Scheduled Research Articles

Role of Organic Products for Achieving A Sustainable Green Economy

Sustainable green economy is the need of time, and orogenic products can play a decisive role in this goal. Growing demand for organic food is due to the increase in disposal income at urban along with the Government supports, innovative technologies & investments and these factors are the drivers for organic farming and its marketing. These drivers provide immense potential and scope for the Indian organic sector but there are many challenges faced at producers, processors and consumer level, low consumption of Orogenic products is a serious concern of researchers and policymakers. To address this issue, we have studied the phenomenon in rural areas and provided insights to researchers and policymakers about the factors that influence the consumers’ behaviour in rural areas awareness among consumers, the high cost of organic food products, limited availability of organic food products, busy work schedule are Challenges faced by Consumer level We have designed an integrated model based on PCA to study the rural areas consumers’ behavioural intentions towards Orogenic products. 300 useable sample is obtained to analyse by implying PCA- Model. Results revealed that environmental knowledge is a significant predictor and a moderator, but consumers are less educated about ecological issues in rural areas. Results also revealed that Orogenic products and non-orogenic products users or consumers’ preferences are differently influenced by factors studied to measure adoption intentions of orogenic products. Sensitivity analysis results revealed that social influence followed by effort expectance and perceived expectancy of orogenic products are more important for rural areas’ customers. The study also provides empirical evidence of methodological advancement using PCA- Model, Multiple Regression Model and ANOVAand these studies involving human behaviour.

Predicting circadian phase in community-dwelling later-life adults using actigraphy data.

The accurate estimation of circadian phase in the real-world has a variety of applications, including chronotherapeutic drug delivery, reduction of fatigue, and optimal jet lag or shift work scheduling. Recent work has developed and adapted algorithms to predict time-consuming and costly laboratory circadian phase measurements using mathematical models with actigraphy or other wearable data. Here, we validate and extend these results in a home-based cohort of later-life adults, ranging in age from 58 to 86 years. Analysis of this population serves as a valuable extension to our understanding of phase prediction, since key features of circadian timekeeping (including circadian amplitude, response to light stimuli, and susceptibility to circadian misalignment) may become altered in older populations and when observed in real-life settings. We assessed the ability of four models to predict ground truth dim light melatonin onset, and found that all the models could generate predictions with mean absolute errors of approximately 1.4 h or below using actigraph activity data. Simulations of the model with activity performed as well or better than the light-based modelling predictions, validating previous findings in this novel cohort. Interestingly, the models performed comparably to actigraph-derived sleep metrics, with the higher-order and nonphotic activity-based models in particular demonstrating superior performance. This work provides evidence that circadian rhythms can be reasonably estimated in later-life adults living in home settings through mathematical modelling of data from wearable devices.

Social norms and maternal health information-seeking behavior among adolescent girls: A qualitative study in a slum of Bangladesh.

Adolescent girls of reproductive age who actively seek information on maternal health often tend to have better health-seeking behaviors and maternal health outcomes. Due to scant research on reproductive aged adolescent girls' maternal health information seeking behavior in slum, in connection with social norms, we aimed for this particular study. Adopting an explorative qualitative research approach, we collected data from purposively selected married and unmarried adolescent girls aged 15-19 of different occupation by implying 12 in-depth interviews (IDIs), 2 focus group discussions (FGDs) with the same categories employed for IDIs, and 2 key informant interviews (KIIs) with a traditional birth attendant and a drug seller. Furthermore, the data were subjected to thematic analysis. Care's Social Norms Analysis Plot (SNAP) framework was undertaken as an interpretative tool for data that was emerging rather than serving as the foundation for the study's conduct and design. Thematic analysis was followed to analyze primary data. Findings show that most girls rely on maternal health-related information from unverified sources, including family members, traditional birth attendants, and drug sellers, which increases health risks. The majority reported that adolescent girls need professional healthcare providers in their area who would work according to their work schedule as most of the girls are engaged in income-generating work for about 9-11 hours, and the scope of work (daily wagers) hardly supports 'leave with pay'. Therefore, there is a critical need for professional healthcare services tailored to the girls' work schedules. Social norms and stigma further restrict access to reliable health information, especially for unmarried girls. Socioeconomic disparities also shape health-seeking behaviors, with wealthier adolescents having greater access to formal healthcare services. Addressing these barriers is crucial for improving maternal health outcomes. The results might be useful for informed policy formulation and program design to ensure better health outcomes for marginalized adolescents.

MONOPSONY POWER AND WORKER UTILITY IN THE 6X1 LABOR SCHEDULE

This study analyzes the 6x1 work schedule, characterized by six consecutive workdays followed by one rest day, highlighting its economic and social impacts. It explores the interaction between firm-level profit maximization and worker utility, incorporating monopsony power in wage-setting and diminishing returns to labor productivity. Using a theoretical model, the study examines how long working hours affect worker health, morale, and productivity while influencing organizational outcomes. Findings reveal significant distortions in equilibrium wages and hours due to monopsony power, emphasizing the trade-offs between economic efficiency and worker well-being. The study calls for policies addressing these inefficiencies to ensure sustainable labor practices.

Enhancing hospital protection measures reduces frontline medical workers’ stress during the pandemic

Frontline medical workers (FMWs) faced high stress levels in frontline clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to alleviate FMWs’ psychological stress by enhancing protection measures, which includes refining the selection process, improving protective measures for their work in frontline clinics, and determining the appropriate time for evacuation. A Chinese-language-version stress questionnaire, covering stress-related issues and sociodemographic characteristics, was administered to FMWs in Shanghai during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022, yielding 107 valid responses. The questionnaire’s reliability and validity were subsequently confirmed. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was applied to the stress-related questions, with the KMO and Bartlett’s test values of 0.886, 877.8522 (df = 120, p < 0.0001), respectively. Structure equation modeling (SEM) was used to confirm the factors and measure the relationships among the stress-related questions, factors and sociodemographic characteristics. The parameters of SEM named SOFAIDC were significant with SRMSR, RMSEA, AGFI, NFI, and PNFI being 0.0422, 0.0507, 0.9946, 0.9958, and 0.7615, respectively. Paired sample t-tests revealed the significant decrease in FMWs’ stress score of the current week and the previous week, with all t-values being negative and significant (p < 0.01). A latent growth model (LGM) named LGM30 verified the overall decreasing stress trend over the weeks, with high R-squares (> 0.80), significant positive linear and negative quadratic time parameters. Based on the trajectory analysis, a stress scorecard with an AUC of 0.856 was developed. This study found that there are four factors for FMWs’ psychological stress (anxiety about infection, exhaustion, lack of cognition for infection, and hesitant feeling), and improving targeted hospital protection could alleviate FMWs’ psychological stress through SOFAIDC, as all the total effect of factors or items from the feeling of being protected by hospital were negative. Meanwhile, although overall FMWs’ stress trend has decreased, 22.43% of FMWs have maintained or experienced a high stress trend, and the stress might increase over weeks in frontline clinics. To perfect hospital protection to alleviate FMWs’ psychological stress, the scorecard could be used to select FMWs with low-stress trends, LGM30 could be used to determine the withdrawal time (such as week 8), and targeted hospital protections could be designed based on the relationships between feeling of being protected by the hospital and factors in SOFAIDC, such as providing adequate protective equipment, improving the rationality of FMWs’ work schedules, recruiting personnel with higher education levels, and paying adequate monetary compensation.

Exploring Differences In-house Human Resource Versus Outsourced Human Resource Small Business Employee Samples in Perceived Organizational Support

No prior research has focused on comparing in-house human resource (HRI) versus outsourced human resource (HRO) small organization employee samples on perceived organizational support (POS). Using a survey methodology, the sample sizes of 101 HRI United States (US) employees and ninety-seven HRO US employees were equivalent in terms of company size, company age, gender, years of work experience, work schedule, average HR response time, and POS. Comparisons between HRI versus HRO samples for specific type of organizational support on POS showed that the HRI employee sample perceived higher POS for the Personalized and Collectivist than Monistic type. No differences were found for the HRO sample. In addition, a significant difference in correlations was found between HRI versus HRO employees’ average HR response time for resolving an issue to POS, with the relationship more negative for the HRI sample. Collectively these results suggest that HRI employees were more sensitive to the type of perceived organization support, and a slower HR response time negatively affected their POS. Study limitations and future research issues are discussed.

Improving primary healthcare quality in China through training needs analysis

The diagnosis and treatment capability levels of healthcare professionals directly affect the overall quality of medical services. Enhancing these capability levels requires strengthening the professional skill training of healthcare workers, especially those in primary care settings in economically underdeveloped areas. To understand the actual needs for professional skill training among primary healthcare workers, thereby providing data support for targeted training initiatives. An online survey was conducted using convenience sampling and subsequently, snowball sampling from May 10, 2023 to January 31, 2024. The survey included 3811 healthcare workers across China, and 3617 valid questionnaires were recovered. Descriptive analysis was used to compare the professional backgrounds and training needs of healthcare workers at different medical facility levels. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed to explore factors influencing the training of primary healthcare workers. The survey revealed that 70.1% of respondents were female, and 94.2% were from medical facilities below the provincial level, with 43.2% from township-level or lower medical facilities. Significant differences were found in age distribution, work experience, professional titles, educational levels, and training needs among provincial/national, prefectural/county, and township levels (P < 0.05). Busy clinical work schedules were the primary barrier to training participation. Most healthcare workers (78.7%) expected more than four training sessions per year, with the optimal frequency being quarterly. The most anticipated training topics among primary care workers were latest medical guidelines, new technologies/skills, and advanced management concepts, with over 80% interest. Compared with prefectural/county-level facilities, primary care workers at grassroots facilities are more significantly impacted by lower professional titles, lower education levels, weaker medical/technical skills, and insufficient specialized funding (odds ratio > 1, P < 0.001). Training should be tailored to the needs of healthcare workers at different medical facility levels. Particularly for primary care settings, providing special funding support and training in the latest medical guidelines, new technologies/skills, and advanced management concepts are important to improve the composition of titles, education, and professional technicians.

Talent retention in Asian emerging markets: evidence from China and Malaysia

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to study talent retention, which has long been an important area of inquiry across many industries. Consistently, both academicians and practitioners have recommended several “posthire” solutions to retain employees, such as allowing employees to work from home, providing them with flexible work schedules, promoting a work–life balance and rewarding good performance. In this study, the authors focus on how the “prehire” career-related characteristics of call center agents and their personality traits relate to their turnover intentions. This is important because selecting the right person at the employee selection stage can prevent firms from trying to retain someone who is likely to quit his/her job. Design/methodology/approach The authors surveyed 442 employees working in the call centers of a major multinational logistics company across China and Malaysia and used covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM) to test the model. Findings The results showed that call center agents who reapplied for a job in the current company had lower turnover intentions than first-time applicants. Similarly, call center agents who provided supplementary information during their application had lower turnover intentions than the ones who did not provide any such information. As for the personality traits, the results indicated that while the call center agents’ agreeableness and openness to experience were positively associated with their turnover intentions, their consciousness and emotional stability were negatively associated with them. Originality/value This study shows the uniqueness of Asian emerging markets and the call center industry by presenting several interesting patterns that are different from those that have been found in other industries.

Mexican Mint (Coleus amboinicus) Emulgel: Natural Solution for Antidandruff Hair Care

Today, the world is developing more and more in all sectors at a faster pace. But with all these developments, people are more prone to falling ill due to factors such as pollution, unhealthy lifestyles, busy work schedules, etc. Nowadays, even children suffer from the issue of dandruff and scalp infections which in later teenage years leads to unhealthy scalp and hair fall problems. Dandruff is a common scalp condition that affects individuals of all ages. It not only causes discomfort but also undermines hair health and aesthetics. Although scalp disorders are not among those that cause severe physical illness or morbidity yet are of great social concern. Scalp and hair conditions have more of a psychological impact on societies. Even minor changes in hair like graying of hair, affects the self-confidence and self-esteem of an individual. There are many types of medications and formulations to treat hair dandruff issues, one of which includes a novel drug delivery system such as “Emulgel” in the form of a mask. The anti-dandruff hair mask offers multiple benefits, including reduction in scalp inflammation and effective management of hair dandruff problems. Furthermore, it rejuvenates the scalp and nourishes hair follicles due to its natural vitamins and nutrient content. Keywords: Dandruff, Pityriasis capitis, Seborrheic dermatitis, Mexican mint, Herbal hair mask, Hair mask

HUBUNGAN PENJADWALAN KERJA DENGAN KELELAHAN KERJA PERAWAT RUANG RAWAT INAP DI MASA PANDEMI (COVID-19)

Work fatigue is still a problem in the world of work. This is shown by the data in which work fatigue is a factor that contributesas much as 50% or more to the occurrence of work accidents. The work schedule plays an important role in a person's sleepdisorders, physical and psychological disorders as well as social and family disorders. Objective to examine the correlationbetween nurses scheduling and work fatique in inpatient room during a pandemic (COVID-19). Method This study used ananalytical survey design by using the retrospective approach. The sampling technique in this study was probability samplingby using simple random sampling. Instruments were the form of a questionnaire of evaluation of nursing service schedulingin inpatient rooms and IFRC (Industrial Fatigue Research Committee). The number of respondents was 73 nurses. Thestatistical test used was the Somers'd test to determine the correlation between variables of work scheduling and work fatigueof inpatient nurses. Results out of 73 respondents, the majority of nurses experienced work fatigue in the moderate category,namely 37 nurses and nurses experienced fatigue in the high category as many as 30 nurses with good work scheduling. Inthe Somers'd test, the value (p = 0.009) or H0 was rejected and H1 was accepted, which means that there was a significantcorrelation between the two variables. Conclusion the work scheduler in the fairly good category has moderate and high workfatigue, while the very good work schedule has a moderate level of work fatigue, which tends to be low so that there is acorrelation between work scheduling and the work fatigue of inpatient nurses. Hospital is expected to apply work schedulingcharacteristics in arranging schedules in which one of the goals is to reduce the level of work fatigue of nurses who work inthe inpatient room of the Unisma Islamic Hospital Malang. Nurses are expected to reduce special requests for exchangingwork schedules with other nurses.

Chronotype, temporal patterns of eating and diet composition on work and work-free days

ABSTRACT Temporal patterns of eating and diet composition are influenced by factors including circadian preference (chronotype) and work schedule, yet their combined influence is unknown. We investigated relationships between chronotype, temporal eating patterns (duration of eating window (DEW), time of first (FEO) and last (LEO) eating occasions), and diet composition on workdays (WD) and work-free days (FD). Non-shift workers (n = 39) completed the Chrononutrition Questionnaire (CNQ) (age: 38.8 ± 17.2 years, BMI: 24.8 ± 4.78 kg/m2, 82% female) that captures chronotype and temporal eating patterns, and returned work diaries (work schedule) and 7-day food diaries (diet composition) after 2 weeks. Twenty-nine participants provided dietary data for at least two work and work-free days. Later chronotype was associated with later FEO on FD (rs = 0.45, p = 0.004), later LEO on FD (rs = 0.60, p < 0.001) and WD (rs = 0.61, p < 0.001), and longer DEW on WD (rs = 0.37, p = 0.024). Relationships between chronotype and diet composition were small. Later FEO was associated with higher % energy from fat (rs = 0.39, p = 0.043) and lower fibre intake (rs = −0.69, p < 0.001) on WD. Later chronotypes had shorter and later eating windows on FD than WD. Our findings suggest that relationships between chronotype, temporal eating patterns, and diet composition differ by day type. Further investigation may inform dietary strategies that are day-specific.

Research progress on the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire in the prevention and control of workplace psychosocial hazards

Workplace psychosocial hazards may be related to job content or work schedule, specific characteristics of the workplace or opportunities for career development. They can lead to significant losses and harm to workplace relationships, labor participation, productivity and quality within the workplace. This article introduces the definition, types and occupational hazards of workplace psychosocial hazards, as well as the theoretical source, main features and update of the version of the assessment tool Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire, and provides suggestions for the assessment, monitoring, and future scientific research on workplace psychosocial hazards in China.

Insights into the Risk Factors and Outcomes of Post-COVID-19 Syndrome-Results from a Retrospective, Cross-Sectional Study in Romania.

Post-Coronavirus Disease 2019 (post-COVID-19) syndrome represents a cluster of persistent symptoms following Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection that can severely affect quality of life. The pathogenic mechanisms and epidemiology in different regions are still under evaluation. To assess the outcomes of post-COVID-19 syndrome, we performed a questionnaire-based, cross-sectional study in previously infected individuals. Out of 549 respondents, (male:female ratio: 0.32), 29.5% had persistent symptoms at 3 months, 23.5% had persistent symptoms at 6 months, and 18.3% had persistent symptoms at 12 months after the initial infection. The most common symptoms included fatigue (8.7%), sleep disturbances (7.1%), and cognitive impairment (6.4%). The risk of developing post-COVID-19 syndrome increased for those with more symptoms in the acute phase (OR 4.24, p < 0.001) and those experiencing reinfections (OR 2.405, p < 0.001), while SARS-CoV-2 vaccination halved the risk (OR = 0.489, p = 0.004). Individuals with post-COVID-19 syndrome had a 5.7-fold higher risk of being diagnosed with a new chronic condition, with 44% reporting cardiovascular disease, and a 6.8-fold higher likelihood of needing medical care or leave. Affected individuals reported significant impairments in mobility, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression, with 20.7% needing to adjust their work schedules. Overall, patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome require ongoing monitoring and rehabilitation, and further socio-economic impact studies are needed.

Unraveling Job Stress and Work-life Balance in Healthcare Workers: A Bibliometric Analysis

Due to their demanding jobs, unpredictable schedules, and heavy workloads, healthcare workers frequently struggle to strike a balance between their professional and personal lives. Conflicts between work obligations and personal needs may result from this imbalance, which in turn may raise stress levels at work. This study employs the bibliometric analysis method by conducting a literature study of relevant books, journals, and articles extracted from the Scopus database dating between 2006 and 2022, which consisted of a total of 152 articles. Its findings indicate a significant relationship between stress at work and work-life balance for healthcare workers. High workloads, a lack of organizational support, and lack of control over work schedules were all found to contribute to health workers experiencing more job stress. Negative effects of an unbalanced work-life schedule include increased levels of exhaustion, depression, and lower quality of life. Therefore, it is crucial for healthcare organizations to pay attention to the variables that may impact the work-life balance and stress levels of healthcare professionals. Work-life balance can be improved by taking steps like offering psychological assistance, employee welfare programs, and setting up a more balanced work schedule. Keywords: job stress, work life balance, healthcare workers, bibliometric analysis

Effects of the Interaction Between Time-on-Task and Task Load on Response Lapses.

To investigate the interaction effects of prolonged working periods and different task loads on response lapses, focusing on the mechanisms of delayed responses and error lapses. Professionals such as pilots, truck drivers, and nurses often face extended work hours and fluctuating task loads. While these factors individually affect performance, their interaction and its impact on response lapses remain unclear. Twenty participants completed the Uchida-Kraepelin (U-K) Psychological Test and a dual-task version with functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Independent variables were time-on-task and task load. Dependent variables included measures of fatigue, arousal, workload, task performance (delayed and error rates), and brain functional connectivity. Both time-on-task and task load significantly affected cerebral connectivity, response lapses, workload (frustration level), fatigue, and arousal. Arousal levels significantly decreased and reaction times increased after 60 min of work. Cognitive resource regulation became challenging after 90 min under high task load levels. A decline in the connection between the prefrontal and occipital cortex during high-load tasks was observed. The findings provide insight into the mechanisms of response lapses under different task load levels and can inform strategies to mitigate these lapses during extended work periods. This study's findings can be applied to improve work schedules and fatigue management in industries like aviation, transportation, and healthcare, helping reduce response lapses and errors during extended work periods under high task load conditions.

Assessing the Work Productivity Impact of Overactive Bladder Syndrome Among Employees at a Brazilian Hospital.

Few studies have investigated the relationship between work productivity (WP) and overactive bladder syndrome (OABS). The majority of those that do use generic productivity questionnaires or only include WP as a secondary outcome. We evaluated the impact of OABS on specific domains of WP, with the hypothesis that OABS has an impact on the domains of efficiency, concentration, vigor, and irritability, lost working hours, interruptions, and impairment to the work schedule. An observational, cross-sectional study with 576 female employees (without SBH 447, dry OABS 63, wet OABS 66) was carried out. The 8-item Overactive Bladder Questionnaire (OAB-V8), International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Overactive Bladder (ICIQ-OAB), and a WP questionnaire developed by the authors were used. Non-parametric tests were adopted to associate OABS with productivity. The correlation between the instruments was performed using the Spearman test, adopting a value of p = 0.05. There was a significant impact of urinary symptoms on WP (p = 0.03) in the domains of productivity/efficiency (p = 0.03), restlessness (p < 0.05), and interruptions to go to the bathroom (p = 0.03), which was higher among employees with wet OABS. Urgency and urge urinary incontinence (UUI) were the symptoms with the greatest productive impact (p = 0.01, p < 0.001). A significant correlation was found between WP scores and OAB-V8 and ICIQ-AOB scores in both groups (p < 0.05). OABS impacted WP, in the domains of efficiency, restlessness, and interruptions to go to the bathroom, with urgency and UUI being the symptoms with the greatest impact on productivity.

Adherence towards good pharmacy practice of community pharmacists in central Visayas, Philippines

Abstract Introduction Community pharmacists play a pivotal role in bridging gaps in the delivery of health care services and for taking the roles of ensuring the rational use of medicines. With the advent of Good Pharmacy Practice, it is essential that there be an established national framework of quality standards and guidelines; however, there is dearth in the evaluation of GPP implementation in the country. Philippine community pharmacist's practices are expected to exhibit expertise in medications nonetheless, their practices often diverge significantly from these expectations. In this literature study, community pharmacists grapple with consultation roles due to lack of clinical guidelines, training, skills, and patient self-selection behavior. Aim The aim of the study was to assess the adherence towards Good Pharmacy Practice among community pharmacists in Central Visayas, Philippines and proposed a policy brief formulated based on the findings to gain a better understanding of the country's existing approach to community pharmacy practice. Methods The study used a quantitative descriptive cross-sectional research design to scrutinize community pharmacist practices in the Philippines, specifically in FDA-registered independent and chain pharmacies in Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor provinces. Ethics approval was obtained from the Institutional Ethics Review Committee and four experts validated the instrument, resulting in a high and acceptable S-CVI and a reliability index of .893, indicating good reliability. The selection process involved stratified random sampling and a modified closed ended questionnaire from Badro et al. (2020) tallying 321 respondents. Data was recorded as 1 for Yes responses and 0 for No. The GPP adherence levels were categorized as poor adherence for &amp;lt;50% or good adherence for &amp;gt;75%. Results The demographic profile of the respondents indicates that the majority belongs to the Millennial generation aged 27- 45 years old. These respondents are predominantly female community pharmacists, mostly in Cebu. They hold a BS Pharmacy degree, having 3 years to less than 6 years of practice. Their work schedule typically exceeds 40 hours per week, and they operate within independent pharmacy. Findings revealed that the majority of community pharmacists in Central Visayas, Philippines have a poor adherence to the GPP indicators on data management and data recording with 69.8% (224), services and facilities with 94.7% (304), dispensing, preparation, administration and distribution of medicines with 96.2% (309) but good adherence to storage with 75.4% (242). The most significant challenges identified were time restrictions, a lack of understanding, a lack of training and resources. Additionally, time constraints, excessive workload, workforce shortage, lack of support from employers and other colleagues were recognized. But the majority shows compliance to FDA storage regulations and standards as a minimum requirement to continue the establishment and pharmacists operate in the community setting. Therefore, a three-pronged strategy is likely necessary: increasing the number of trained pharmacy staff, engaging in professional development and regulatory advocacy. Conclusion The majority of respondents demonstrated good adherence to storage indicators and poor adherence to data management, services and facilities and dispensing indicators. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions and tailored strategies to elevate standards.

Association of precarious employment with depressive symptoms and insomnia: Findings from the Korean Working Conditions Survey

Precarious employment (PE) is an important occupational health concern. This study aims to examine the relations between PE and depressive symptoms and insomnia in Korean workers. This study included a nationally representative sample of 49,420 adult workers. A modified version of the Employment Precariousness Scale (EPRES), which comprises six dimensions (temporariness, disempowerment, vulnerability, exercise of rights, uncertain work schedules, and wages), was used to quantify PE levels on a scale ranging from 0 to 100. PE levels were categorized into four groups based on quartile values. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the World Health Organization-5 Well-Being Index, and insomnia was assessed using the Minimal Insomnia Symptom Scale. Logistic regressions were performed, and odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated. The prevalence rates of depressive symptoms and insomnia were 10.7% and 8.4%, respectively. Compared with the lowest PE level, the highest PE levels were associated with both depressive symptoms (OR: 2.86, 95% CI: 2.61–3.14) and insomnia (OR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.21–1.47). An interquartile range increase in the EPRES score was associated with a 1.84-fold (95% CI: 1.76–1.92) and 1.23-fold (95% CI: 1.17–1.29) increase in the odds of depressive symptoms and insomnia, respectively. All six individual dimensions were positively associated with depressive symptoms, whereas three dimensions—vulnerability, uncertain work schedules, and wages—were associated with insomnia. PE is a risk factor for depressive symptoms and insomnia. Policy interventions are required to safeguard mental health of precarious workers.

Development of a work systems stress questionnaire to predict job burnout: A mixed methods study based on a macroergonomics approach

Job burnout is a stress-related phenomenon that is a significant threat to the health and performance of organizations and employees. Interventions to ameliorate potentials for burnout have been limited by the lack of a comprehensive tool that considers work system stressors. Thus, the aim of this study was to develop a questionnaire for predicting job burnout based on the macroergonomics work system approach. The setting was a petrochemical company in South Iran. In the qualitative phase of this sequential exploratory mixed methods research, 971 meaning codes were extracted from fourteen one-to-one and seven focus group interviews (n = 59). The codes were subject to Directed Content Analysis, which yielded three themes and 15 dimensions, which were used to inform the development of reliable and valid questionnaire. Items for each of the dimensions were sourced from exiting scales. To test the developed Work System Stress Questionnaire (WSSQ) in terms of its ability to predict burnout, a survey which included demographic items, the WSSQ, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory was completed by 359 employees. Hierarchical linear regression modelling of the data indicated that Task Significance, Job Demands, Work-Life Conflict, and Work Schedule predicted Emotional Exhaustion, and altogether explained 58 % variance. Task Significance, Violence and Harassment, Work-Life Conflict, and Job Insecurity predicted the Depersonalization and explained 29 % variance. Decision Latitude, Welfare and Financial Facilities, Task Significance, and Structural Problems predicted Personal Accomplishment and explained 26 % variance. All 15 dimensions were valid (CVI range .73–.90) and reliable (Cronbach's alpha range .71–.93). The results confirm the ability of the WSSQ to explain more variance regarding job burnout than previous studies. In turn, the WSSQ will enable remedial actions to be put into place. It may also be useful for understanding the consequences associated with other organizational ergonomic variables that are related to job stress.

Navigating policing and work-life balance in the South Pacific

ABSTRACT Policing in the South Pacific is influenced by a myriad of factors including cultural norms, historical legacies, socio-economic disparities, and geopolitical dynamics. Against this backdrop, law enforcement officers face multifaceted challenges in reconciling the demands of their profession with personal and familial obligations. This article discusses the challenges faced by police officers as they attempt to balance their professional and personal lives. Interviews were conducted with male (N = 50) and female (N = 50) constables from the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) to gain insight into the challenges they face as RSIPF officers, the support available to them and the further resources they see as necessary to improve their work-life balance. Findings reveal a complex interplay of factors shaping officers’ work-life dynamics, including shift work schedules, high-pressure environments, community expectations, and the emotional toll of policing in small, tight-knit societies. It also highlights the significance of informal support networks, cultural values, and adaptive coping mechanisms in mediating the impact of work-related stressors on officers’ well-being. Notably, data suggest that RSIPF work-life balance, wellness and workplace structures are highly gendered. These findings offer insights that can inform the development of more effective support mechanisms and policies aimed at enhancing the holistic wellbeing of police officers. They further substantiate the need for greater formal support systems within the RSIPF to assist employees with managing their work-life balance.