Occupational Health Psychology Research Articles

Leading well: Challenges to researching leadership in occupational health psychology – and some ways forward

ABSTRACTStudies on the effects of leadership in occupational health psychology build on the assumption that leaders influence their followers’ health and well-being. Although this assumption has received support, this introductory paper to a special issue of Work & Stress on leadership argues that a number of questions regarding leadership and follower health and well-being remain unanswered. We identify four issues that we argue warrant further attention. First, what is “good” leadership? Particular leadership types are associated with increases in employee performance, but since this will involve higher effort expenditure, adverse outcomes for employee health are to be expected. Although many types of leadership are associated with favourable outcomes, we still need to identify the leadership characteristics can be identified that account for these positive outcomes. Second, how can good leadership be promoted? There is a need to develop interventions that are effective in promoting desirable leadership styles. Third, what are the inter-mediate and long-term effects of leadership on follower health? Finally, we need to understand the boundary conditions for good leadership, including the resources available to leaders. Based on these considerations, we conclude that further research is needed to fully understand the effects of leadership on employee health and well-being.

Memorandum of Cooperation: Formal signing between the British Psychological Society and the European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology

Memorandum of Cooperation: Formal signing between the British Psychological Society and the European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology

Interventions in occupational health psychology.

The set of studies in this issue focus on applied interventions in occupational health psychology (OHP), that is, interventions that are intended to treat employee health and well-being problems or prevent these problems from occurring in the first place. An issue regarding many past evaluations of the effectiveness of these treatments was the relatively weak research methods, especially in regard to obtaining comparable groups to study so that internal validity is enhanced. Many of the studies presented here used the classically recommended approach of random assignment to alleviate this potential problem. We can see that there are a variety of types of potential treatments in OHP, including interventions focusing on changing the employee, other people in the employee's workplace (supervisors or coworkers), the employee's job characteristics, or the organization's climate. Although the ultimate criterion variables in OHP are indicators of employee wellness, some studies focused on improving what might theoretically be mediating variables between the interventions and employees' actual health or well-being. These outcomes include reductions of work-nonwork conflict and stigma of mental illness potentially present in the organization, its supervisors, or employees' coworkers. We note that there are probably moderators of the effectiveness of the interventions, so that a treatment may work better in some people, some situations, and some times than others. Finally, it is interesting to note that the interventions and their studies may be geographically concentrated rather than distributed equally around the globe. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

The Reasons for Doing Physical Exercise Mediate the Effect of Self-Esteem on Uncontrolled Eating Amongst Nursing Personnel.

Background: Since the beginning of the 20th century, the importance of creating healthy work environments and promoting the health of workers in the healthcare sector to create Healthy and Resilient Organizations has been emphasized. In this context, self-esteem is an essential construct which influences health and healthy life styles, and, therefore, the general wellbeing of nurses. The objective of this study was to analyze the mediating role of reasons for exercising in the effect that self-esteem has on uncontrolled eating by nursing professionals. Methods: The sample was made up of 1094 nurses who were administered the Rosenberg General Self-Esteem Scale, the Goal Content for Exercise Questionnaire, and the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire-R18. Results: Bivariate correlation analysis and multiple mediation analysis showed that self-esteem has direct and indirect effects on uncontrolled eating. Moreover, self-esteem determines whether one does physical exercise to improve one’s image, recognition, or social affiliation—although the effects on uncontrolled eating were only significant in the case of image. Conclusions: The results have important practical implications in the framework of Positive Occupational Health Psychology (POHP) as they emphasize self-esteem, physical exercise and eating as essential aspects of the health and wellbeing of employees in the healthcare sector, highlighting the importance of creating organizations committed to promoting the psychosocial health of their workers.

The Mediating Role of Perceived Stress in the Relationship of Self-Efficacy and Work Engagement in Nurses.

Positive occupational health psychology (POHP) examines the mechanisms that promote the health and wellbeing of workers, in addition to the risk factors arising from work activity. The aim of this study was to analyse the mediating role of perceived stress in the effect that self-efficacy has on engagement in nurses. The sample was comprised of 1777 currently working nurses. We administered the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES), the Perceived Stress Questionnaire and the General Self-Efficacy Scale. Following bivariate correlational analysis, multiple linear regression analysis and simple and multiple mediation analysis, the results showed self-efficacy to be a powerful personal resource that positively predicts employee engagement, although the effect diminishes when there are mediating variables of stress. We found differences in the way the different aspects of stress mediated the relationship between self-efficacy and the engagement dimensions. “Energy–joy” was the strongest mediating variable for all of the engagement dimensions and this, together with “harassment–social acceptance” dampened the effect of self-efficacy on vigour and dedication, whereas “Overload” was only a mediator for dedication. As nurses work in a stressful environment, risk factors arise from work activity, so hospital management should design interventions to enhance their workers’ personal resources and improve personal and organizational wellbeing.

Do cognitive appraisals moderate the link between qualitative job insecurity and psychological-behavioral well-being?

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to detect the association between qualitative job insecurity and well-being related outcomes and to determine the extent to which cognitive appraisals of job insecurity moderate this association. According to appraisal theory, it is anticipated a hindrance appraisal of job insecurity to amplify and a challenge appraisal of job insecurity to buffer this association. Design/methodology/approach To test the hypotheses, 250 healthcare employees from different departments of an Iranian large public hospital were recruited. Participants responded to scales on qualitative job insecurity, cognitive appraisals, job satisfaction, emotional exhaustion, absenteeism and presenteeism. Findings Results showed that qualitative job insecurity negatively influenced both psychological and behavioral well-being; however, this influence was greater for psychological well-being than for behavioral well-being. Besides, the moderation tests showed that only the hindrance appraisals of job insecurity amplified the link between job insecurity and psychological outcomes. Research limitations/implications This study sampled employees from a public hospital and did not include employees from private hospitals. This may limit the generalizability of the findings. Also, due to using a cross-sectional research design we encourage future studies to replicate the same findings using other different research designs. Practical implications The findings aid occupational health psychologists to design particular interventions for protecting those aspects of employee’s well-being that are more vulnerable when qualitative job insecurity is chronically perceived. Originality/value Together, these findings suggest that the hindrance appraisals of qualitative job insecurity are more likely to moderate the link between job insecurity and well-being outcomes.

CTSDL: The Role of Cross-Training through Self-Directed Learning in Reducing the Effects of Career Concern Stressors in the Workplace

Cross-training through self-directed learning utilizes modern technologies and resources toreduce job stress. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reports thatcareer concerns, including insecurity, lack of opportunity for growth (advancement orpromotion), and rapid changes for which workers are unprepared lead to job stress. Thesecareer concerns have been shown to foster negative employee perceptions of organizationalculture, policies, interpersonal interactions, efficacy, control and ultimately their overall wellbeing.This research advances these concepts in the context of a job stress and OccupationalHealth Psychology (OHP) intervention.

Schonfeld, I. S. and Chang, C.: Occupational Health Psychology. Springer Publishing Company, New York, 2017, 355 pp, $50.20 (softbound)

Schonfeld, I. S. and Chang, C.: Occupational Health Psychology. Springer Publishing Company, New York, 2017, 355 pp, $50.20 (softbound)

Challenge and hindrance demands in relation to self‐reported job performance and the role of restoration, sleep quality, and affective rumination

Longitudinal research on the relationship between job demands and job performance and its underlying mechanisms is scarce. The aims of this longitudinal three‐wave study among 920 Finnish employees were to ascertain whether (1) challenge job demands (i.e., workload, cognitive demands) and self‐reported job performance are positively related over time, (2) job insecurity (i.e., a hindrance demand) and job performance are negatively related over time, (3) restorative experiences during off‐job time and sleep quality are underlying mechanisms in these relations, and (4) affective rumination mediates the proposed relations of job demands and job insecurity with restoration and sleep quality. Self‐report data were analysed with structural equation modelling. The results revealed a positive, temporal relationship between challenge job demands and job performance (task and contextual performance) across 1 year, but no temporal relationship between job insecurity and self‐reported job performance. Moreover, high challenge job demands were positively related to the restorative value of off‐job activities, and favourable restoration was positively related to subsequent task performance. Finally, affective rumination mediated the relationship of challenge job demands with both restoration and sleep quality. Job insecurity was not longitudinally related to restoration, sleep quality, or affective rumination. The implications of our findings for occupational health psychology are discussed.Practitioner points Provide employees with sufficient job resources (e.g., high autonomy and social support) to adequately deal with high job demands. Allow employees sufficient time to recover from high job demands during off‐job time and provide training sessions in recovery, relaxation, meditation, and goal setting. Employees may attempt to counteract perseverative thoughts by actively pursuing distracting restoration activities (e.g., exercise, meditation).

Workaholism and occupational health: A translational review

The purpose of this article was to provide a detailed review of workaholism, a topic within the realm of Occupational Health Psychology. Workaholism has become a commonplace term used in the popular culture to depict individuals who are addicted to work. It is typically characterized as an addiction and defined as the compulsive tendency to work excessively hard. Given the deleterious effects of workaholism, this article provides a review of what we know about this phenomenon, as well as how we can combat it. First, an overview of workaholism is presented, including definitions and measures, followed by a discussion on antecedents (personality factors and work environment) and correlates in the organizational, individual, and family domains. Next, a section on combatting levels of workaholism is summarized. Finally, avenues for future research on this topic are discussed. Essentially, this review article will add to the existing literature on Industrial/Organizational Psychology and health issues associated with organizational behavior, as well as serve as a resource for both researchers and practitioners who strive to enhance the well‐being of their employees.

Irrational beliefs as psychosocial risk of work addiction from the perspective of Occupational Health Psychology

El objetivo principal de esta investigacion es identificar las creencias obsesivas, recurrentes o intrusivas de las personas con alto riesgo de adiccion al trabajo y que se convierten en factores de riesgo psicosocial derivados del trabajo asalariado que facilitan, mantienen y refuerzan el comportamiento adictivo del trabajador. La metodologia fue de corte transversal-descriptiva con la aplicacion de una entrevista grupal estructurada, a una muestra poblacional de 8 empleados del sector de servicios educativos. Los resultados muestran que las caracteristicas personales (ideas de perfeccionismo, utilizacion del tiempo libre, necesidad de aprobacion social, sentimiento de culpa, miedo a perder el trabajo y ansiedad generalizada), junto con las caracteristicas organizacionales, del puesto de trabajo (tareas y responsabilidades) y del empleo en general, al igual que el proceso de socializacion organizacional y el manejo de las relaciones interpersonales con los mandos son desencadenantes del comportamiento adictivo. Las conclusiones indican que el comportamiento adictivo de los trabajadores asalariados de esta institucion educativa se configura como una estrategia poco efectiva de afrontamiento (basada en un conjunto de ideas obsesivas y comportamiento compulsivo (repetitivo e irracional) frente a la angustia y el estres generados por el miedo a perder el trabajo (percepcion de alta inestabilidad laboral).

Kanta-arkiston käyttökokemuksia työterveyshuollossa

Sosiaali- ja terveysministeriön laatiman Sote-tieto hyötykäyttöön -strategian tarkoituksena on mahdollistaa, että terveydenhuollon ammattilaisella on käytössään ajantasainen potilastieto ja työtä tukevat tietojärjestelmät. Tietojen vaihto yli organisaatiorajojen toteutetaan valtakunnallisen Potilastiedon arkiston (Kanta-arkiston) avulla. Arkistoon on tallennettu tietoja lähes kaikista suomalaisista ja sen käyttö lisääntyy terveydenhuollon ammattilaisten keskuudessa koko ajan.
 Tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli selvittää Kanta-arkiston käyttöä työterveyshuollossa. Sähköinen kysely lähetettiin työterveyslääkäreille, työterveyshoitajille, työfysioterapeuteille ja työterveyspsykologeille kesällä 2017 ja siihen vastasi yhteensä 359 henkilöä.
 Tulokset osoittavat, että Kanta-arkistoa pidetään hyvänä ideana, mutta sitä käytetään vielä vähän. Vastaajat kokevat, että tietojen haku on hidasta, tarvittavan tiedon löytäminen hankalaa ja potilastietojen tallentumisessa Kanta-arkistoon on ajoittain viivettä. Lisäksi Kanta-arkistossa näkyvät potilaskäyntien päivämäärät eivät aina välttämättä vastaa käynnin todellista ajankohtaa. Työterveyshuollon ammattilaiset uskovat muiden ammattilaisten hyödyntävän työterveyshuollossa syntyneitä tietoja, vaikka kokevatkin, että Kanta-arkiston avulla kokonaiskuvan saaminen potilaan hoidon tilanteesta ei onnistu helposti.
 Tietojen ajantasainen kirjaaminen ja niiden tallentuminen Kanta-arkistoon mahdollistaa potilaalle parhaan mahdollisen hoidon, kun ammattilaiset saavat tarvittaessa esille potilaan koko terveys- ja sairaushistorian. Vaikka Kanta-arkiston käyttö on vielä osin hankalaa ja tietojen löytämisessä on vaikeutta, voidaan kuitenkin sanoa sen täyttävän tarkoituksensa ja hyödyttävän työterveyshuollon ammattilaisen työtä. Tulevaisuudessa tilanne tulee paranemaan, kun Kanta-arkistoon toteutettavan tiedonhallintapalvelun kautta saadaan ammattilaisille käyttöön kooste potilasta koskevista keskeisistä terveystiedoista.

IGLOO: An integrated framework for sustainable return to work in workers with common mental disorders

ABSTRACTCurrent research on return to work (RTW) for employees with common mental disorders suffers from two limitations. First, research mostly focuses on the influence of resources during the absence period ignoring the resources which may facilitate sustainable RTW, i.e. employees continuing to work and thrive at work post-return. Second, research tends to view the work and non-work domains separately and fails to consider the interaction of resources at the individual, group, leader and organisational levels, once back at work. In the present position paper, we present an integrated framework and a preliminary definition of sustainable RTW. Based on current occupational health psychology theory and existing research on RTW, we develop ten propositions for the resources in and outside work, which may promote sustainable RTW. In addition to the individual, group, leader, and organisational levels, we also argue for the importance of the overarching context, i.e. the societal context and the culture and legislation that may promote sustainable RTW. Our framework raises new questions that need to be addressed to enhance our understanding of how key stakeholders can support employees with common mental health disorders staying and thriving at work.

A Review of Researches Workplace Loneliness

Workplace health psychology is supported and upheld by psychologists, management scientists, sociologists and clinical psychology. Workplace loneliness has become a hot research topic in western occupational health psychology. The research about the spread of employee workplace loneliness in China is lagging behind. As a common negative emotion in workplace, workplace loneliness can bring in a series of negative effects on employees and individuals. At present in China, the transformation of the society and the rapid development of the economy have brought many problems to the workplace. To some extent, these problems will lead to the spreading of the common feeling of loneliness in the workplace. Therefore, it is necessary to study the crisis of workplace loneliness of our employees. At present, the study of loneliness in the workplace is still in its preliminary stage. The main purpose of this paper is to review the main subject of the study of loneliness in the workplace abroad, and to introduce its concepts, dimensions, measurement methods and related research into the country, and provide reference for Chinese scholars to study the rising crisis, that is, the sense of loneliness in the workplace.

Positive Healthy Organizations: Promoting Well-Being, Meaningfulness, and Sustainability in Organizations.

This contribution deals with the concept of healthy organizations and starts with a definition of healthy organizations and healthy business. In healthy organizations, culture, climate, and practices create an environment conducive to employee health and safety as well as organizational effectiveness (Lowe, 2010). A healthy organization thus leads to a healthy and successful business (De Smet et al., 2007; Grawitch and Ballard, 2016), underlining the strong link between organizational profitability and workers’ well-being. Starting from a positive perspective focused on success and excellence, the contribution describes how positive organizational health psychology evolved from occupational health psychology to positive occupational health psychology stressing the importance of a primary preventive approach. The focus is not on deficiency and failure but on a positive organizational attitude that proposes interventions at different levels: individual, group, organization, and inter-organization. Healthy organizations need to find the right balance between their particular situation, sector, and culture, highlighting the importance of well-being and sustainability. This contribution discusses also the sustainability of work-life projects and the meaning of work in healthy organizations, stressing the importance of recognizing, respecting, and using the meaning of work as a key for growth and success. Finally, the contribution discusses new research and intervention opportunities for healthy organizations.

Physicians' professional performance: an occupational health psychology perspective.

IntroductionPhysician work engagement is considered to benefit physicians’ professional performance in clinical teaching practice. Following an occupational health psychology perspective, this PhD report presents research on how physicians’ professional performance in both doctor and teacher roles can be facilitated by work engagement and how work engagement is facilitated by job resources and personality traits.MethodsFirst, we conducted a systematic review on the impact of physician work engagement and related constructs (e. g. job satisfaction) on physicians’ performance in patient care. We additionally investigated physician work engagement and job resources in relation to patient care experience with physicians’ performance at ten outpatient clinics covering two hospitals. In a following multicentre survey involving 61 residency training programs of 18 hospitals, we studied associations between physician work engagement and personality traits with resident evaluations of physicians’ teaching performance.ResultsThe findings showed that physician work engagement was associated with fewer reported medical errors and that job satisfaction was associated with better communication and patient satisfaction. Autonomy and learning opportunities were positively associated with physician work engagement. Work engagement was positively associated with teaching performance. In addition, physician work engagement was most likely supported by personality trait conscientiousness (e. g. responsibility).ConclusionGiven the reported associations of physician work engagement with aspects of their professional performance, hospitals could support physician work engagement in service of optimal performance in residency training and patient care. This could be facilitated by worker health surveillance, peer support or promoting job crafting at the individual or team level.

"Linking boundary crossing from work to nonwork to work-related rumination across time: A variable- and person-oriented approach": Correction to Kinnunen et al. (2016).

Reports an error in "Linking Boundary Crossing from Work to Nonwork to Work-Related Rumination across Time: A Variable- and Person-Oriented Approach" by Ulla Kinnunen, Taru Feldt, Jessica de Bloom, Marjaana Sianoja, Kalevi Korpela and Sabine Geurts (Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, Advanced Online Publication, Apr 28, 2016, np). There were errors in two separate sections of the article. The final sentence preceding Hypothesis 4 in "The Present Study" section should read, "We did not hypothesize that the specific forms of work-related thoughts (i.e., affective rumination, problem-solving pondering, or lack of psychological detachment) would be differently associated with stability or changes in boundary crossing behavior." The fifth sentence in the second paragraph of the "Identifying Subgroups of Boundary Crossing Behavior Across Time" subsection of the "Results" section should read, "Group 5 (n = 162, 19%), characterized by stable low boundary crossing behavior across time (M = 1.37 for Time 1 and M = 1.34 for Time 2), and Group 6 (n = 154, 18%), characterized by stable high boundary crossing behavior (M = 4.54 for Time 1 and M = 4.60 for Time 2), were almost equally large in size." (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 2016-20812-001.) This 1-year follow-up study (N = 841) investigated the relationship between boundary crossing behavior from work to nonwork and work-related rumination (i.e., affective rumination, problem-solving pondering, and lack of psychological detachment from work during off-job time). This relationship is important to examine as work-related rumination is a risk factor for poor recovery and ill-health over time. The aims were twofold: first, to examine these relationships in terms of temporal ordering, and, second, to show how individual differences regarding stability and change of boundaries from work to nonwork are reflected in work-related rumination across time. The structural equation modeling analyses lent support to the hypothesized normal causation model compared with the reversed causation and reciprocal models. However, only the cross-lagged relationship between high boundary crossing behavior at T1 and lack of psychological detachment at T2 was significant. Through latent profile analysis, 6 subgroups of boundary crossing behavior across time were identified. Over 70% of the employees belonged to the stable (low, moderate, high) and about one-third to the changing (mostly increasing) boundary crossing subgroups. Employees in the 2 stable (high and moderate) boundary crossing subgroups reported less psychological detachment and more problem-solving pondering during off-job time than did those in the low boundary crossing subgroup. Employees in the change groups reported simultaneous expected changes, especially in their problem-solving pondering. No effects on affective rumination were found. Thus frequent boundary crossing behavior from work to nonwork plays a different role regarding the various forms of work-related rumination during nonwork. (PsycINFO Database Record

Job demands, resources and mental health in UK prison officers.

Research findings indicate that working as a prison officer can be highly stressful, but the aspects of work that predict their mental health status are largely unknown. To examine, using elements of the demands-resources model, the extent to which work pressure and several potential resources (i.e. control, support from managers and co-workers, role clarity, effective working relationships and positive change management) predict mental health in a sample of UK prison officers. The Health and Safety Executive Management Standards Indicator Tool was used to measure job demands and resources. Mental health was assessed by the General Health Questionnaire-28. The effects of demands and resources on mental health were examined via linear regression analysis with GHQ score as the outcome. The study sample comprised 1267 prison officers (86% male). Seventy-four per cent met 'caseness' criteria for mental health problems. Job demands, poor interpersonal relationships, role ambiguity and, to a lesser extent, low job control and poor management of change were key predictors of mental health status. The findings of this study can help occupational health practitioners and psychologists develop structured interventions to improve well-being among prison officers.

Occupational health contributions to the development and promise of occupational health psychology.

Occupational health psychology (OHP), as it is known today, is preceded by over a century of inquiry in psychology, sociology, philosophy, and other disciplines regarding the conditions of work and the welfare of workers, organizations, and society. This diverse body of research is richly detailed in reports on the history of OHP. Less represented in these reports are the formative interests of the occupational health field in OHP. In the present discussion, we begin by giving greater visibility to these interests. As we show, the expressions occupational health psychology and occupational health psychologist and a vision for training and participation of psychologists in occupational health research and practice appear in the occupational health literature four decades ago. We describe how this interest inspired initiatives in OHP by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health which, in turn, influenced the formalization of OHP as a discipline in the United States. We then document sustained interests of occupational health in OHP today and illustrate the promise of this interest for psychologists, for the discipline of OHP itself, and for the health, safety, and well-being of working people. We conclude by arguing that, to realize this promise, there is value to closer and more formal engagement of psychologists and OHP institutions with the field of occupational health.

Trends in measurement models and methods in understanding occupational health psychology.

Measurement of occupational health psychology constructs is the cornerstone to developing our understanding of occupational health and safety. It also is critical in the design, evaluation, and implementation of interventions to improve employees and organizations well-being. The purpose of this article is a brief review of the current state of measurement theory and practice in occupational health psychology. Also included are a discussion of development of newer measurement models and methods, which are in use in other disciplines of psychology, but have not been incorporated into the occupational health psychology. (PsycINFO Database Record