Occupational Satisfaction Research Articles

Indoor Environmental Quality & Occupant Satisfaction in Green Building (Case Study: Company X at East Jakarta, DKI Jakarta)

The global movement in green building development has been going on since the early 1960s. Although initially driven by environmental agendas such as carbon and energy, there is a growing acknowledgment that green buildings can affect Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ). Many researchers also state that improved indoor environmental quality is associated with better occupant satisfaction. However, some localized green buildings, especially in developing countries, often don’t recognize IEQs and occupant satisfaction as important issues, so they remain unstudied. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the performance of IEQ and occupant satisfaction. The analytical methods used were descriptive statistics and regression analysis. The outcome demonstrated that green building standards do not automatically improve indoor environment quality, particularly when the lighting parameter is below the limit values. The analysis findings showed that most respondents expressed their satisfaction with IEQ and significantly influenced occupant satisfaction. In addition, this research contributes to the development of green building evaluation practices that prioritize environmental health and occupant satisfaction

Occupational performance and participation in children with developmental coordination disorders before and during Covid-19.

Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects children's occupational performance and participation. It is known that the Covid pandemic has adversely affected the whole world in many areas. We aim to investigate the occupational performance and participation of children with DCD before and during the COVID-19. Sixty-five children aged 5-12 years included in the study were assessed by the Canadian Measure of Occupational Performance and the Participation and Environment Measure for Children and Youth. Statistically significant differences were detected in occupational performance and satisfaction scores (p < 0.01). Additionally, except for 'involvement in the home environment' (p > 0.05), there were statistically significant differences in all other areas of participation (p < 0.01). The occupational performance and participation of children with DCD are impacted during COVID-19. In addition, it is seen that the desire of families to change regarding participation has increased due to COVID-19. It would be beneficial to include strategies to improve these areas in the rehabilitation processes.

An evaluation of the relationship between occupational stress and job satisfaction

The study examines the relationship between occupational stress and job satisfaction of employees in a non–profit organisation in South Africa. A descriptive and quantitative research approach was employed with a structured closed-ended questionnaire. A purposive sampling method was employed to select a sample of 230 full-time and contract employees in the Non-Profit Organisation in South Africa. A Minnesota Job Satisfaction Questionnaire (MJSQ) and the Eliot Stress Questionnaire (ESQ) were distributed to collect data. The research findings on job satisfaction reveal that most employees were generally satisfied with their jobs. Statistical analysis results on occupational stress showed that employees are generally neither stressed nor non-stressed, (the neutral point). The findings of this research reveal that when occupational stress is reduced employee satisfaction is improved. NPOs must communicate and clarify expectations, and ensure that employees fully understand the nature of their business and the funding implications.

Impact of indoor environmental quality weighting schemes on office architectural design decisions

The importance of indoor environmental quality (IEQ) cannot be overstated, as it impacts the health and satisfaction of occupants. To evaluate overall indoor comfort, all four IEQ domains must be considered together. However, there is a lack of guidance on how to prioritize each domain and corresponding metrics, particularly during the early design stage. Therefore, this study investigates the effect of different weighting schemes on commercial building design elements to have high overall comfort. First, a parametric modeling approach for a shoe-box office building is developed to quantify IEQ domains using various design parameters. Subsequently, multiple weighting options are defined, resulting in an aggregated IEQ score. Next, high-performance designs are identified and compared based on each weighting scheme for two different climates. Results show that, as long as all four comfort domains are considered, the choice of weighting scheme does not significantly affect the selection of high-performance designs. Therefore, an equal weighting scheme is suggested for the early stage. This paper presents an original approach to support design decisions and the mutual weightings of IEQ factors.

Evaluation of space comfort based on occupant satisfaction in west Jatinegara flats residential units

The Special Capital Region (DKI) of Jakarta is an area that experiences population growth every year, which raises the number of housing-related needs and reduces the amount of available vacant land for housing. In order to get around the lack of land for housing, a plan for flats—like the West Jatinegara Flats—must be implemented. The spaces in an apartment that are designed by an architect are required to produce a design that takes into account the comfort factor of the space for the occupants or users in addition to aesthetics. Residents feel comfortable if they are at a thermal temperature of between 22.8℃-25.8℃ with humidity of 70%. The study, "Evaluation of Space Comfort based on Occupant Satisfaction in West Jatinegara Flats Residential Units," attempts to ascertain whether or not improving strategies are required to raise space comfort based on occupant satisfaction and whether or not an appropriate level of space comfort is achieved. This study employs the quantitative method, which entails gathering primary and secondary data and conducting interviews with at least 10% of the resident population selected at random. This study's results indicate that improvement strategies are required to improve room comfort. These strategies include organizing each room to make it cozier and more compact, considering the type of opening material, the opening area ratio, and the materials used for the glass and frame to prevent breakage and damage to the windows and handles. Every room in the residential unit needs to have optimal air exchange during strong wind conditions.

Construction of a Research Framework on the Relationship Between Occupational Stress, Intellectual Efficiency, and Job Satisfaction of Operating Room Nurses

Construction of a Research Framework on the Relationship Between Occupational Stress, Intellectual Efficiency, and Job Satisfaction of Operating Room Nurses

Enhancing HVAC energy management through multi-zone occupant-centric approach: A multi-agent deep reinforcement learning solution

Occupant-centric HVAC control places a premium on factors including thermal comfort and electricity cost to guarantee occupant satisfaction. Traditional approaches, reliant on static models for occupant behaviors, fall short in capturing intra-day behavioral variations, resulting in imprecise thermal comfort evaluations and suboptimal HVAC energy management, especially in multi-zone systems with diverse occupant profiles. To address this issue, this paper proposes a novel occupant-centric multi-zone HVAC control approach that intelligently schedules cooling and heating setpoints using Multi-agent Deep Reinforcement Learning (MADRL). This approach systematically takes into account stochastic occupant behavior models, such as dynamic clothing insulation adjustments, metabolic rates, and occupancy patterns. Simulation results demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed approach. Comparative case studies show that the proposed MADRL-based, occupant-centric HVAC control reduces electricity costs by 51.09% compared to rule-based approaches and 4.34% compared to single-agent DRL while maintaining multi-zonal thermal comfort for occupants.

Indoor environment quality effects on occupant satisfaction and energy consumption: Empirical evidence from subtropical offices

This study examines the impact of indoor environment quality (IEQ) on occupant satisfaction and energy consumption in Australia’s subtropical office buildings. First, Kano’s model was applied to 201 office occupants' satisfaction surveys to understand the influence of each IEQ parameter on overall occupant satisfaction. Then, a quantitative relationship between monitored IEQ parameters and energy consumption in three office buildings was developed during summer, winter and transitional months. Using Kano’s model, IEQ parameters were classified into Basic Factors, Performance Factors, and Bonus Factors based on their impact on occupants’ overall satisfaction. Basic Factors include ‘acoustic environment’, ‘lighting environment’, ‘level of privacy’, and’office cleanliness’, which were deemed a prerequisite for occupant satisfaction. As Performance Factors, ‘thermal environment’, ‘indoor air quality’, ‘furnishing’, ‘available space’ and ‘personal control’ had proportional relationships with overall satisfaction. The only identified Bonus Factor positively impacting overall occupant satisfaction was ‘View from the windows’. In subtropical climates, the relationship between IEQ parameters and energy consumption reveals that artificial lighting is the most energy-intensive IEQ parameter. The findings also suggest that Australian building experts may have over-emphasised the role that achieving thermal comfort plays in the energy consumption of office buildings in Australia’s temperate climates.

Empirical investigation of occupant-centric thermal comfort in hotel guestrooms

Given the importance of occupant satisfaction with thermal comfort in hotel accommodations, previous studies have assessed thermal comfort using either local or global standards. In a hotel catering to diverse guests, a single standard may constrain the formulation of an optimal strategy for improving occupant satisfaction. To address this challenge, this study empirically investigates occupant-centric thermal comfort in hotel guestrooms located in a hot and humid climatic region. To this end, a living-lab-based case study was conducted on a hotel guestroom in Hong Kong, wherein two types of thermal comfort improvement strategies were devised from both local and global perspectives. First, to improve thermal comfort in line with the local standard, it was determined that an ancillary fan coil unit (FCU) energy consumption of 6.0 kW h (approximately 34 % of the existing energy consumption) was required. Second, to improve thermal comfort in line with the global standard, an ancillary FCU energy consumption of 9.4 kW h (approximately 53 % of the existing energy consumption) was necessary. Consequently, in a hot and humid climatic region, the distribution of thermal comfort may vary depending on the type of guest (e.g., domestic or foreign), and ancillary cooling energy expenditure may be incurred to enhance a guest's thermal comfort. The proposed approach is expected to contribute to the creation of occupant-tailored thermal comfort by considering an individual's thermal acclimation to a specific climatic region from both local and global perspectives.

Is Spending Nights Away From Home Associated With Participation and Life Satisfaction After Spinal Cord Injury? A Longitudinal Perspective.

Community reintegration after SCI rehabilitation consists of readjustment not only to the home setting but also to the social and occupational spheres, which often require people to spend nights away from home. Because community reintegration contributes to life satisfaction after SCI, it is necessary to investigate how travel participation is related to occupational and social participation and life satisfaction. Additionally, better management of the long-term effects of SCI requires better understanding of the changes in participation and life satisfaction over time. To examine how participation and life satisfaction change over time following SCI, and to investigate whether spending nights away from home is associated with occupational and social participation and life satisfaction over time. This is a longitudinal analysis of data extracted from the publicly available database of Spinal Cord Model Systems from 1996 to 2016. A generalized linear mixed model was developed to examine the changes of outcome variables over time while controlling demographic variables. Travel and social participation declined while life satisfaction increased as people lived longer with SCI, controlling for confounders. No significant change was identified in occupational participation. Spending nights away from home was significantly and positively associated with social and occupational participation and life satisfaction over time. Although travel participation of people with SCI declined over time, its association with social participation strengthened as the number of postinjury years increased. Travel participation plays an important role in successful community reintegration. Rehabilitation services and travel services should provide training and resources on travel after SCI for improved participation and life satisfaction.

Occupational Stress and Job Satisfaction: Differences Among Racial/Ethnic and Immigration Groups.

The current study aimed to investigate the factors contributing to long-term care workers' job satisfaction by examining the association between occupational stress (including job resources and job demands) and job satisfaction, and the differences among racial/ethnic and immigration groups. Data of 2,763 nursing assistants were retrieved from the National Nursing Assistant Survey. Guided by the job demands-resources model, we found that high job resources and low job demands contributed to job satisfaction. Our findings also suggest that occupational stress works differently based on race/ethnicity and immigration status. Long-term care providers looking to recruit and retain workers should include multiple job resources tailored to their diverse workforce. Designing existing workplace environments to promote job resources and reduce job demands is a useful way to lessen the adverse effects of occupational stress within the workplace. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 49(11), 42-52.].

A VR-based workflow to assess perception of daylit views-out with a focus on dynamism and immersion

Amongst the elements often overlooked in existing studies, dynamic movement and temporal changes in the content of views-out have been suggested to have a high potential to improve its perceived quality and occupant satisfaction. Moreover, in past and ongoing view-out research, most view quality indicators and representation methodologies primarily rely on static time-independent views and fail to acknowledge the importance of including dynamic features in the viewing content. To address this research gap, the present study introduces a novel VR representation workflow to accurately capture dynamic views in experimental settings. This study is the first to examine VR’s effectiveness in maintaining immersion and dynamism when studying daylit views-out, using original data based on human subjects. The results provide insights into VR’s suitability for representing office window views and assess a new workflow employing a dual fisheye lens and scale model to depict views in physically-based IVE.

BURNOUT, BOROUT AND MOBBING AMONG TEACHERS POST COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS

A questionnaire was adapted to measure the negative predictors of teachers' job satisfaction and performance after the pandemic restriction, imposing learning in e-environment,. For this purpose, burnout scale with components of perceived stress, administrative support and attitude towards students and professional satisfaction was combined with the experienced demotivation and lack of incentives in the professional routine presented in the concept of boreout and perceived mobbing by management, colleagues, students and parents. The study involved 800 teachers, 460 teachers in kidergartens and 339 in the secondary education system. The results demonstrate good psychometric properties and discriminability of the administered scales. This justifies the implementation of the questionnaire and its use for analyses and comparisons in the process of effective self-regulation and prevention of perceived stress, the recognition of routine and negative perceived attitudes by participants in the educational process. Overall, the results demonstrate optimal self-regulation of respondents and confirm the expected relationships between perceived occupational stress, job satisfaction and communication in the workplace.

Analysis of the Influence of Chilled Water Temperature Setpoint on Thermal Comfort and Energy Consumption

This study experimentally analysed the influence of chilled water temperature setpoints on thermal comfort conditions and energy consumption of an office building. Three chilled water temperature setpoints (10 °C, 12.5 °C, and 14 °C) were studied. The indoor environment variables (temperature and relative humidity) which are considered indicators of thermal comfort were recorded with data loggers for three consecutive days for each chilled water temperature setpoint (CWTS). Similarly, energy consumption was used as a metric to determine the system’s efficiency. The predicted percentage of dissatisfied (PPD) and predicted mean vote (PMV) indicators were computed and analysed using the Thermal Comfort/ASHRAE 55-2020 modelling tool from the centre for the built environment (CBE). Additionally, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling and analysis were performed using ANSYS Fluent to study the indoor environment conditions of the office at the different chilled water temperature setpoints. A comparison between the calculated, measured, and predicted satisfaction of occupants was done. The results obtained when varying the chilled water temperature setpoints reveal that increasing the chilled water temperature setpoint (by 12%) reduces energy consumption per hour by 2% without compromising thermal comfort. The study demonstrated that the CWTS could be reset between 14 and 15 °C to reduce energy consumption and maintain thermal comfort. Moreover, the CFD model can be used to compare the indoor environmental characteristics of chiller systems.

Studies on the Relationship between Occupational Stress and Mental Health, Performance, and Job Satisfaction of Chinese Civil Aviation Pilots

This research work delves into the potential impact of occupational stress on the mental health, performance, and job satisfaction of civil aviation pilots. To explore this triadic relationship, a battery of six distinct scales was employed, including the Chinese Civil Aviation Pilot Occupational Stress Scale, the Symptom Check List-90 (SCL-90), the Flight Performance Scale, the Job Satisfaction Scale, the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ), and the Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire (SCSQ). A total of 131 valid questionnaires were collected for analysis, yielding a valid response rate of 65.5%. The findings demonstrate a negative correlation between occupational stress experienced by Chinese civil aviation pilots and their mental health, performance, and job satisfaction. Notably, a positive coping style was identified as a moderator in the relationship between occupational stress and flight performance, effectively mitigating the negative impact of stress on flight performance. Similarly, a negative coping style was found to moderate the relationship between occupational stress and job satisfaction, attenuating the adverse effects of occupational stress on job satisfaction. This study underscores the predictive utility of investigating the occupational stress experienced by pilots for understanding their mental health, performance, and job satisfaction. Furthermore, it highlights the potential for adjusting the negative impact of occupational stress on flight performance and job satisfaction through interventions that target pilots’ coping styles.

OptiCogs: feasibility of a multicomponent intervention to rehabilitate people with cognitive impairment post-stroke

BackgroundStroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Despite the prevalence and associated burden of cognitive impairment post-stroke, there is uncertainty regarding optimal cognitive rehabilitation for people post-stroke. This study aimed to assess whether a multicomponent intervention, called OptiCogs, is feasible, acceptable, and safe for people with cognitive impairment post-stroke. A secondary aim was to explore changes in cognitive function, fatigue, quality of life, physical function, and occupational performance, from pre-intervention to post-intervention.MethodsA feasibility study was conducted where people post-stroke with cognitive impairment enrolled in a 6-week multicomponent intervention. The primary outcomes recorded included response rate, recruitment rate, retention rate, adherence to the intervention protocol, adverse events, and acceptability of the intervention to people post-stroke. Secondary outcomes included (i) change in cognitive functioning using the Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination III, (ii) fatigue using the Fatigue Severity scale, (iii) quality of life using the Stroke Specific Quality of Life scale (iv) physical function using the patient-reported outcomes measurement information system, and (v) patient-reported occupational performance using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure. The Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials extension reporting guidelines were followed, for pilot and feasibility studies, to standardize the conduct and reporting of this study.ResultsThe response rate was 10.9%. Nine eligible participants were enrolled during the 4-month recruitment period, with eight participants completing the entire 6-week intervention, as well as the pre- and post-intervention outcome measures. There were no reported adverse events. Participants were satisfied with the intervention and found it acceptable overall. Results of the secondary outcomes were promising for cognitive function (ACE III, pre: 63.3 ± 23.9 to post: 69 ± 24.6), fatigue (FSS, pre: 52.5 ± 7.3 to post: 45.6 ± 7.2), quality of life (SSQoL, pre: 131.0 ± 26.3 to post: 169.9 ± 15.3), physical function (PROMIS-PF, pre: 15.5 ± 6.3 to post: 15.8 ± 5.3), and occupational performance (COPM performance, pre: 9.3 ± 2.3 to post: 22.9 ± 4.2) and COPM satisfaction, pre: 9.9 ± 2.1 to post: 22.7 ± 3.5).ConclusionPreliminary results suggest low-modest recruitment and high retention rates for the OptiCogs intervention. Changes in cognitive function, fatigue, quality of life, and self-reported occupational performance show improvement from pre- to post-intervention. These potential benefits require further testing in a larger pilot trial.Trial registrationNCT05414539.

Examination of the job satisfaction and occupational burnout of physical education teachers based on certain variables according to the type of school they work in

The present study aims to scientifically reveal the effect of job satisfaction and professional burnout levels of physical education teachers working in private and public schools. A total of 120 physical education teachers, 61 male and 59 female, participated in the study. The job satisfaction scale, a demographic information form and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) were used to assess the demographic data of the physical education teachers. Frequency distributions were utilized in the evaluation of demographic data. Since the data were normally distributed, the data were presented in the form of mean and standard deviation. The difference between the groups and demographic variables was analyzed using independent t-test and one-way ANOVA. When there was a difference in more than two variables, the post-hoc Tukey HSD test was used to determine which of the variables contained the difference. Correlation analysis was performed to determine the correlations between the variables. It was determined that there was no significant difference between the demographic variables of the physical education teachers and their job satisfaction and professional burnout levels. While there is a low degree of correlation between occupational burnout and job satisfaction, there is a strong relationship between occupational burnout and its sub-dimensions. There was a weak and moderate relationship between occupational burnout and its sub-dimensions and job satisfaction. In conclusion, it can be stated that physical education teachers enjoy their jobs whether in private or public schools and their working environment can be improved by providing the necessary facilities and support.

Impact of indoor environmental quality (IEQ) factors on occupants' environmental perception and satisfaction in hospital wards

The hospital ward's environment directly impacts the health and well-being of its occupants, especially patients. This study investigated the impacts of environmental factors (thermal, acoustic, luminous, and IAQ) and self-described health conditions on subjective environmental perception and satisfaction in hospital wards. A winter field survey of 156 occupants (patients and visitors) was conducted in a large general hospital in Changsha, China, using a combination of environment measurements, questionnaires, and interviews. The results showed comprehensive effects of environmental factors on occupants' perceptions. Lower air temperature improved participants' assessment of the acoustic environment; lower noise environment led to a positive assessment of IAQ perception; lower CO2 concentration improved the assessment of the thermal environment in a hotter environment. Acoustic perception (13.4 %), IAQ perception (10.5 %), and luminous perception (8.2 %) were significantly affected by health conditions. Moreover, the poorer the health condition, the lower the environmental satisfaction rating, and the acceptable environmental thresholds differed for individuals with various health conditions. The "very weak" group scored 1.6 and 1.5 points lower than the "very fit" for each environmental factor and overall satisfaction, respectively. For IEQ control in healthcare facilities, it is necessary to fully consider patients' health conditions during hospitalization and create a better recuperation environment for vulnerable groups.

Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance to improve occupational performance goals for children with executive function deficits after acquired brain injury.

To determine the effectiveness of the Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP) approach in improving the occupational performance goals of children and young people with executive function deficits after acquired brain injury (ABI) (e.g. etiologies such as stroke, encephalitis, brain tumor, and traumatic brain injury). A replicated single-case experimental study using a randomized multiple baseline design across participants and goals was used. Three clusters of four participants (12 participants, nine males and three females, aged 8-16 years) were included. The intervention consisted of 14 individual CO-OP sessions. Each participant chose four goals; three goals were trained during the intervention sessions and a fourth goal served as the control. The Goal Attainment Scale (GAS) was used as a repeated measure to determine goal achievement while the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) was used to identify the perceived goal achievement of children, young people, and their parents. For 26 of the 35 trained goals, the intervention led to statistically significant improvements in the GAS. Perceived occupational performance and satisfaction improved significantly for the trained goals (30 out of 35 goals for the COPM performance and satisfaction of participants; 26 out 31 goals for the COPM performance of parents; 24 out of 31 goals for the COPM satisfaction of parents) and were maintained at the follow-up. Almost all COPM control goal results were significant, but these changes were not supported by the GAS measures or the statistical analysis. The generally positive results of this study provide evidence of the benefits of using the CO-OP approach with this population.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TEACHERS’ OCCUPATIONAL STRESS AND LIFE SATISFACTION: THE ROLE OF RESILIENCE

The present study examined the impact of occupational stress on the life-satisfaction with mediating role of resilience in context of higher education institutions. To explore the effect of employees’ resilience in connecting the occupational stress and life satisfaction, the data were collected through convenient sampling from higher educational institutions teachers over a structured questionnaire and were analyzed statistically by using different tools as per the nature and requirements of study. The data analysis reveals that life satisfaction is important for the teachers to improve their living standards. The findings of study revealed significant association between predictor, mediation, and criterion variables whereas teachers’ resilience shows the mediating effect through full mediation. Therefore, the results are significant and offer new insights to existing database of knowledge as well as brings forth valuable suggestions to policymakers. Additionally, the recommendations of current study offer new research avenues to better understand the issues related to occupational stress and life satisfaction in different contexts.