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IJERPH
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Work-Related Stressors and Job Demands after the COVID-19 Pandemic
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Work-Related Stressors and Job Demands after the COVID-19 Pandemic

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Occupational Safety and Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2023) | Viewed by 16174

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Paula Benevene

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Human Sciences, LUMSA University, 00193 Rome, Italy
Interests: non-profit organizations; organizational well-being; intellectual capital and intangibles
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Ilaria Buonomo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Human Sciences, LUMSA University, 00193 Rome, Italy
Interests: organizational well-being; positive psychology; intellectual capital and intangibles
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, new ways of organizing work have emerged. The lockdowns and restrictions have pushed organizations towards remote work and new ways of working. Although to different degrees, these changes have affected all types of organizations, both for-profit and not-for-profit, as well as governmental and private ones. It is therefore time to start a reflection on the lessons to be learned from COVID-19, in order to cope with old and new Work-Related Stressors and Job Demands.

This Special Issue of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH) focuses on the current state of knowledge on this topic. Most of the changes brought by COVID-19 are bound to stay after the end of the pandemic. It is thus important to address the changes not only within organizations but also among workers, in terms of their attitudes towards work and the perceived quality and productivity of their working experiences.

Papers addressing Work-Related Stressors and Job Demands after the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to Work-Related Protective Factors and Job Resources aimed at contrasting the potentially detrimental effects of new ways of work are welcome. We welcome papers combining a high academic standard and innovative insights aimed at providing practical solutions. The issue will include interdisciplinary studies as well as literature review papers, position papers and empirical studies.

Dr. Paula Benevene
Dr. Ilaria Buonomo
Guest Editors

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-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2500 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

  • work-related stressors
  • job demands
  • COVID-19
  • remote work
  • workplace changes
  • job resources
  • protective factors

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 681 KiB  
Article
Is Smart Working Beneficial for Workers’ Wellbeing? A Longitudinal Investigation of Smart Working, Workload, and Hair Cortisol/Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate during the COVID-19 Pandemic
by Alessandra Falco, Damiano Girardi, Achim Elfering, Tanja Peric, Isabella Pividori and Laura Dal Corso
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(13), 6220; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20136220 - 24 Jun 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3534
Abstract
Building on the job demands–resources (JD-R) and allostatic load (AL) models, in the present study we examined the role of smart working (SW) in the longitudinal association between workload/job autonomy (JA) and a possible biomarker of work-related stress (WRS) in the hair—namely, the [...] Read more.
Building on the job demands–resources (JD-R) and allostatic load (AL) models, in the present study we examined the role of smart working (SW) in the longitudinal association between workload/job autonomy (JA) and a possible biomarker of work-related stress (WRS) in the hair—namely, the cortisol–dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA(S)) ratio—during the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, 124 workers completed a self-report questionnaire (i.e., psychological data) at Time 1 (T1) and provided a strand of hair (i.e., biological data) three months later (Time 2, T2). Results from moderated multiple regression analysis showed that SW at T1 was negatively associated with the hair cortisol/DHEA(S) ratio at T2. Additionally, the interaction between workload and SW was significant, with workload at T1 being positively associated with the hair cortisol/DHEA(S) ratio at T2 among smart workers. Overall, this study indicates that SW is a double-edged sword, with both positive and negative consequences on employee wellbeing. Furthermore, our findings suggest that the hair cortisol/DHEA(S) ratio is a promising biomarker of WRS. Practical implications that organizations and practitioners can adopt to prevent WRS and promote organizational wellbeing are discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Work-Related Stressors and Job Demands after the COVID-19 Pandemic)
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11 pages, 841 KiB  
Article
Job Satisfaction and Perceived Structural Support in Remote Working Conditions—The Role of a Sense of Community at Work
by Ilaria Buonomo, Bruna Ferrara, Martina Pansini and Paula Benevene
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(13), 6205; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20136205 - 22 Jun 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4636
Abstract
Changes in work assets due to the COVID-19 pandemic posed several challenges to employees’ well-being, especially in the light of the changes in the work organization, such as remote working and the massive use of IT. According to the literature on the role [...] Read more.
Changes in work assets due to the COVID-19 pandemic posed several challenges to employees’ well-being, especially in the light of the changes in the work organization, such as remote working and the massive use of IT. According to the literature on the role of technologies at work, the organization’s ability to support remote working is a valuable protective factor. At the same time, social distancing due to the pandemic forced employees to use a new relational asset. This, in turn, can shed new light on how the sense of connection and belonging to an organization impacts remote working experiences. This paper will test the mediational effect of structural support and sense of community at work in the link between job demands and job satisfaction in a sample of remote workers. The study involved 635 participants aged 21 to 70 (mean = 46.7, SD = 11; females = 61%). Among them, 33% had remote working experiences before the first Italian lockdown (March 2020). The research protocol included scales from the COPSOQ-III (job demands, sense of community, job satisfaction) and a questionnaire to evaluate the structural support related to the remote working asset. Results from a structural equation model showed a partial mediating effect of sense of community, but not of structural support, in the link between job demands and job satisfaction (χ2(22) = 76.918, p = 0.00, CFI = 0.966, TLI = 0.944, RMSEA = 0.063 (90% CI = 0.048–0.078, p = 0.079), SRMR = 0.044). The role of such associations for future technology-based work assets is detailed in the discussion. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Work-Related Stressors and Job Demands after the COVID-19 Pandemic)
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22 pages, 978 KiB  
Article
Employees’ Resources, Demands and Health While Working from Home during COVID-19 Pandemic—A Qualitative Study in the Public Sector
by Laura Seinsche, Kristina Schubin, Jana Neumann and Holger Pfaff
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(1), 411; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20010411 - 27 Dec 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3950
Abstract
(1) Background: The COVID-19 pandemic changed the working environment in Europe in March 2020, leading to an increase in working from home. In the German public sector, many employees experienced working from home for the first time. Despite the impact on employees’ daily [...] Read more.
(1) Background: The COVID-19 pandemic changed the working environment in Europe in March 2020, leading to an increase in working from home. In the German public sector, many employees experienced working from home for the first time. Despite the impact on employees’ daily working life, we know little about employees’ resources, demands and health while working from home. The aim of this study is to investigate how working from home is implemented in the public sector one year after the COVID-19 outbreak. In line with the job demand–resources model by Bakker and Demerouti (2007), potential resources, demands and health benefits of working from home are explored. (2) Methods: Semi-structured qualitative telephone interviews were conducted with twelve employees from different public sectors in Germany between December 2021 and February 2022. The semi-structured interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim, and the data was content-analyzed. (3) Results: Employees reported that personal resources, job autonomy, work task, collaboration, leadership, offers by the agency, work environment and equipment served as resources to buffer physical, social, psychological and organizational demands. (4) Conclusions: The research highlights job resources, job demands and potential health impacts of working from home in the public service. Furthermore, the study shows possible starting points for dealing with the health risks of working from home in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Work-Related Stressors and Job Demands after the COVID-19 Pandemic)
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Review

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16 pages, 552 KiB  
Review
Exploring Radiologists’ Burnout in the COVID-19 Era: A Narrative Review
by Michela Gabelloni, Lorenzo Faggioni, Roberta Fusco, Federica De Muzio, Ginevra Danti, Francesca Grassi, Roberta Grassi, Pierpaolo Palumbo, Federico Bruno, Alessandra Borgheresi, Alessandra Bruno, Orlando Catalano, Nicoletta Gandolfo, Andrea Giovagnoni, Vittorio Miele, Antonio Barile and Vincenza Granata
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(4), 3350; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043350 - 14 Feb 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2794
Abstract
Since its beginning in March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has claimed an exceptionally high number of victims and brought significant disruption to the personal and professional lives of millions of people worldwide. Among medical specialists, radiologists have found themselves at the forefront of [...] Read more.
Since its beginning in March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has claimed an exceptionally high number of victims and brought significant disruption to the personal and professional lives of millions of people worldwide. Among medical specialists, radiologists have found themselves at the forefront of the crisis due to the pivotal role of imaging in the diagnostic and interventional management of COVID-19 pneumonia and its complications. Because of the disruptive changes related to the COVID-19 outbreak, a proportion of radiologists have faced burnout to several degrees, resulting in detrimental effects on their working activities and overall wellbeing. This paper aims to provide an overview of the literature exploring the issue of radiologists’ burnout in the COVID-19 era. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Work-Related Stressors and Job Demands after the COVID-19 Pandemic)
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