Social Workplace Research Articles

Nurses' Workplace Social Capital and the Influence of Transformational Leadership: A Theoretical Perspective.

Workplace social capital is the relational network, created by respectful interactions among members of a workforce, can contribute to the formation of a wholesome psychological work environment in an organization. Nurses' workplace social capital is a derivative of the workplace social capital, formed because of the complex interactions among the nursing and between the other healthcare professionals. Transformational leadership is a style of leadership that addresses the emotional wellbeing of its workforce and inspires shared group ethics, norms, and goals. The philosophy of transformational leadership is grounded on the premise of workforce as human beings with specific needs. Transformational leadership has been confirmed as a strong predictor of nurses' workplace social capital. Meanwhile, it is of an academic and/or healthcare industry operational value to scholarly assess and discern the theoretical influence of transformational leadership on nurses' workplace social capital. In this paper, we have attempted to explore the associations between transformational leadership and nurses' workplace social capital from a theoretical perspective. We have discussed the importance of each sub-dimension of transformational leadership (modeling the way, inspiring a shared vision, challenging the process, enabling others to act and encouraging the heart) in building up the social capital relational network. Finally, we have proposed a graphic framework of our analysis to facilitate understanding of the associations between the transformational leadership and nurses' workplace social capital, in formation of a healthy work environment which is the foundation for efficiency and productivity of the workforce.

Happiness and Moral Courage Among Iranian Nurses During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Workplace Social Capital.

BackgroundCOVID-19 has become a major global health problem, and healthcare professionals are facing lot of pressure and stress. Accumulated resources and energy obtained via interpersonal relationships is called social capital, which can reduce the negative effects of pressure and stress related to the workplace by impacting happiness and moral courage. This study explored the effect of workplace social capital on moral courage and happiness in nurses working in the COVID-19 wards.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, using a random sampling method, 169 nurses from three hospitals in East Mazandaran province, Iran, participated who worked in COVID-19 wards. The Onyx and Bullen Social Capital Questionnaire, the Sekerka's Moral Courage Scale, and the Oxford Happiness Inventory were used in this study. Descriptive analysis, Pearson correlation analyses, and stepwise multiple regression were performed for data analysis.ResultsThe mean age of nurses was 31.38 ± 6.82 years. Socio-demographic factors such as age, gender, educational level, and employment status were significant predictors of workplace social capital. Social capital was positively correlated with moral courage (r = 0.29, p < 0.01) and happiness (r = 0.32, p < 0.01). In addition, social capital explained 6.8 and 8.6% variance in predicting moral courage and happiness, respectively.ConclusionsWorkplace social capital is a vital organizational phenomenon affecting nurses' moral courage and happiness, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, hospitals should be aware of the importance of social capital; they should ensure that all the practices and policies are in place to develop and increase it.

Psychometric Investigation of the Workplace Social Courage Scale (WSCS): New Evidence for Measurement Invariance and IRT Analysis.

This study, after presenting a review of the existent literature on courage and social courage in the workplace, has the purpose of providing new evidence about the psychometric properties of an Italian-language version of the Workplace Social Courage Scale (WSCS), verifying its measurement invariance across gender and the discrimination properties of its items through IRT analysis. The aim of the research is testing the Italian version of the WSCS; for this scope, four studies have been conducted on four different samples analyzing the factorial structure, the internal consistency, the measurement invariance across gender, and the convergent and concurrent validity. The results support the psychometric properties in terms of factor structure, reliability, validity, and utility, showing positive relationships with the criterion variables: satisfaction of work-related basic needs, prosocial rule breaking and work performance. The current study extends prior findings by providing further insights about the construct of courage and social courage in the workplace, especially in the Italian context. As, to date, little is known about the impact of social courage on work and organizational outcomes, the availability of a reliable, valid, and cross-culturally supported instrument can promote the role of this construct in positive organizational behavior research.

The Effect of Workplace Social Courage on Life Satisfaction: A Scale Adaptation

Although the concept of courage has a long history, it is a latterly popular topic in organizational behavior. It is also an essential attitude or behavior for employees in whistleblowing, voice, unethical pro-organizational behavior. A valid and reliable scale is needed to reveal the effect of courage in different cultures. The study aims to adapt the workplace social courage scale to Turkish and test the validity and reliability of the scale. In three studies, the authors tested the scale's linguistic equivalence first, then its structural validity, and finally its predictive power on life satisfaction. Study one sample consisted of 48 academicians with sufficient English and Turkish language. Study two sample involved 267 employees from the tourism and finance sector. Study three sample comprised 374 data obtained from industrial and textile manufacturing employees. Back and forth translation and test-retest analysis results show the Turkish form has linguistic equality. Explanatory factor analysis results indicate the adapted scale has a one-dimensional factor like the original one. Confirmatory factor analysis results reveal the adapted form has the one-factor structure in a different sample. The structural model analysis showed workplace social courage has a significant and positive effect on life satisfaction. The adapted Turkish form of workplace social courage scale is valid and reliable.

Multi-Level Social Capital and Subjective Wellbeing Among the Elderly: Understanding the Effect of Family, Workplace, Community, and Society Social Capital.

BackgroundMaintaining the subjective wellbeing of the elderly people is one of the major concerns in promoting health aging. This study concerned the influence of multi-level social capital on subjective welling and explored the affecting path among the elderly.MethodsA total of 1,078 elderly individuals anonymously and effectively surveyed in 2018, data was collected including their family, workplace, community, society social capital and subjective wellbeing, we used the structural equation modeling to test the hypothesis relationships among the variables.ResultsWe found that the total score of subjective wellbeing among the aging participants was 72.36 ± 10.08 on a range of 0–100. Family (β = 0.151, P < 0.001), workplace (β = 0.090, P < 0.001), community (β = 0.163, P < 0.001) social capital had a direct positive effect on subjective wellbeing. Society social capital had a direct positive effect on family (β = 0.253, P < 0.001), workplace (β = 0.585, P < 0.001), community (β = 0.438, P < 0.001) social capital. And society social capital had an indirect positive effect on subjective wellbeing through the mediating role of family, workplace, and community social capital.ConclusionThe research demonstrated that all the micro, meso and macro levels of social capital have protective effects for subjective wellbeing through direct or indirect way, inspiring to provide continuous improvement measures for multi-level social capital aimed at the elderly people.

The Impact of Psychological Capital and Workplace Social Support on Pediatric Oncology Nurses' Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Symptomology.

Introduction: Work-related post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop in nurses. Pediatric oncology nursing is a potentially high-risk subspecialty for PTSD secondary to the nature of the work. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of PTSD symptomology and explore relationships between nurse psychological capital, workplace social supports, and PTSD symptomology in pediatric oncology nurses. Methods: The study utilized a cross-sectional correlational survey design. Pediatric oncology nurses working in direct patient care in the United States completed a demographics questionnaire, Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PCQ), Coworker Support Scale, Supervisor Support Scale, and the Post traumatic Checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (PCL-5). Descriptive and inferential statistics, including logistic regression models, were used to analyze data. A cutoff score of ≥31 on the PCL-5 was used to determine the prevalence of PTSD symptomology. Results: The sample included 424 nurses. The prevalence of PTSD symptomology was 13.4%. Work setting (inpatient), decreased coworker and leadership social support, and psychological capital were independently associated with PTSD symptomology. After controlling for covariates, only psychological capital was associated with PTSD symptomology. For a 1 unit decrease in PCQ score, pediatric oncology nurses were 4.25 times more likely to have PTSD symptomology. Discussion: PTSD prevalence rates in pediatric oncology nurses are aligned with rates found in other nursing specialties. Nurse psychological capital may play a protective role against PTSD symptomology. Implications for Future Research: Findings support PTSD as a serious workplace concern for nurses. Workplace programs that foster nurses' psychological capabilities should be considered to protect against the development of PTSD symptomology.

The Relationship between Subjective Risk Intelligence and Courage with Working Performance: The Potential Mediating Effect of Workplace Social Courage.

Background: There is a growing attention toward the construct of courage from a psychological point of view; recently, courage has been related with numerous positive individual behaviors and outcomes, such as coping strategies and subjective wellbeing, and an increasing number of studies explore the role of courage in the working and organizational environments. The present study is aimed to analyze the effect that individual courage—together with risk intelligence—and workplace social courage have on working performance; Methods: The participants are 961 Italian workers, balanced by gender; the measures used are: Courage, Subjective Risk Intelligence Scale, Workplace Social Courage Scale, and Performance Scale. Data were analyzed using Structural Equation Models; Results: The results show the effect of subjective risk intelligence and courage on working performance, both directly and through the mediation of workplace social courage; Conclusions: Suggestions for further research and practical implications are discussed.

Assessing Nurses’ Workplace Social Capital: A Study Protocol for Culturally Appropriate Instrument Development

Workplace social capital positively influences the quality but reduces the cost of healthcare services. Academic research suffers from limited and inadequate culturally sensitive nurses’ workplace social capital instruments. Here we report on the design and protocol of a culturally focused instrument development study in China. The overarching objective of our dual phase study is to develop and validate a questionnaire measuring nurses’ workplace social capital tailored toward Chinese cultural values and norms. In the first phase of INSTRUMENT DEVELOPMENT, the qualitative phase, we will conduct interviews with purposefully sampled nurses from five geographically diverse regions capturing 16 provinces in China to formulate the initial version of the Nurses’ Workplace Social Capital Questionnaire (NWSCQ). Data collection will be stopped at the saturation point and content analysis will be performed for interview data in parallel. The initial version of the NWSCQ will be evaluated and confirmed by two-rounds of expert consultation (target N = 20) and pre-tested among 70 nurses. During the second phase of INSTRUMENT VALIDATION or the quantitative phase, we will validate the psychometric properties of the NWSCQ. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire will be examined and validated through three cross-sectional surveys among nurses (target N = 1154) randomly selected from 12 tertiary hospitals. We have reported our study protocol with the intention of sharing our experience with researchers in other countries who are striving to advance the phenomenon of culturally sensitive and social normatively appropriate nurses’ workplace social capital. Findings from our study should advance the development of culturally appropriate and valid instrument of nurses’ workplace social capital, another important step toward recognition and incorporation of cultural diversity in the daily operation of healthcare industry.

Association of Paternal Workplace and Community Social Capital With Paternal Postnatal Depression and Anxiety: A Prospective Study.

ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to examine the association between workplace and community social capital and fathers' postpartum depression and anxiety at 3 months after delivery in Japan.MethodsFathers who had babies delivered in two obstetric clinics in Tokyo, Japan were recruited to take part in the study (response rate = 76.2%). Participants completed questionnaires measuring workplace and community social capital, depression, and anxiety at 1 week and a follow-up at 3 months post-delivery (N = 398). Multiple linear regression analyses were performed with multiple imputation for missing data (at most, N = 60, 15.1%).ResultsCommunity social capital was inversely associated with both depressive symptoms (β = −0.21, 95%CI = −0.33 to −0.08) and anxiety (β = −0.38, 95%CI = −0.66 to −0.11) at 3 months, after adjusting for covariates. No association was found between workplace social capital and depressive symptoms and anxiety.ConclusionPaternal community social capital, but not workplace social capital, was shown to be a preventive factor for paternal depression and anxiety up to 3 months post-delivery. To prevent paternal mental health problems during the postpartum period, an intervention to promote paternal community, rather than workplace, social capital may be warranted.

Anthropotropism: Searching for Recognition in the Scandinavian Gig Economy

By curtailing workplace socialisation, platform-mediated gig work hinders the development of affective relationships necessary for the experience of recognition. However, extant research into recognition at work has typically only focused on face-to-face interactions, overlooking technologically complex forms of work where recognition might be sought from and via technical intermediaries. Advancing sociological research into the lived experience of contemporary gig workers, this article draws on 41 interviews with Foodora riders in Norway and Sweden to explore how gig workers solicit and experience recognition at work. I identify a process of anthropotropism, whereby gig workers turn to human connections where possible in an attempt to pursue traditional social scripts of collegiality and to gain recognition from legitimate human sources. Further, I identify how platform-mediated communication does not prohibit recognition, but intermittent automation and neoliberal modes of instrumentalising recognition can disrupt the development of individual subjectivities and lead to feelings of mechanistic dehumanisation.

The Effects of Resilience and Related Factors on Burnout in Clinical Nurses, Kagoshima, Japan.

Burnout, due to extreme mental and physical fatigue, and emotional exhaustion, leads to decreased nursing quality and turnover. However, not all nurses are observed as burnouts in the same work environment, and resilience and related factors may have effects on the development of burnouts. Therefore, we conducted a cross-sectional study to examine the effects of resilience and related factors on the burnout in clinical nurses, Kagoshima, Japan. Data for this cross-sectional study involving nurses (n = 98) was collected using the following questionnaire surveys: the Bidimensional Resilience Scale, The Workplace Social Support Scale, and the Japanese version of the Pine's Burnout Scale. Using burnout as a dependent variable, analyses were conducted using one-way analysis of variance and multiple regression analysis after adjusted for related factors. The prevalence of burnouts was 19.6% on the mainland and 36.1% on remote island. Innate resilience, acquired resilience, workplace social support, and burnout showed no significant difference between nurses on the mainland and remote island. In the mainland participants, innate resilience (β = -0.492, P < 0.001) and acquired resilience (β = -0.325, P = 0.007) showed a negative association with burnout, and similar associations were observed innate resilience (β = -0.520, P = 0.004) and acquired resilience (β = -0.336, P = 0.057) in the remote island participants. For all participants, innate resilience (β = -0.443, P = 0.001) and workplace social support (β = -0.204, P = 0.031) showed a negative association with burnout, and turnover intention was positively associated (β = 0.025, P = 0.021). A negative association between burnout and innate resilience factors was observed in the mainland and remote island. Further evaluation of innate resilience is necessary for burnout prevention in clinical nurses.

Association Between Workplace Social Capital and Neck Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Workers.

We examined the association between workplace social capital (WSC) and presence of neck pain (NP) among workers. This cross-sectional study included 595 workers. Presence of NP was assessed using Numerical Rating scale. WSC (overall, bonding, bridging, and linking) was divided into three categories (low, middle, and high) based on tertile distributions. We used logistic regression analysis to investigate the association between WSC and presence of NP. Low overall, bonding, and linking social capital were significantly associated with presence of NP in comparison with each high social capital (overall: adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.76, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.14 to 2.73; bonding: aOR = 1.78, 95% CI = 1.19 to 2.67, linking: aOR = 2.18, 95% CI = 1.32 to 3.63). Lower WSC had an association with higher prevalence of NP among workers.

Identification of Workplace Social Sustainability Indicators Related to Employee Ergonomics Perception in Indonesian Industry

Sustainability indicators have provided a breakthrough for companies to assess their performance in supporting corporate sustainability. There is no standard framework for these support-defining indicators to conduct a social sustainability performance assessment. There is a limitation of quantitative social sustainability indicators appropriate for performing ergonomic concept assessments. Ergonomics, as a field concerning people and their interactions with the environment, in particular, the workplace, can play a role in social sustainability, besides its conventional approach of workplace re-engineering. Three major areas of ergonomics were analyzed. The indicators were established based on a review of the literature and confirmed using a factor analysis that covered all major aspects of workplace ergonomics. The factor analysis aimed to reduce the complexity of workplace social sustainability indicators related to ergonomics. The final result integrated 73 indicators into 17 indicators based on three major areas of ergonomics. The findings showed that the best workplace social sustainability indicators were divided into five factors: employee well-being, safety concerns, workplace comfort, musculoskeletal health, and environmental concerns. It would be very beneficial for the industry and the government to support corporate social sustainability and the global sustainability index.

Effect of Psychological Distress on the Association of Workplace Social Capital with Presenteeism and Sickness Absence.

Greater workplace social capital (WSC) can be related to workers' health and productivity. We sought to clarify the association between horizontal WSC and presenteeism and sickness absence (SA) and to examine the effects of psychological distress on these associations among Japanese workers. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2017 at seven large Japanese companies. Logistic regression analysis was performed with presenteeism and SA as the dependent variables, horizontal WSC as an independent variable, and sociodemographic characteristics and psychological distress as covariates. After adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics, the results showed that greater horizontal WSC was associated with lower presenteeism and SA. The odds ratios for the relationship between horizontal WSC and presenteeism and that between horizontal WSC and SA dropped moderately after adjustment for psychological distress but remained significant. Further exploration of the factors underlying the relationship between WSC and productivity is needed to confirm if WSC enhances workers' health and productivity and to inform the development of effective occupational health initiatives.

8 Resident Physician Perspectives on the Impact Of COVID-19 on Professional Interpersonal Relationships and Workplace Social Capital: A Qualitative Study

Interpersonal relationships between emergency medicine resident physicians and their colleagues is key for resident wellness and for optimizing patient care. Studies have shown that the COVID-19 pandemic has reduced social connectedness and negatively impacted workplace social capital in many non-medical professions, yet studies are limited in the medical field, particularly with physicians. This project sought to uncover resident physician perspectives on the impact of COVID-19 on professional relationships and to gain ideas on how to optimize workplace social capital despite and beyond the current limitations of the pandemic.

SOCIAL WORK IN THE SYSTEM OF ASSISTANCE TO THE PERSONS WITH ADDICTIVE EATING BEHAVIOR

The article is devoted to the topical problem of psychosocial assistance to people with addictive eating behavior, which is common among teenagers and young people, leads to tragic consequences, but still lacks a sufficient scientific basis and a comprehensive solution. The purpose of the study is to determine the place of social work and the content of the social workers’ activity in the system of assistance to persons with addictive eating behavior. Theoretical analysis of research of the food deviations problem, the concrete definition of terms «dysfunctional eating», «eating disorders», content and comparative analysis of professional functions of social workers in the context of helping people with addictive eating behavior are used as methods to achieve the goal of the research. It is determined that the professional activity of a social worker with persons with dysfunctional and disordered eating takes place in medical institutions, social services and secondary schools. The most common task of social work with persons with food addictions is the prevention. Special functions of a social worker in an inpatient (medical) institution are administrative and organizational work with eating disorders patient. Educational, social support and rehabilitation function are predominant in the activities of a social worker in social institutions. Instead, the specialist carries out for the most part diagnostics and monitoring, formation of eating habits, socio-pedagogical support of young people with dysfunctional eating in educational institutions. The leading role of a social worker at all stages of intervention and the need for a multidisciplinary approach in the prevention, correction and rehabilitation of people with addictive eating behavior are identified.

The Ideal Worker Norm and Workplace Social Support among U.S. Workers

ABSTRACT Research has shown that the ideal worker norm stipulating workers should be completely devoted to their jobs without interference from outside responsibilities creates difficulties for workers. At the same time, scholarship continues to emphasize the positive outcomes associated with coworker and supervisor support in making it easier for workers to combine work and family. Yet we know little about what shapes the extent to which workers have access to supportive coworkers and supervisors. This study brings together these two strands of scholarship to explore the relationships between the perceived presence of the ideal worker norm and two forms of workplace social support: coworker support and supervisor support. Using data from a nationally representative sample of U.S. workers, this study finds that the perceived presence of the ideal worker norm—regardless of gender and largely irrespective of parenthood and elder-care responsibilities—is associated with decreased levels of both forms of support. Taken together, these findings contribute to the literature by documenting the impact of the ideal worker norm on the workplace social support to which workers have access.

Assessment of Workplace Social Encounters: Social Profiles, Burnout, and Engagement.

Employed people (N = 826) completed questionnaires including the Social Encounters Scale that assessed civility, incivility, and intimidation from supervisors, coworkers, and respondents on identical frequency scale. Factor analyses, correlations, and profile analysis addressed the first research question by demonstrating the benefits of assessing various dimensions of workplace social dynamics on a common rating scale. A subsample (N = 275 completed a second survey, confirming consistency over time. To address the second research question a Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) identified five social profiles: Civil, Low Contact, Uncivil Coworkers, Uncivil Supervisor, and Uncivil. These profiles were associated with distinct perceptions of the work environment, addressing the third research question. To address the fourth research question, crosstabulation with a profile structure based on the Maslach Burnout Scale demonstrated close links of workplace social culture with psychological connections with work.

Actions Speak Louder Than Words: Workplace Social Relations and Worksite Health Promotion Use.

To study whether workplace social relations explain use of worksite health promotion (WHP), by examining colleagues' and team managers' WHP encouragement of a healthy lifestyle, and colleague WHP uptake. Multilevel data came from the second wave of the European Sustainable Workforce Survey (4345 employees of 402 team in 9 countries). Linear probability models were used to test use of two types of WHP: healthy menus and sport facilities. Employees are more likely to use healthy menus and sport facilities when more colleagues do so too and when colleagues encourage a healthy lifestyle. Surprisingly, encouragement by one's manager plays no role. Social contact among colleagues can facilitate WHP use, and WHP initiatives should pay attention to the influential role of colleagues.

Why Are Workplace Social Support Programs Not Improving the Mental Health of Canadian Correctional Officers? An Examination of the Theoretical Concepts Underpinning Support.

In Canada, public safety personnel, including correctional officers, experience high rates of mental health problems. Correctional officers’ occupational stress has been characterized as insidious and chronic due to multiple and unpredictable occupational risk factors such as violence, unsupportive colleagues and management, poor prison conditions, and shift work. Given the increased risk of adverse mental health outcomes associated with operational stressors, organizational programs have been developed to provide correctional officers with support to promote mental well-being and to provide mental health interventions that incorporate recovery and reduction in relapse risk. This paper uses two theories, the Job Demand Control Support (JDCS) Model and Social Ecological Model (SEM), to explore why workplace social support programs may not been successful in terms of uptake or effectiveness among correctional officers in Canada. We suggest that structural policy changes implemented in the past 15 years have had unintentional impacts on working conditions that increase correctional officer workload and decrease tangible resources to deal with an increasingly complex prison population. Notably, we believe interpersonal support programs may only have limited success if implemented without addressing the multilevel factors creating conditions of job strain.