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Job Stress, Physical and Mental Well-Being Among Workers

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A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032). This special issue belongs to the section "Mental Health and Psychosocial Well-being".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2026 | Viewed by 7001

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Dr. Jonhatan Magno Norte Da Silva

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Campus do Sertão, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Delmiro Gouveia 57480-000, Brazil
Interests: psychometric validation; quantitative methods; safety at work; ergonomics assessment

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Since the Industrial Evolution, technological evolution has significantly reshaped the work environment, introducing new risks, demands, and implications for the physical and mental health of workers. This transformation underscores the critical need for the in-depth assessment of occupational health, ergonomics, and safety, focusing on improvements in the physical and mental well-being of workers, the prevention of injury, and stress management.

Industry 4.0 has enabled the application of advanced digital technologies such as cloud computing, the Internet of Things, collaborative robotics, virtualization, and the cooperative use of artificial intelligence. These technologies aim to optimize work processes and directly impact the physical and mental health of workers. They play a crucial role in reducing work-related stress, preventing injuries, and promoting overall well-being.

Investing in workers' physical and mental health brings tangible and intangible benefits to organizations and society. Promoting well-being in the workplace can result in the significant enhancement of productivity, reduced absenteeism, and better talent retention, as well as the creation of more positive and collaborative work environments. Healthy workers are more engaged, motivated, and able to handle daily challenges, which enhances their quality of work and organizational performance. On a societal level, workplace well-being is also associated with reduced public health costs, a reduction in stress-related illnesses, and an improvement in workers' quality of life, directly benefiting society.

Despite these advances, gaps remain regarding the effects of these technological innovations in different workplaces, professions, and populations. The acceptance and implementation of these technologies vary significantly depending on occupational, social, economic, and training factors. Furthermore, a given technology's impact can differ depending on the work environment. The importance of resilience and sustainability emerge as key elements in this new production landscape, as highlighted by Industry 5.0, which prioritizes resilience, sustainability, and human-centricity.

We are pleased to invite researchers to contribute comprehensive research regarding the impact of new technologies on the physical and mental well-being of workers, with a particular focus on stress reduction and health. We seek research that validates new risk assessment tools, proposes mathematical models, and conducts reviews that significantly contribute to our understanding of new technologies and their impact on worker health, injury prevention, stress management, and the enhancement of well-being.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. The scope of this Special Issue includes, but is not limited to, the following topics:

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of existing occupational risk assessment tools.
The impacts of new technologies on workers' health through multivariate or complex mathematical models that aim to understand the relationships between technological factors, physical and mental health, and working conditions.
The relationship between technologies, requirements, occupational risks, and stress.
The ergonomic and psychosocial risk in different professions.
The health risks associated with the adoption of new technologies in the specific context of each country.
The development and validation of new and existing instruments for assessing occupational risks and workplace well-being.
The reliability and validity of instruments focused on worker health.
The assessment tools used to monitor occupational health in different work contexts.
The cultural adaptation of worker health assessment instruments in specific countries.

I look forward to receiving your contributions to this Special Issue.

Dr. Jonhatan Magno Norte Da Silva
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

occupational health
ergonomics
injury prevention
Industry 4.0
Industry 5.0
technostress
advanced technologies
physical health
mental health
resilience
sustainability

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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27 pages, 1840 KB

Open AccessArticle

Explainable Machine Learning for Concurrent Screening of Elevated Work-Related Fatigue Using Routine Working-Hour and Occupational Health Data Among Manufacturing Workers: A Cross-Sectional Model Development and Internal Validation Study

by Chien-Chih Wang and Ming-Shu Chen

Healthcare 2026, 14(16), 2627; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14162627 - 19 Aug 2026

Viewed by 132

Abstract

Background: Work-related fatigue is a preventable occupational health concern in high-intensity manufacturing environments. However, supervisors and occupational health services often lack transparent criteria to support the preventive review of overtime practices. This study developed and internally validated an explainable human-in-the-loop concurrent screening model to identify employees with currently elevated work-related fatigue using routinely collected working-hour records and occupational health examination data. Materials and Methods: De-identified administrative and occupational health data from 314 full-time manufacturing employees were linked with standardized fatigue assessment data. Currently elevated work-related fatigue was defined using the top quartile of the standardized work-related fatigue subscale. To reduce information leakage, the work-related fatigue score used to define the outcome was excluded from the predictor sets. Multivariable logistic regression and XGBoost were compared using nested stratified five-fold cross-validation, with aggregated out-of-fold predictions from the outer folds used for the performance evaluation. Model performance was assessed using discrimination, probabilistic accuracy, calibration, and classification metrics at provisional, study-specific thresholds. Results: XGBoost demonstrated greater discrimination and better overall probabilistic accuracy than logistic regression, with an AUC of 0.77 versus 0.68 and a Brier score of 0.14 versus 0.17, respectively. At the provisional study-specific threshold of τ1 = 0.28, XGBoost achieved a sensitivity of 0.78 and a specificity of 0.70. Using τ1 = 0.28 and τ2 = 0.55, 58.0%, 27.1%, and 15.0% of employees were classified into provisional low-, moderate-, and high-priority tiers, respectively. The observed prevalence of currently elevated work-related fatigue increased across these tiers from 9.3% to 28.2% and 78.7%, respectively. Calibration assessment indicated systematic miscalibration for both XGBoost (intercept α = 0.78, slope β = 1.64) and logistic regression (α = −0.49, β = 0.56). Because τ1 and τ2 were selected and evaluated using aggregated out-of-fold predictions generated from the same single-organization development dataset, their stability and transportability are unknown. Medium-term cumulative overtime, particularly during months −2 to −6, together with routinely measured indicators of vulnerability and recovery, contributed substantially to the model-estimated probability of currently elevated fatigue. Conclusions: Routinely collected working-hour and occupational health examination data may support explainable concurrent screening for currently elevated work-related fatigue and illustrate a potential framework for differentiated preventive reviews. However, the proposed thresholds and review-priority tiers are provisional and study-specific and should not be interpreted as implementation-ready decision rules for occupational health practices. Prospective temporal validation, external validation in independent organizations, and local recalibration are required before threshold-based implementation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Job Stress, Physical and Mental Well-Being Among Workers)

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20 pages, 264 KB

Open AccessArticle

Job Satisfaction and Retention of Family Medicine Physicians in Primary Healthcare Centers in the Al-Qassim Region of Saudi Arabia: A Qualitative Study

by Ibrahim A. Aljabr, Abdulrahman A. Alharbi, Rehana Khalil and Moath Aljohani

Healthcare 2026, 14(16), 2578; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14162578 - 17 Aug 2026

Viewed by 216

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Job satisfaction is important for high-quality healthcare delivery. This study aimed to explore family medicine physicians’ (FMPs’) opinions and beliefs regarding job satisfaction, factors influencing their satisfaction, and intentions to transition to other institutions. Methods: This qualitative descriptive study was conducted in the Al-Qassim region in 2024, using thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke) to analyze data. Eleven FMPs working within the health cluster of the Ministry of Health (MOH) were recruited using purposive sampling supplemented by the snowball technique. FMPs who were specialists and consultants were included. In-depth interviews were conducted, the interview content was transcribed, and thematic analysis was performed. Results: Four major themes were identified. The first theme was role ambiguity and workload burden; the second, resource gaps and operational limitations; the third, organizational barriers and professional stability; and the fourth, workplace dissatisfaction and intent to leave. Most of the FMPs reported being nearly satisfied with their job, and all agreed that dissatisfaction may lead physicians to consider leaving their institution. Job security within the MOH had a positive impact on job satisfaction, while concerns about changes associated with the health transformation process were noted. Conclusions: Physicians expressed varying degrees of satisfaction despite different challenges and limitations. Some physicians were open to changing their workplace, whereas one physician had already applied to other institutions. It is recommended to reassure physicians regarding job security during the health transformation process, clearly define job roles and responsibilities, and ensure the availability of necessary resources to improve physician satisfaction, provide better alignment with career expectations and maintain workforce stability in the MOH-affiliated PHC centers of the Al-Qassim region of Saudi Arabia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Job Stress, Physical and Mental Well-Being Among Workers)

18 pages, 638 KB

Open AccessArticle

by Su-Hui Cheng, Mei-Ru Chen and Chung-Jung Tsai

Healthcare 2026, 14(14), 2213; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14142213 - 21 Jul 2026

Viewed by 381

Abstract

Background/Objectives: The rapid growth of the companion animal industry has increased demand for professional pet grooming services; however, occupational health risks among pet groomers remain underexplored. This cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), occupational burnout, and associated occupational and ergonomic factors and their interrelationships among pet grooming professionals. Methods: A total of 180 pet grooming professionals were recruited through geographically stratified convenience sampling across northern, central, and southern Taiwan. Data were collected using structured questionnaires assessing demographics, workload, ergonomic equipment, and working postures. MSD symptoms were evaluated using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, and occupational burnout was assessed using the Taiwan Ministry of Labor Burnout Assessment Scale. Descriptive statistics, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson’s correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression analysis were performed to identify factors associated with MSD severity and occupational burnout. Results: MSDs were highly prevalent, with 95% of participants reporting symptoms in at least one body region. The most affected regions were the right shoulder (71.7%), neck (70.6%), upper back (65.6%), and lower back (65.6%). Significant associated ergonomic factors included excessive bathing tub depth (≥46 cm), non-adjustable grooming tables, prolonged trunk flexion, and horse-stance postures. Higher workload intensity, including frequent bathing tasks and handling aggressive or large animals, was significantly associated with greater MSD severity (p < 0.05). Moderate-to-severe personal- and work-related burnout were identified in 43.3% and 37.2% of participants, respectively. MSD severity was positively correlated with personal-related burnout (r = 0.491, p < 0.001) and work-related burnout (r = 0.428, p < 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis results indicated the MSD score was a significant predictor of both personal- and work-related burnout (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Pet grooming professionals experience a substantial burden of MSDs and occupational burnout associated with ergonomic strain and physically demanding work. Non-neutral postures and inadequately designed equipment were significantly associated with greater MSD severity. The close association between MSDs and burnout underscores the interrelationship between physical and psychological occupational health. Ergonomic workplace modifications and targeted occupational health interventions are necessary to improve worker well-being and industry sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Job Stress, Physical and Mental Well-Being Among Workers)

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19 pages, 846 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Mediating Effect of Perceived Occupational Stress and Job Satisfaction on the Impact of Type D Personality on Turnover Intention Among Chinese General Practitioners

by Minghe Xu, Hairong Zhou, Erya Wen, Jian Yang, Chuanan Wu and Weiqing Chen

Healthcare 2026, 14(12), 1713; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14121713 - 15 Jun 2026

Viewed by 323

Abstract

Background/Objectives: General practitioners (GPs) face critical workforce shortages and high turnover globally. While external factors are known to influence turnover intention (TI), the role of individual psychological traits is less well understood. This study examines the association between Type D personality (TDP) and TI among GPs and the co-occurring statistical associations of perceived occupational stress (POS) and job satisfaction (JS). Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from September to October 2024 among 383 GPs in Longhua District, Shenzhen, China. Participants completed a structured questionnaire assessing socio-demographic characteristics, TDP, POS, JS, and TI. After controlling potential confounders, correlation and regression analyses were performed to assess associations between TDP, POS, JS, and TI. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was conducted to examine the specific indirect associative components within the covariance between TDP and TI. Results: After adjusting for confounding factors, TDP was significantly positively associated with TI (B = 0.71) and POS (B = 0.30), and significantly negatively associated with JS (B = −0.24). In the hypothesized structural model, the proportions of total standardized covariance attributable to the indirect associative paths involving POS alone, JS alone, and the serial combination of POS and JS were 17.28%, 9.90%, and 3.50%, respectively, summing to 30.68% of the model-implied association. Conclusions: GPs with TDP reported a higher level of turnover intention, and this association was statistically accompanied by elevated occupational stress and diminished job satisfaction. Healthcare managers may consider implementing targeted interventions aimed at reducing stress and enhancing satisfaction, particularly among GPs with TDP, although the effectiveness of such strategies requires confirmation in future longitudinal or intervention studies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Job Stress, Physical and Mental Well-Being Among Workers)

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15 pages, 1214 KB

Open AccessArticle

Work Complexity and Musculoskeletal Symptoms in Healthcare Workers

by Elamara Marama de Araujo Vieira, Jonhatan Magno Norte da Silva, Wilza Karla dos Santos Leite and Gilvane de Lima Araújo

Healthcare 2026, 14(1), 135; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14010135 - 5 Jan 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1187

Abstract

Background/Objectives: To investigate whether healthcare workers present different characteristics of musculoskeletal symptoms depending on the level of complexity in which these professionals work in the Brazilian Unified Health System. Methods: Health professionals were recruited from 24 health institutions, using probabilistic stratified sampling. Data were collected using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. We obtained the questionnaire scores through exploratory factor analysis. Based on the scores, individuals could be grouped into symptom configurations using a non-hierarchical clustering algorithm (K-means). Results: The created groups differed in symptom intensity and location but did not differ by level of work complexity, as defined by Brazil’s healthcare sector division. Therefore, regardless of the level of complexity at which professionals perform their activities in the Brazilian Unified Health System, the burden of musculoskeletal symptoms related to the factor under analysis is similar. We developed distinct symptom profiles for each group, accompanied by targeted occupational intervention recommendations. Conclusions: This study challenges conventional assumptions by demonstrating that musculoskeletal symptom burden remains consistent across varying levels of work complexity, while providing a practical framework for developing targeted interventions based on symptom profiles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Job Stress, Physical and Mental Well-Being Among Workers)

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15 pages, 1386 KB

Open AccessArticle

Understanding the Impact of Personal Resources on Emotional Exhaustion Among Emergency Healthcare Workers: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

by Alicia Arenas, Valeria Terán-Tinedo, Esther Cuadrado, Rosario Castillo-Mayén, Bárbara Luque and Carmen Tabernero

Healthcare 2025, 13(18), 2336; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13182336 - 17 Sep 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2165

Abstract

Background/Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with an increase in burnout vulnerability in healthcare workers, which often translated into higher potential risks for their personal safety and that of their patients. This study was based on the JD-R model and explored emotional exhaustion and stress, as a result of a lack of personal resources such as self-efficacy to cope with stress and poor emotion regulation, and work demands, with the buffering effect of a healthy lifestyle. Methods: The sample was composed of 189 emergency healthcare workers from Spain, aged between 26 and 59 years old. A cross-sectional and correlational study was carried out through an online platform. Results: The mediation, moderation, and Structural Equation Modeling analyses supported the proposed model, demonstrating good fit to the data. Work demands showed both a positive direct effect and an indirect effect on emotional exhaustion through emotion regulation and stress. In turn, self-efficacy to cope with stress and healthy lifestyle showed indirect effects on emotional exhaustion, also through emotion regulation and stress. Further, healthy lifestyle moderated the relationship between stress and emotional exhaustion, by mitigating the negative influence of stress on emotional exhaustion. Conclusions: The study highlights the importance of incorporating self-care in coping with stress and preventing burnout and should be considered when designing interventions in the context of emergency healthcare to improve well-being in its workers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Job Stress, Physical and Mental Well-Being Among Workers)

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Review

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21 pages, 1877 KB

Open AccessReview

Multifactorial Causal Analysis of Workplace Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs) and Psychological Stress Among Teaching Professionals for Adult Learners: A Narrative Review

by Kizhakematumal Jijo Alex, Faris Abdullah, Mohd Hafiidz Jaafar, Mark Harris Zuknik, Norhaniza Amil and Zitty Sarah Ismail

Healthcare 2025, 13(22), 2897; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13222897 - 13 Nov 2025

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1463

Abstract

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) and psychological stress remain major occupational health challenges among teaching professionals in adult education, yet their interconnected causes are often underexplored. This narrative review aims to identify multifactorial risk factors that contribute to these conditions and to propose a comprehensive framework that enhances understanding of teaching professionals’ well-being. A systematic synthesis of recent epidemiological and occupational health studies was conducted to analyse both immediate and underlying determinants across human, workplace, organisational, and socioeconomic dimensions. The findings reveal that more than two-thirds of teaching professionals experience WMSDs, particularly in the neck and lower back, while psychological stress affects over seventy percent globally. The combined effects of poor ergonomics, prolonged static postures, excessive workload, and limited organisational support contribute significantly to both physical and psychological strain. Broader contextual influences such as job insecurity, insufficient institutional resources, and societal undervaluation further intensify these risks. The review identifies a reciprocal relationship between physical discomfort and psychological distress, where each condition amplifies the other through behavioural and physiological mechanisms. The proposed integrative framework establishes a foundation for targeted interventions and evidence-based policy, promoting a shift toward holistic, system-oriented approaches to occupational health for teaching professionals in professional education settings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Job Stress, Physical and Mental Well-Being Among Workers)

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