Well-being Programs Research Articles

Managing the impact of workplace trauma for Australian first responders: Harmonizing policy and practice

IMPACT Workers’ compensation costs are rising for first responder organizations, and mental health issues remain a serious concern for their employees. While advocates have long called for wellbeing programmes to address these challenges, this article evaluates the actual impact of such a programme. The authors explore the influence of team belongingness and a supportive work environment. While workplace trauma significantly affects the mental health of frontline workers, those who participated in the wellbeing programme and had strong team and organizational support reported lower psychological distress. The article highlights the importance of multi-level wellbeing interventions for the first responder workforce.

Uncovering student profiles. An explainable cluster analysis approach to PISA 2022

Educational data mining (EDM) applied to the wealth of data generated from international large-scale assessments (ILSAs) shows potential for identifying successful educational initiatives. Despite limited research on clustering methods in ILSAs, leveraging these methods to uncover student profiles can help decision-making in designing tailored programs. This study aims to identify and characterize 15-year-old student profiles using PISA 2022 data and reveal insights into the relationship between these profiles and factors such as ICT availability and use, gender, academic performance, and educational expectations. We analyzed PISA 2022 Spanish student data (n = 30,800) with a selection of 74 contextual variables, applying an end-to-end explainable cluster analysis methodology that integrates different machine learning (ML) and explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) techniques. This methodology covered data pre-processing, dimensionality reduction, clustering, and classification to ensure data quality and result explainability. We obtained 16 derived variables, 7 student clusters, and an optimal XGBoost classifier with a global accuracy of 0.8643. Using local and global SHAP values, we interpreted clusters, finding that socio-economic status and ICT availability and use at home are the most important factors differentiating student profiles. Our findings suggest the need to emphasize (i) proper ICT accessibility and use, as well as student support networks to improve academic performance, (ii) gender-specific well-being programs, and (iii) the encouragement of educational expectations tailored to students’ gender and their exposure to higher education. These results pave the way for personalized academic policies and programs through ML-based tools for uncovering student profiles.

Telehealth-delivered recovery-orientated well-being plan group program for bipolar disorder: a pilot randomised feasibility and acceptability study.

Psychological interventions may assist in the management of bipolar disorder, but few studies have assessed the use of group therapy programs using telehealth. The present study aimed to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a well-being group program for people living with bipolar disorder designed to be delivered via telehealth (Zoom platform) using a randomised controlled pilot design. Participants were randomly assigned to either the 8-week well-being plan treatment condition or the wait-list control condition. They were administered a structured diagnostic instrument to confirm bipolar disorder diagnosis followed by a set of self-report questionnaires relating to mood, quality of life, personal recovery, and stigma. A total of 32 participants (16 treatment; 16 control) were randomised with 12 participants completing the intervention, and 13 the control condition. The program appeared acceptable and feasible (75% retention rate) with a mean attendance being reported of 7.25 sessions attended out of a possible 8 sessions. Participants reported high levels of satisfaction overall with the intervention, with a mean score of 9.18 out of 10. Preliminary evidence suggests that delivery of the group program online is feasible and acceptable for participants living with bipolar disorder. As the program was designed to prevent relapse over time, further research is needed to determine if the program may be helpful in improving symptom outcomes over a longer follow-up period.

Employee Well-being Programs: Evidence-based Practices and Outcomes

Employee Well-being Programs: Evidence-based Practices and Outcomes

Awareness and use of Canadian Armed Forces mental wellbeing programs and resources among Regular Force personnel

To support broader efforts to empower military personnel to improve their health and wellbeing, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have implemented numerous mental wellbeing programs and resources. The aim of the present study was to better understand factors that may drive awareness and use of these programs/resources. Data from the Your Say Survey, which is routinely administered to CAF members to assess their perceptions of policies and programs, were analyzed to identify key predictors of awareness and use of programs and resources promoting positive mental health at the individual, unit leader, and organizational levels. The survey was completed in 2021 by a stratified random sample of 1,743 Regular Force members, which was weighted to be representative of the CAF Regular Force population. Awareness of most programs/resources that were considered was found to be quite high, whereas use was comparatively low. Results of logistic regression analyses revealed that program/resource awareness was generally lower among younger CAF members, those who were single and had no dependent children, and those who indicated their supervisors infrequently demonstrated positive behaviours around mental health. Awareness also varied depending on the organizational command in which CAF members worked. It was found that CAF members were generally more likely to have used the program/resource if they reported poorer self-rated mental health and were older. Similar to program/resource awareness, use varied significantly depending on CAF members’ organizational command. The potential implications of these findings for enhancing awareness of mental wellbeing programs and resources in the CAF, and in occupational settings as a whole, are discussed.

Co-designing the Family Wellbeing Program to Address Mental Health Disparities in a Latino Community: Lessons Learned

Abstract: Background: Latino caregivers caring for children under 5 years old who are under resourced, and underserved may be most vulnerable for experiencing mental health problems. Furthermore, Latino families with young children—during the COVID-19 pandemic—were at particular risk for multiple and concurrent stressors and acute adversities. Objectives: The Family Wellbeing Program (FWP) was designed to strengthen Latino caregivers’ mental health and mental well-being, and facilitate their access to mental health supports and service providers. Methods: Using the principles of community-based participatory research, a university research team and staff from a federally qualified health care center co-developed and implemented the FWP. Pre- and post-implementation focus groups with six staff were conducted and data analysis was guided by the RE-AIM framework. Results: Staff identified implementation challenges related to the pandemic and socioenvironmental factors affecting the reach and participation of Latino families. Staff perceived the program improved caregivers’ help-seeking behaviors, yet suggestions for improving the FWP for Latino caregivers were noted. Staff also discussed implementation strategies to sustain future programming. Conclusions: Implementation strategies along the RE-AIM dimensions were identified to improve the participation of Latino caregivers in future adaptations of the FWP. The implications of this work could show promise for sustaining programs designed to address disparities in mental health among Latino caregivers.

The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Improving Workplace Well-Being: A Systematic Review

In recent years, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) has significantly increased in the field of workplace well-being. This study systematically reviews the most common applications of AI in this context, covering literature published between 2018 and 2023, and evaluates both its current and potential impact. The research involved a comprehensive search in the Scopus and Web of Science databases, following PRISMA guidelines, resulting in 31 articles that met the inclusion criteria. The qualitative synthesis reveals that AI is being utilized in areas such as mental health monitoring, emotional support, personalized well-being programs, identification of psychosocial risk factors, and training and development. This review contributes to the existing literature by offering a detailed categorization of AI applications in workplace well-being, and it highlights the practical utility of AI in enhancing employee mental health and overall well-being. The findings suggest that AI has the potential to revolutionize the management of workplace well-being, providing actionable insights for both researchers and practitioners. Recommendations for future research are also discussed.

A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Behavioral Activation Intervention to Increase Engagement with Life and Well-Being in Older Adults

Introduction: Engagement with life is central to aging well. There is currently a lack of flexible programs for promoting engagement that tailor to the unique interests, capacities, and life circumstances of individuals. We designed and evaluated a new program for promoting engagement with later life based on principles of behavioral activation. Methods: A total of 135 adults aged 65 years and older who scored at or below the median on the Life Engagement Test were randomly assigned to either a 6-week behavioral activation program (n = 69) or a 6-week well-being program based on brief positive psychology interventions (the active control; n = 66). Participants completed assessments at baseline, 1-week follow-up, and 3-month follow-up. The primary outcome was engagement with life, and secondary outcome measures included social network characteristics, measures of mental health, well-being, and psychological and self-regulatory resources. Results: Participants in both conditions showed improvements in engagement with life post-intervention that were sustained at 3 months. Post-intervention improvements in both conditions were observed across most secondary outcomes; however, for several outcomes, participants with more limited functional and cognitive resources benefitted from participation in the positive psychology (active control) condition, but not the treatment condition. Conclusion: Similar levels of improvement in engagement with life and well-being were evident for participants who completed a behavioral activation-focused intervention, compared with participants who completed a positive psychology-focused intervention. The positive psychology approach may confer greater benefits for emotional well-being among those with poorer functional and cognitive abilities.

Impact of Interactions with a Puppy and Handler Versus a Handler Alone on Stress and Vitality in a University Setting: A Crossover Study.

Brief interactions with a well-behaved dog can enhance wellbeing, but most campus-based dog visitation programs employ adult, trained dogs. There is little research about the impact of puppies on wellbeing or stress in this context. The aim of this study was to examine changes in perceived stress and vitality after interacting with a puppy. Staff and students (N = 32) at an Australian university attended the campus on two occasions, one week apart, as part of a crossover design. Participants were pseudo-randomly allocated to a group whereby they spent 20 min interacting with a handler alone at Visit 1 and interacted with a puppy and handler at Visit 2, or another group which reversed the interaction order. Perceived stress and subjective vitality were measured before and after each interaction. The increase in vitality was greater in the group experiencing the puppy and handler interaction first (significant main effect, F(1,49) = 646.89, p = 0.024, η2p = 1.00), regardless of the visit, possibly due to a social lubricating effect by the puppy, which carried over to the 'handler alone' second visit. Reductions in perceived stress were greater after the interaction with the puppy, for both groups (significant interaction effect, F(1,49) = 5.13, p = 0.029, η2p = 0.11), indicating that the puppy's presence can reduce stress more than the handler alone. This extends the evidence for university-based dog-facilitated wellbeing programs, by showing that interactions with puppies can also be effective. This is important as it may mean that puppies already on campus as part of a socialization/training program can be incorporated into wellbeing programs for staff and students.

Beholding the Faces of Happiness: Soliciting the Views of the Chinese Art Students Toward an Enriched Well-Being Program

The basic purpose of this study was to investigate the happiness levels of students in Chinese art colleges, with the aim of addressing pressing issues of student well-being and identifying the factors that influence happiness levels in this academic context. This study adopts qualitative interview research method. We conducted in-depth interviews with representative students from art schools in different regions of China to gain a deeper understanding of their experiences and perceptions. Analysis of the survey data revealed several key findings. Overall, most students at Chinese art colleges say their happiness ranges from medium to high. Factors that promote their well-being include a supportive social environment, opportunities for artistic expression, and a sense of belonging to the university community. However, there is a significant correlation between happiness levels and factors such as work intensity, stress levels and financial problems. Qualitative analysis of the interview data further shed light on the students' nuanced experiences, underscoring the importance of overall well-being to academic success. The survey results show that the happiness of Chinese art college students is obviously affected by internal and external factors. To improve overall well-being, it is recommended that the Institute implement targeted interventions aimed at reducing academic stress, fostering a culture of support and inclusion, and providing resources for mental health and financial assistance. In addition, promoting a balance between academic rigor and extracurricular activities can lead to a more fulfilling student experience. Future research efforts should continue to monitor and assess student well-being levels, with a focus on longitudinal studies and comparative analyses across different academic institutions.

Not Aware or Don’t Dare! The Use and Efficacy of Employer-Sponsored Mental Wellbeing Programs

Employee well-being is a matter of significant concern for both workers and organizations. While many organizations implement costly Stress Management Interventions (SMIs) to improve employee well-being, their efforts are limited by debates as to which SMIs (if any) are effective and how “effectiveness” should be evaluated. The lack of research identifying key predictors of awareness and use of different types of SMIs makes it difficult for researchers and practitioners to draw conclusions with respect to SMI efficacy. Our research addresses these gaps in our understanding by using a contextual effects perspective and a large ( n = 1627) sample of employees working in a diversity of jobs within a single organization to identify the key predictors of employee awareness and use of five available SMIs and explore the link between use of these five SMIs and perceived stress. The following conclusions are supported by the findings from this study: (1) the organizational perceived culture is a better predictor of SMI awareness than individual employee attributes or employee well-being, (2) the predictors of SMI awareness are different from those predicting use, (3) employees who would most benefit from access to SMIs are less aware of what organizational benefits are available, and (4) predictions of awareness, use, and efficacy vary depending on SMI type. Using both theory and the results from our research we propose a comprehensive framework that conceptualizes SMI efficacy as a process not an outcome.

Proceedings from a National Summit on Workplace Mental Health and Well-Being: A Focus on the Graduate Academic Environment.

To spotlight the challenges, gaps, and opportunities to improve workforce mental health and well-being in higher education institutions (HEIs). We convened a full-day summit of subject matter experts from academia, business, government, and practice to share research and best practices on workplace mental health. Highlights from the summit are presented in this paper covering the importance of leadership and culture; the mental health costs associated with being a Black STEM scholar; the role of the environment; case studies of three university mental health and well-being programs; and the future of work. Establishing a culture of caring requires leadership commitment; strategic planning; accountability and shared responsibility; and measurement and evaluation. HEI leaders are called to lead by example; foster community partnerships; adopt a Total Worker Health framework; and regularly evaluate progress.

A Review of the Difficulties Faced by Low and Middle-income Countries in Hygiene and Healthcare Practices.

Hygiene has been identified as an important step in anticipating health-related pol-lution, with conflicting reports about consistent sanitation standards in the nation. This narrative review of published studies has led to the discussion of hand hygiene and health practices, as well as the identification of necessary methods that are available in low and middle-income countries. An effective survey of accessible information is conducted in this way based on re-view questions. A number of 372 articles were found on the web, and 32 articles were used in the final analysis. Overall, the standard of hand hygiene is set at 20.49%. Difficulties identified for the people in low or middle-income countries are poor awareness and sound information about hand hygiene, lack of resources including water, soap, hand scrubbing gel, etc., as mis-interpretations related to hand hygiene practices. People are paying more attention to healthcare-related illnesses as it becomes increasingly clear that most of them may be pre-vented. The free evidence-based practice states that to lower the danger of contamination, hand hygiene should be properly adhered to. The difficulties recognized in this review are reliable, with the discoveries of studies that have been led somewhere else. By conducting a basic ex-amination of the "Clean Care is Safer Care" as an excellent arrangement of WHO's global initiative activity on patient well-being programs, developing nations will have more time to consider the essential approaches for the use of fundamental disease prevention exercises in our health care settings.

Распространенность синдрома эмоционального выгорания врачей-ординаторов в Российской Федерации: анализ факторов и подходы к профилактике

<p>Health care workers' psychological well-being programs, including the prevention of burnout, from the very early stages of their medical career, is becoming an increasingly important task of the personnel management policy in the health care system. <strong>Aim.</strong> To determine the burnout prevalence among resident physicians studying in the Russian Federation. <strong>Materials and methods.</strong> The paper presents the results of the nationwide survey in which 434 respondents involved in 56 specialties of residency training took part. The median age of the respondents was 25 [24-26] (Me [Q<sub>1</sub>-Q<sub>3</sub>]) years old. Within the framework of the survey the method of diagnostics of emotional burnout syndrome Maslach K., Jackson S. (MBI), adapted by Vodopyanova N.E. and Starchenkova E.S., Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), as well as questions aimed at determining the factors associated with the burnout in resident physicians were used. <strong>Results.</strong> The results of the study showed that most residents (85,5%) were diagnosed with high and extremely high levels of burnout; 70.5% of respondents had high levels of anxiety, and 54,3% were diagnosed with depression of varying degrees of severity. The factors associated with the presence of burnout were female gender, difficult financial situation, smoking and alcohol consumption, insomnia, poor health, low commitment to the profession of a medical worker, lack of support from colleagues, monotonous work tasks and lack of prospects for career development. <strong>Conclusion.</strong> Identification, description as well as further correction of potentially modifiable factors associated with burnout of residents is an important part of planning a new personnel strategy of healthcare system, where one of the most important elements is protection of psychological well-being of medical workers and psychological support of their clinical practice.</p>

A narrative review of community wellbeing programmes and the reported outcomes for young carers

Wellbeing programmes have the potential to support young carers in their formative years. However, there is a scarcity of research into wellbeing programmes for young carers and their associated outcomes. This review aims to identify targeted community programmes that support the mental health and social wellbeing of young carers and their outcomes through the academic literature. An initial search of databases retrieved 335 articles, with ten meeting the inclusion criteria. Findings were organised thematically according to the programme outcomes: improvement in emotional wellbeing and quality of life; the development of new skills; respite from caring; and social connectedness and peer support.

Why do companies adopt workforce well-being programs?*

Economic evaluations of workforce well-being programs (WWPs) typically focus on return on investment (ROI) analyses to demonstrate that WWPs generate financial savings through reduced health care costs or improved labor productivity. Although the outcomes considered by WWP evaluations should be linked to businesses’ strategies to provide policy-relevant evidence, there are not empirical studies linking companies’ stated reasons for adopting WWPs to their choice of specific programming. This study used a large convenience sample of employer survey data to empirically link companies’ stated reasons for adopting WWPs to specific program implementation choices. In so doing, it analyzed the assumption that financial savings drive the adoption of WWPs and provides evidence of the extent to which ROI expectations drive WWP adoption. Our findings provide evidence that ROI is not necessarily the main objective of companies implementing WWPs and the current state of the literature does not align the evaluation metric with true company values, strategic objectives, and characteristics.

Not Aware or Don’t Dare! The Use and Awareness of Employer-Sponsored Mental Wellbeing Programs

Not Aware or Don’t Dare! The Use and Awareness of Employer-Sponsored Mental Wellbeing Programs

마음챙김 기반 교원 웰빙 증진 프로그램 개발 및 효과 분석

In this study, a mindfulness-based intervention program for teachers and empirically validated the effects on teachers’ stress and subjective well-being was developed. More specifically, based on the latest neuroscience and positive psychology research on mindfulness, we developed a mindfulness-based well-being program for teachers that incorporated mindfulness meditation and positive psychological factors such as compassion, loving-kindness, and gratitude. We implemented the program for eight weeks with the teachers in the experimental group. For the program effectiveness analysis, first, we compared between groups using Repeated Measure ANOVA to determine the treatment effect between the experimental and control groups. Second, Repeated Measure ANOVA and paired sample t-tests to examine the treatment effect within the experimental group were compared. In particular, we examined the persistence of the treatment effect, focusing on changes from pre- to 4-week follow up tests. The results showed that the mindfulness-based teacher well-being program was effective in increasing mindfulness and self-kindness, one of the components of compassion, and decreasing stress, such as anger and physical reactions. Furthermore, the effects on stress, which includes not only mindfulness and self-kindness but also depression, anger, and physical reactions as a result of these variables, were sustained up to four weeks after the program ended. On the other hand, self-criticism, life satisfaction, and negative affect showed significant treatment effects in the pre- and post-treatment periods, but the effects did not persist four weeks after the program ended. Based on the results of this study, we suggested ways to improve teachers' mental health and subjective well-being.

Community-based health programme for nurses and midwives: A mixed methods evaluation.

To evaluate a community-based psychological health and well-being programme for nurses and midwives. Mixed methods programme evaluation. Four studies were included: observational descriptive study (cross-sectional survey) of the health, well-being and experiences of previous programme participants (Study 1); observational exploratory prospective cohort study (longitudinal survey) of health, well-being and experiences of participants who engaged in the programme from 2020 to 2023 (Study 2); qualitative descriptive study (interviews) of experiences and perceptions of nurses and midwives who have engaged with the programme as participants or clinicians (Study 3); observational descriptive study (cross-sectional survey) of experiences and perceptions of programme stakeholders (Study 4). Surveys included validated measures. Data were collected online. Descriptive, repeated measures and thematic analyses were conducted. One-hundred and fifteen participants completed Study 1: 20% (n = 23) reported stress in the severe-to-extremely severe category; 22% (n = 25) reported psychological distress in the moderate-to-severe category. Thirty-one programme participants were followed in Study 2: the effect of the programme on participant well-being over time was not significant. Sixteen programme participants and eight programme clinicians were interviewed (Study 3). Experiences of nurses and midwives engaging with the programme were highly positive and strong attributes of the programme included (1) shared professional experience of clinicians and participants which supported a common language and facilitated understanding, and (2) effective programme leadership, and autonomy and flexibility in the clinicians' role which enabled and supported a positive working experience. Thirty-nine broader stakeholders participated in a cross-sectional survey (Study 4). All stakeholders reported high satisfaction with the programme. Participants considered the programme being 'by nurses and midwives, for nurses and midwives' critical to the programme's success and value. The community-based psychological health and well-being programme developed, led and delivered by nurses and midwives, for nurses and midwives, was a highly valued resource. Levels of stress and burnout in the health workforce are high. A community-based psychological health and well-being programme for nurses and midwives was found to be an important and highly valued resource for nurses and midwives. A programme delivered by nurses and midwives, for nurses and midwives, was considered critical to programme success. Programme leadership, and autonomy and flexibility in the programme clinicians' roles, facilitated and supported a positive working experience for programme clinicians. Quality and safety in patient care is directly impacted by the well-being of nurse and midwives. A community-based psychological health and well-being programme for nurses and midwives was found to be an important and highly valued resource for nurses and midwives. Survey findings were reported according to STROBE (von Elm etal. in Lancet, 370:1453-1457, 2007) and qualitative findings according to COREQ (Tong etal. in International Journal for Quality in Health Care, 19(6):349-357, 2007). No patient or public contribution.

A model linking financial well-being and burnout in a South African engineering organisation

Orientation: This study investigates a model linking financial well-being (FWB) and burnout of employees in a South African engineering organisation.Research purpose: To investigate how personal financial resources and burnout are interrelated, focussing on the roles of satisfaction with remuneration (SWR), personal financial efficacy (PFE), and financial interference (FI).Motivation for the study: This model could help management, human resources, and employees understand the complex dynamics of these phenomena and reduce burnout by implementing targeted interventions.Research approach/design and method: Purposive sampling (N = 515) was used. Structural equation modelling (SEM) with confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural paths were employed.Main findings: The study found that SWR positively impacts positive personal financial well-being (PPFW) and negatively impacts negative personal financial well-being (NPFW). Personal financial efficacy positively affects PPFW and negatively affects NPFW. However, SWR did not significantly impact FI. Negative personal financial well-being strongly contributed to FI, which in turn increased burnout. Contrary to expectations, PPFW did not significantly reduce FI. Additionally, SWR indirectly reduced burnout through NPFW and FI in sequence.Practical/managerial implications: Organisations should ensure competitive and equitable reward and remuneration strategies to enhance employees’ financial well-being and reduce burnout. Financial self-efficacy can be improved through interventions focussing on PFE and integrated financial well-being programmes to mitigate the risk of burnout and its demands on human and organisational resources.Contribution/value-add: This study contributes to the limited research on financial well-being and burnout, highlighting the importance of fair remuneration and personal financial resources in promoting employee well-being and reducing burnout.