moderated by LMX variability and team-level LMX. However, we did not find significant relations between team-level LMX and team-level psychological strain. The present study extends previous research by looking at relations between LMX and psychological strain on an individual follower level as well as on the team level. Our results suggest that the relative position of LMX within a team seems to play a crucial role for individual follower psychological strain. Results imply that leaders should aim to improve LMX relationships within their team and to reduce differences between team members. Leadership trainings should impart knowledge and skills to improve LMX quality and include elements about LMX differentiation, its origins, as well as consequences.

Barriers to and Facilitators of Engaging With and Adhering to Guided Internet-Based Interventions for Depression Prevention and Reduction of Pain-Related Disability in Green Professions: Mixed Methods Study.

Internet-based interventions (IBIs) are effective for the prevention and treatment of mental disorders and are valuable additions for improving routine care. However, the uptake of and adherence to IBIs are often limited. To increase the actual use of IBIs, it is important to identify factors for engaging with and adhering to IBIs. We qualitatively evaluated barriers and facilitators regarding a portfolio of guided IBIs in green professions (farmers, gardeners, and foresters). Interview participants were selected from 2 randomized controlled trials for either the prevention of depression (Prevention of Depression in Agriculturists [PROD-A]) or the reduction of pain interference (Preventive Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Chronic Pain in Agriculturists [PACT-A]) in green professions. The intervention group in PROD-A (N=180) participated in an IBI program, receiving access to 1 of 6 symptom-tailored IBIs. The intervention group in PACT-A (N=44) received access to an IBI for chronic pain. Overall, 41 semistructured qualitative interviews were conducted and transcribed verbatim. Barriers and facilitators were identified via inductive qualitative content analysis, with 2 independent coders reaching almost perfect intercoder reliability (Cohen κ=0.92). A quantitative follow-up survey (30/41, 73%) was conducted to validate the results. Subgroup analyses were performed based on intervention characteristics. We identified 42 barriers and 26 facilitators, which we assigned to 4 superordinate categories related to the intervention (20 barriers; 17 facilitators), work (4 barriers; 1 facilitator), individual (13 barriers; 8 facilitators), and technical (5 barriers; 0 facilitators) aspects. Key barriers (identified by at least 50% of the interviewees) were time-consuming work life (29/40, 73%) and time-consuming private life (23/40, 58%). Similarly, the most frequently identified facilitators included presence of motivation, curiosity, interest and perseverance (30/40, 75%), flexible time management at work (25/40, 63%), and support from family and friends (20/40, 50%). Although agreement with barriers in the quantitative follow-up survey was rather low (mean 24%, SD 11%), agreement with facilitators was substantially higher (mean 80%, SD 13%). Differences in agreement rates were found particularly between intervention completers and noncompleters. Completers agreed significantly more often that perceived IBI success; being motivated, curious, interested, and perseverant; and having a persisting level of psychological strain have been facilitating. Noncompleters agreed more often with experiencing the e-coach contact as insufficient and technical problems as hindering for intervention completion. Based on these results, strategies such as customization of modules for more flexible and adaptive use; video chat options with the e-coach; options to facilitate social support by family, friends, or other participants; or using prompts to facilitate training completion can be derived. These approaches could be evaluated in further quantitative research designs in terms of their potential to enhance intervention use in this occupational group. German Clinical Trials Register DRKS00014000, https://tinyurl.com/3bukfr48; German Clinical Trials Register DRKS0001461, https://tinyurl.com/ebsn4sns.

A Trust Trajectory Model of Affective Job Insecurity and Voice amid Organizational Downsizing

We propose a trust trajectory model to explain, in the context of initiated organizational downsizing, how employees’ affective job security leads to their reduced voice through a downward trust trajectory, and how this process is attenuated by employees’ proactive personality. We found support for our conceptual model in an experimental study and in a longitudinal survey study of an organization that initiated downsizing. In the context of organizational downsizing, employees higher in proactive personality were less likely to experience a downward trust trajectory ensuing from their affective job insecurity and thus reduce their voice than those lower in proactive personality were. Our results were robust, givens that we controlled for the mean level of trust, the trajectory and mean level of psychological strain (according to the prior theoretical framework of job insecurity), and the initial level of voice after organizational downsizing was initiated. Our findings have significant implications for research on trust, job insecurity, and anchoring events, as well as for practices that can help prevent trust/relational deterioration in the event of organizational changes (such as downsizing).

Burnout syndrome in resuscitation anesthesiologists as a subjective answer to professional stress in the covid-19 period

IntroductionIn the COVID-19 pandemic situation the burden that has fallen on the shoulders of resuscitation anesthesiologists has become really great. These specialists experience emotional and psychical stress that has led to the high risk of formation of the emotional burnout syndrome in the pre-COVID period.ObjectivesA comparative analysis of the formation of a complete syndrome of emotional burnout in 2020-2021 in resuscitation anesthesiologists with varied years of professional activity.MethodsSixty-two resuscitation anesthesiologists volunteered to take part in the study: 47 males and 15 females. The main method of study was V. Boiko’s method of “Diagnosis of level of emotional burnout”.ResultsThe results have shown that, during the said period, the number of doctors with complete syndrome of emotional burnout has significantly increased, that is, all three phases: stress, resistance and exhaustion had formed. The period of study has clearly shown two groups of male doctors: with period of work of 20 or more years, and with period of work of less than 5 years. The said symptoms cause a feeling of physical and psychological overburdens, stress at work and at home, conflicts with management personnel, colleagues and patients.Conclusions The atypical COVID-19 pneumonia pandemic has laid significant stress on the psychic and physical health of resuscitation anesthesiologists. The high level of psychological strain, accumulation of negative emotions, and the feeling of helplessness led to medical errors and delays in important tactical decisions.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Activities, Housing Situation and Other Factors Influencing Psychological Strain Experienced During the First COVID-19 Lockdown in Switzerland.

Background: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis and the corresponding first nationwide lockdown from mid-March to 10 May 2020 engendered considerable psychological strain among people in Switzerland. This study analyzes determinants of changes in subjective levels of psychological strain experienced during the lockdown.Methods: An online survey conducted as part of a larger mixed methods study examined the material and emotional aspects of individual reactions to the lockdown from a socio-ecological perspective. Participants (N = 5932) were asked about their personal and employment status, housing features, changes in various activities (e.g., physical activity, watching TV, social media use) and aspects of mental distress and well-being.Results: A substantial share of participants reported to feel depressed (33%) and anxious (43%) more often during the COVID-19 lockdown than before, whereas significantly (p < 0.001) less persons reported a decrease of these negative feelings (depressed 17%; anxious 14%). Women, single people, students and people who lost their jobs or were temporally unemployed due to the lockdown experienced a particularly strong increase of subjective psychological strain. Important residential factors reducing subjective psychological strain were the general comfort of the housing situation and having a private garden or multiple types of outdoor space. Considering leisure activities, the strongest positive psychological effect resulted from increased physical activities, followed by reading and cooking. However, 45% of the participants reported a decreased frequency of physical activity during the lockdown compared to before, whereas significantly less persons (26%) reported a corresponding increase (p < 0.001).Conclusion: Consistent with other studies, the results indicate a substantial reduction of subjective psychological well-being of the population during the first COVID-19 lockdown in Switzerland. The psychological burdens which the participants experienced differ depending on personal characteristics and situational factors. Negative psychological and economic consequences and gender inequalities should accordingly be carefully considered and actively prevented when designing COVID-19 measures. Supportive economic and social, cognitive and behavioral psychological interventions need to be designed and implemented to maintain the well-being of residents during lockdown.

The psychological effects of event cancellation in Olympic-level swimmers: preliminary findings and mental health screening recommendations.

Mental health screening of elite athletes is not routinely practiced following the cancellation of an athletic event. Though sporting event cancellation has negative career and training impacts on elite athletes, little is known about its psychological impact. To determine the extent to which sporting event cancellation might warrant psychological screening practices in elite athletics, this study evaluated elite-level swimmers' response to the cancellation of the 2020 Olympic Games through psychological assessment and qualitative interviewing. A cross-sectional study design was implemented. Online psychological assessment included self-report scales to measure anxiety, burnout, psychological strain, and optimism/pessimism. Follow-up semistructured telehealth interviews were conducted to assess appraisals of and coping responses to the cancellation. Of the 14 participants assessed for mental health symptoms, 12 were available for interview procedures. Results (mean±SD) indicated "very high" psychological strain (22.71±4.83) and "mild" anxiety (6.29±4.87). All swimmers exhibited levels of psychological strain that warranted clinical evaluation per established cut-off scores. Thematic content analysis of interviews generated four themes: precancellation evaluations, primary appraisals, coping responses, and coping outcomes. Most swimmers exhibited maladaptive coping (75%); however, adaptative coping was as prevalent (92%), particularly through use of support networks. Most swimmers achieved positive coping outcomes (75%) and maintained strong 2021 Olympic-qualifying confidence (93%). In contrast, swimmers with poor coping outcomes (25%) employed more frequent maladaptive coping strategies and exhibited higher psychological distress. Findings urge sports medicine clinicians to implement psychological screening protocols in elite athletes following the cancellation of a major sporting event to attend to symptoms of psychological distress and to direct appropriate psychological intervention.

The association between antidepressant use and assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment in Danish women: A national registry-based cohort study

ObjectiveTo investigate (1) if antidepressant use among women in assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment and among women without ART treatment influences cumulative live birth rates (CLBR) and number of initiated treatment cycles per woman, (2) whether women undergoing ART treatment are at higher risk of initiating use of antidepressants compared to women not having undergone ART, (3) if mothers after ART treatment have higher risk for postpartum use of antidepressants after ART treatment compared to mothers not having used ART treatment. Study designA Danish nation-wide register-based cohort study including all women in ART treatment between 1995 through 2009 and an age-matched comparison group of women not having initiated ART treatment. In both groups, women had no previous children before study entry. The women were followed from time of initiating first ART treatment until time of permanent emigration (> 6 months), date of death, or end of follow-up by 31st of December 2009. Chi-square test was used to assess whether observed differences in CLBR between groups were significant. Adjusted incidence rates (IR) and incidence rate ratio (IRR) with 95 % confidence interval (CI) were calculated using Poisson regression analysis. The main outcome measures were: CLBR, number of initiated ART treatment cycles and IRR of initiating antidepressant use. ResultsWomen using antidepressants before, during or after ART treatment were significantly older, had a lower CLBR and a lower mean number of initiated ART treatment cycles compared to women in ART treatment with no use of antidepressants. No significant difference was found in the incidence of initiating antidepressant use between women in ART treatment and the comparison group. However, when comparing only women with a live birth, significantly more women in ART treatment initiated antidepressant use in the postpartum period (adjusted incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 2.56 (95 % CI 1.98−3.30; p < 0.001)). ConclusionGenerally, women undergoing ART treatment are not at higher risk of initiating use of antidepressants compared with an age-matched comparison group not treated with ART. However, women with antidepressant medication use prior to ART initiate fewer ART treatments and have lower CLBR. Even though it has not been possible to adjust for all relevant confounders and our follow-up period only runs until the end of 2009, we still believe the results of this study to be highly relevant. According to our study, clinicians should be aware that women conceiving after ART treatment might experience an increased level of psychological strain during the postpartum period compared to mothers who conceived without ART.

Work antecedents, psychological strain and safety behaviours among Chinese hotel employees

The current study examined whether psychological strain served as a mediator of the relationships between work antecedents and safety behaviours. A total of 1023 Chinese hotel employees completed a self-administered questionnaire examining workload, organisational constraints, lack of work control, psychological strain, and two forms of safety behaviours including safety compliance and safety participation. Results showed that workload, organisational constraints and lack of work control were related to psychological strain. In addition, psychological strain not only was negatively associated with safety compliance and safety participation, but also mediated the effects of all work antecedents on two dimensions of safety behaviours. Overall, these findings illustrated that poor work conditions could induce high levels of psychological strain, and this could generate fewer safety behaviours of Chinese hotel employees. Practical implications and limitations are discussed.

Occupational stress management in the legal profession: Development, validation, and assessment of a stress‐management instrument

ObjectivesDespite regularly reporting high levels of occupational stress, lawyers are an under‐researched group in this field. The first objective of this research is to develop a short measure assessing two common work stress management techniques (WSMS) commonly employed by lawyers: relaxation and cognitive restructuring. A second objective is to assess the impact of three key job characteristics and two work stress management techniques upon levels of psychological strain, job satisfaction, and work engagement in a sample of lawyers.MethodDrawing on the Job Demands Control‐Support theoretical explanation of occupational stress, we assessed the impact of the two stress management techniques upon three key psychological outcomes, in comparison with three common job characteristics. An anonymous survey was administered to lawyers employed in one Australian state and produced a respondent sample of N = 114.ResultsConfirmatory factor analysis produced acceptable psychometric results for the six‐item WSMS. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that job demands was not directly associated with any of the three criterion variables. Importantly, cognitive restructuring was as strongly associated with job satisfaction and work engagement, compared to the three job characteristics. Cognitive restructuring techniques were also associated with high levels of work engagement even when experiencing high job demands.ConclusionsThe implications for occupational stress experienced by lawyers, the current popularity of occupational resilience and organisational wellness programs, and the assessment of generic job characteristics are all discussed.

Poorly Wired

AbstractWhat happens in your head when the words get stuck? Stuttering can be associated with a high level of psychological strain. New studies, based on modern neurophysiological and MRI examinations, are helping researchers to understand the causes of this disorder in the brain, predict its progress more accurately, and improve stuttering therapy.

Internet Addiction, Suicidality and Non-Suicidal Self-Harming Behavior - A Systematic Review

Internet addiction (IA) is associated with a high rate of co-morbid mental disorders, especially depression, anxiety disorders, ADHD and personality disorders and a considerable level of psychological strain. In terms of risk assessment, the present work investigates the current research literature on suicidal behavior and non-suicidal self-injurious behavior (NSSI). We performed a systematic literature search in 14 databases on title and abstract level for the most common keywords for IA, NSSI and suicidality. After deduction of multiple items, 2334 articles remained. They were filtered per inclusion and exclusion criteria. We identified studies that examined the relationship between IA, NSSI and suicidality, which were assessed by validated psychometric instruments. This allowed a total of 15 studies to be included. The relationship between IA and suicidality was examined in 10 studies, four studies examined the relationship of IA, suicidality, and NSSI, and one study exclusively focused on IA and NSSHB. All studies showed higher prevalence for NSSI and respectively suicidality of the subjects with an IA compared to subjects without IA, with point prevalence varying considerably between 1.6-18.7%. The results of the included publications suggest that Internet dependency is associated with an increased rate of non-suicidal self-harming behavior and increased suicidality, with suicidal ideation being more closely related to IA than suicidal actions. In order to develop a better understanding of causal relationships between IA, NSSI and suicidality, further longitudinal studies are required. Against the background of the presented studies NSSHB and suicidality need to be explicitly addressed within the assessment and treatment of IA patients.

Veterinary nurses' psychological well‐being: The impact of patient suffering and death

ObjectivePreliminary evidence suggests veterinary nurses are an at‐risk population for high levels of occupational stress. This study sought to advance knowledge of occupational stress in this under‐researched professional group by applying the Job Demands–Resources model to assess predictors of psychological strain, work‐related burnout, and work engagement.MethodResearch participants consisted of 144 veterinary nurses employed within one Australian state (response rate of 41%). Data were obtained via an anonymous self‐report questionnaire. All research participation was voluntary.ResultsAnalyses indicated the mean level of work‐related burnout in this sample exceeded that of normative samples in human health‐care professions. We also found that although both generic and occupation‐specific job demands were significantly associated with levels of psychological strain and burnout, generic job demands accounted for a greater proportion of variance. Only direct effects were produced for the association of both workplace social support and job control with work engagement; no evidence was found for the moderating effects of these two job resources.ConclusionsThe findings both validate and challenge the tenets of the Job Demands–Resources explanation of occupation stress. Theoretical and applied implications are discussed.

Predicting Psychological Strain with Job Demands and Organizational Injustice through the Implications of Job Demand-Control Model and Fairness Theory

The aim of this study was to investigate the level of psychological strain and the influences of role overload, role conflict, and organizational injustice on psychological strain among Turkish nurses. This study adopted a cross-sectional, quantitative correlational study methodology. The study sample comprised of 251 nurses selected randomly from nursing and administrative services at selected hospitals in Istanbul-Turkey. The data was collected through self-administrated questionnaire. The results revealed that the level of psychological strain, organizational injustice, role overload, and role conflict among nurses was relatively high. It was found that there was a significant, linear and positive relationship between role overload, role conflict, organizational injustice facets and psychological strain. For testing the hypotheses, multiple regression analysis was used to determine how the independent variables predict psychological strain. About 62% variance in psychological strain was explained by role overload, role conflict, and organizational injustice facets. The results also showed that role overload was the strongest predictor to contribute to psychological strain. The findings of this study provide support to the Job-Demand Control Model, Fairness Theory, and Person-Environment Theory and provide both theoretical and practical implications to display the level of psychological strain and workplace stressors among nurses as part of the postmodern organizational problems.

Alternatives to Suspending African American High School Males

The research site was one high school in the southern United States where African American males were suspended at greater rates than their counterparts. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine the perspectives of high school administrators and teachers regarding alternatives to suspending African American males in one southern high school within a public school district. Guided by the social learning theory, the research question focused on the suspensions of these students. Data were collected through in-depth, semi structured, face-to-face interviews with a purposive sample of 6 high school teachers and 2 administrators, and coded and analyzed for emergent themes. The findings revealed that African American high school males might benefit from education programs such as character education programs to develop social, academic, and discipline skills. The findings of this study may be used for professional development for teachers and administrators regarding strategies to reduce suspensions of African American high school males, which might facilitate their graduation from high school and subsequent entry into higher education or the workforce.lications to display the level of psychological strain and workplace stressors among nurses as part of the postmodern organizational problems.

Awareness of Stress-reduction Interventions: The Impact on Employees' Well-being and Organizational Attitudes.

Employing the social-exchange theoretical framework, we examined the effect of employees' awareness of stress-reduction interventions on their levels of psychological strain, job satisfaction, organizational commitment, perceptions of senior management trustworthiness and procedural justice. We present longitudinal panel data from 869 employees who completed questionnaires at two time points at 13 Australian universities. Our results show that employees who reported an awareness of stress-reduction interventions undertaken at their university scored lower on psychological strain and higher on job satisfaction and commitment than those who were unaware of the interventions. The results suggest that simply the awareness of stress interventions can be linked to positive employee outcomes. The study further revealed that senior management trustworthiness and procedural justice mediate the relationship between awareness and employee outcomes. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

An examination of gender differences in the impact of individual and organisational factors on work hours, work-life conflict and psychological strain in academics

The current study used multi-group structural equation modelling (SEM) to test a fully and partially mediated Extended Rational Model of Work-Life Conflict and examine the impact of job involvement, workaholism, work intensity, organisational expectations and support, and having children on work hours, work-life conflict and psychological strain in male and female academics. In total, 410 academics from three Irish universities completed an electronic questionnaire survey. Results indicated both commonalities and differences in the factors that influence work hours, work-life conflict and levels of psychological strain in men and women. Lower organisation expectations predicted longer working hours in both men and women; additional unique predictors of longer working hours in men were higher work intensity and having children; conversely, higher work enjoyment predicted longer working hours in women, but not men. Higher work intensity predicted higher work-life conflict in men and women. In the final best...

Flexible work arrangements, work engagement, turnover intentions and psychological health

Flexible work arrangements (FWAs) are often written into company policies to demonstrate organisational sensitivity to potentially difficult interfaces between employees' work and non‐work domains. The current research investigated employees' use of FWAs and relationship to work engagement, with turnover intentions and psychological strain also used as criterion variables for comparison purposes. A heterogeneous sample of Australian employees (N = 823) responded to two waves of data collection separated by a 12‐month interval. It was expected that supportive aspects of organisational culture would be consistent with increased employee utilisation of FWAs, high work engagement, low turnover and low levels of psychological strain, and the opposite would be found for hindering aspects of organisational culture. It was also expected that supportive organisational culture would demonstrate an enduring effect over time. In general, research findings supported these hypotheses. However, the research also identified a negative relationship between use of FWAs and work engagement over time. This suggests that take‐up of FWAs is highly dependent on workplace cultural norms. The implications of these results are discussed.

Lattice thermodynamic model for vehicular congestions

We introduce the spatially-discrete time-continuous particle system whose intelligent elements are interconnected by the psychological short-ranged interactions and stochastically influenced by the nonzero level of psychological strain. Dividing the circular lattice into the regions of different strain-levels we detect the strong traffic congestion propagating through the entire system. As follows from the relevant statistical analysis of traffic data, both the macroscopic and microscopic structures of the above-mentioned cellular model are in a good agreement with those observed in freeway samples.

Reducing Conflict-Related Strain: The Function of Organizational Based Self-Esteem and Conflict Management Strategies

In a field study among Dutch employees, we demonstrated how organizational based self-esteem and workplace conflict interact to affect the level of psychological strain. In addition we showed that this moderation was mediated by conflict management strategies.

How an Active Conflict Management Strategy Relates to Psychological Strain: The Role of Control

In a field study among 774 health-care workers, we demonstrated how locus of control and workplace conflict interact to affect the level of psychological strain. In addition we showed that this moderation was mediated by an active conflict management strategy.