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Work-Related Stress, Health, and Wellbeing: Processes and Outcomes

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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 (20 November 2023) | Viewed by 17854

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Tore Bonsaksen

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Guest Editor

1. Department of Health and Nursing Science, Faculty of Social and Health Sciences, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, 2418 Elverum, Norway
2. Department of Health, Faculty of Health Studies, VID Specialized University, 4024 Stavanger, Norway
Interests: mental health; health services; work participation; job satisfaction; student learning

Dr. Mikkel Magnus Thørrisen

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Guest Editor

1. Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Health Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University, 0167 Oslo, Norway
2. Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Stavanger, 4036 Stavanger, Norway
Interests: public and occupational health; alcohol and work; health psychology; work inclusion and occupational rehabilitation; health services; educational research

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The quality of the work environment can significantly affect health and wellbeing. Work-related stress, such as stress related to poor working conditions, changed work patterns, and job insecurity, can strongly impact people’s lives. While the COVID-19 pandemic led to abrupt changes in the work situation for many, continuous efforts in both the private and public sectors to improve cost-effectiveness pose an enduring challenge for maintaining good work environments. Moreover, many people, including those with health problems and disabilities, struggle to get and keep a job and have difficulty returning to work after sickness absence, with a range of economic and social consequences for the individual and for society. A Special Issue on work-related stress, health, and wellbeing is both timely and necessary to acquire a greater understanding of recent developments and studies in this field, and to identify and analyse best practices. This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive approach to work-related stress, health, and wellbeing, the processes involved, and the related outcomes from a broad range of perspectives. Recommended topics may include (but are not limited to):

Interventions to increase work participation.
Interventions to modify stress and improve employee health and wellbeing.
Sick leave, disability, work inclusion, and return to work.
Job satisfaction.
Changed work patterns, e.g., job location flexibility.
Burnout, dedication to work, and work addiction.
Employee health and wellbeing in different contexts.
Absenteeism and presenteeism.

We welcome submissions addressing these and related topics, especially papers that combine a high academic standard, a relevant theoretical framework, and a focus on the practical implications of research findings.

Prof. Tore Bonsaksen
Dr. Mikkel Magnus Thørrisen
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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 stress
health
wellbeing
work participation
employment
sick leave
disability
return to work
absenteeism
presenteeism

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 915 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Job Satisfaction among Occupational Therapists Employed in Primary Care Services in Norway

by Tore Bonsaksen, Sissel Horghagen, Cathrine Arntzen, Astrid Gramstad and Linda Stigen

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(6), 5062; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20065062 - 13 Mar 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1858

Abstract

The aging population will place healthcare services under considerable strain in the years ahead. Occupational therapists play a vital role in securing sustainable healthcare services and are increasingly employed by municipalities. To promote sustainable services, the job satisfaction among core professional groups needs monitoring. A comprehensive cross-sectional survey was distributed among municipality-employed occupational therapists in Norway during May–June 2022, to which 617 responded. Job satisfaction was assessed with the Job Satisfaction Scale (JSS), and factors associated with job satisfaction were assessed with linear regression analysis. The mean JSS score in the sample was 51.4. The regression model explained 14.4% of the variance in job satisfaction scores. Having more work experience as an occupational therapist (β = 0.16, p = 0.02) and having higher perceived influence on the work unit’s goals (β = 0.31, p < 0.001) were significantly related to higher job satisfaction. The study implies that job satisfaction in the occupational therapy profession increases with years of experience and also with the ability to engage with and influence the larger work environment. Thus, to promote job satisfaction, occupational therapists should seek to engage not only with their own work at hand but also with the larger goals and strategies of the organization they work for. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Work-Related Stress, Health, and Wellbeing: Processes and Outcomes)

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15 pages, 581 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Factors Associated with Fatigued Driving among Australian Truck Drivers: A Cross-Sectional Study

by Xinyi Ren, Elizabeth Pritchard, Caryn van Vreden, Sharon Newnam, Ross Iles and Ting Xia

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(3), 2732; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20032732 - 3 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2925

Abstract

Background: Fatigued driving is one of the leading factors contributing to road crashes in the trucking industry. The nature of trucking, prolonged working time, and irregular sleep patterns can negatively impact drivers’ health and wellbeing. However, there is limited research in Australia investigating the impact of demographic, occupational, or lifestyle factors on fatigue among truck drivers. Objective: This cross-sectional study examines the role of demographic, occupational, lifestyle, and other health risk factors associated with fatigue among Australian truck drivers. Method: This study was part of a larger study that used a short online survey with a follow-up telephone survey to capture in-depth information on a wide range of determinants related to truck drivers’ physical and mental health outcomes. Fatigue was measured by three questions, including the frequency of fatigue, fatigue management training, and strategies used to combat fatigue. Multivariate regression analysis was used to determine the specific impact of demographics, occupational factors, lifestyle factors, and other health risk factors on fatigue. Results: In total, 332 drivers completed both the online and telephone surveys; 97% were male, representing drivers from broad age groups and professional experience. The odds of being in the high-risk fatigue group were nearly three times higher in drivers who worked 40–60 h compared to those who worked < 40 h. Poor sleep increased the odds of high-risk fatigue by seventimes (95% CI: 2.26–21.67, p = 0.001). Drivers who reported experiencing loneliness also had double the odds of being at high risk of fatigued driving. Conclusions: The increased risk of fatigue in truck drivers is associated with prolonged working hours, poor sleep, and social aspects such as loneliness. Further interventions seeking to reduce driver fatigue should consider the impact of work schedules, the availability of quality sleeping spaces, and the level of social connections. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Work-Related Stress, Health, and Wellbeing: Processes and Outcomes)

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21 pages, 1016 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Three-Way Synergistic Effect of Work on Employee Well-Being: Human Sustainability Perspective

by Sugumar Mariappanadar and Wayne A. Hochwarter

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(22), 14842; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192214842 - 11 Nov 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1671

Abstract

We explored the interaction of the United Nation’s sustainable development goals to facilitate human sustainability using occupational health and sustainable HRM perspectives. In Study 1 (n = 246), we assessed the preconditions to empirically confirm the distinctiveness of the dimensions of health harm of work from other study constructs. Subsequently, we tested the hypotheses across two studies (n = 332, Study 2; n = 255, Study 3). In alignment with the ceiling effect of human energy theory, the three-way interaction results across the samples consistently indicate that high supervisory political support (SPS) significantly strengthens the negative interactions of psychological health risk factors and high job tension as adverse working conditions (SDG-8) on working-condition-related well-being as the human sustainability dimension (SDG-3). Similarly, synergistic effects were found of the side effects of work on health, high job tension, and high SPS on well-being in sample 3. We discuss theoretical and future research for human sustainability from occupational health and sustainable HRM perspectives. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Work-Related Stress, Health, and Wellbeing: Processes and Outcomes)

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18 pages, 691 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigating the Relationship between Job Burnout and Job Satisfaction among Chinese Generalist Teachers in Rural Primary Schools: A Serial Mediation Model

by Wei Chen, Shuyi Zhou, Wen Zheng and Shiyong Wu

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(21), 14427; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192114427 - 3 Nov 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2651

Abstract

Background: Job burnout has become a widespread phenomenon in school settings. However, little is known about the mental health condition of the growing cohort of generalist teachers in rural primary schools. Drawing on the job demands–resource model and social exchange theory, this study examines the correlation between job burnout and job satisfaction through perceived organizational support and work engagement. Methods: We recruited 639 Chinese generalist teachers in rural primary schools as the study subjects and developed a serial mediation model to assess the hypothesized construct. The data acquired online via Wenjuanxing Software were confirmed as valid and analyzed with SPSS and SmartPLS. Results: The participants scored above the median in perceived organizational support, work engagement, and job satisfaction, and had scores close to the median for job burnout. Statistically significant differences among the investigated variables were found in gender, age, experience, and degree. Job burnout was negatively predictive of perceived organizational support, work engagement, and job satisfaction (each p = 0.000). Perceived organizational support mediated the association between job burnout and work engagement (p = 0.000) and the connection between job burnout and job satisfaction (p = 0.000), while work engagement mediated the association between job burnout and job satisfaction (p = 0.000) and the association between perceived organizational support and job satisfaction (p = 0.000). Conclusions: Perceived organizational support and work engagement as two sequential mediators buffered the detrimental impact of job burnout on job satisfaction among Chinese generalist teachers in rural primary schools. Targeted strategies should be implemented to diminish generalist teachers’ feelings of burnout, being unsupported by organizations, disengagement at work, and dissatisfaction with the job. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Work-Related Stress, Health, and Wellbeing: Processes and Outcomes)

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13 pages, 366 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Burnout among Health Care Professionals during COVID-19

by Siw Tone Innstrand

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(18), 11807; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191811807 - 19 Sep 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2532

Abstract

The present study examined organizational, situational (i.e., COVID-19-related), and psychological factors associated with burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic among 268 health care professionals in Norway. A total burnout score based on the Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT), the four core BAT subscales (i.e., Exhaustion, Mental Distance, Cognitive Impairment, and Emotional Impairment), and the COVID-19 Burnout Scale served as the dependent variable. Among the results, organizational factors such as work–home conflict, workload, and role conflict were positively related to burnout. Although autonomy and colleague support were negatively related to burnout, support from leaders was positively related to it, which might suggest a suppressive effect. Organizational factors explained most of the variance in general burnout (i.e., BAT Total), whereas situational (i.e., COVID-19-related) factors (e.g., involvement with COVID-19, fear of COVID-19, and COVID-19-induced stress) seemed to better explain COVID-19 burnout. COVID-19-oriented actions were related only to Mental Distance. Psychological factors such as meaning were negatively related to BAT Total, Exhaustion, and Mental Distance, whereas a breach of the psychological contract was related to all subscales. Such results suggest that organizational and situational factors contribute differently to general and COVID-19 burnout and that administering pandemic-specific assessment tools can clarify how the pandemic has affected mental health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Work-Related Stress, Health, and Wellbeing: Processes and Outcomes)

9 pages, 369 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Conflict at Work Impairs Physiological Recovery during Sleep: A Daily Diary Study

by Katja Kerman, Roman Prem, Bettina Kubicek, Edo Meyer, Sara Tement and Christian Korunka

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(18), 11457; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191811457 - 12 Sep 2022

Viewed by 1380

Abstract

Sleep plays an essential role in maintaining employees’ health and well-being. However, stressors, such as conflict at work, may interfere with employees’ sleep. Drawing on previous literature on the relationship between conflict at work and sleep outcomes, we proposed a negative relationship between daily conflict at work and physiological changes during early sleep, particularly nocturnal heart rate variability (HRV). Furthermore, building on the perseverative cognition hypothesis, we proposed that daily work-related rumination mediates the relationship between conflict at work and nocturnal HRV. Ninety-three healthcare employees participated in a daily diary study for five workdays, resulting in 419 observations. Multilevel analysis revealed a significant relationship between daily conflict at work and nocturnal HRV, specifically high-frequency (HF) power. Daily conflict at work was found to predict rumination; however, rumination did not significantly predict nocturnal HRV. Our results suggest that daily conflict at work increases rumination during the off-job time and may directly alter nocturnal HRV, specifically parasympathetic function in early sleep. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Work-Related Stress, Health, and Wellbeing: Processes and Outcomes)

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Other

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25 pages, 1260 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Burnout among Professionals Working in Corrections: A Two Stage Review

by Justice Forman-Dolan, Claire Caggiano, Isabelle Anillo and Tom Dean Kennedy

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(16), 9954; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19169954 - 12 Aug 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3611

Abstract

Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion often caused by excessive and prolonged stress. Given the emotionally and often physically demanding nature of the work of correctional professionals, they are at substantial risk of suffering the adverse consequences of burnout. We systematically reviewed (Stage 1) the influence of burnout amongst forensic psychologists, psychiatrists, case workers, nurses, and correction officers. Interventions were then reviewed (Stage 2) at the individual and collective level to examine the effectiveness or efficacy of treatments for burnout among professionals working in corrections. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Work-Related Stress, Health, and Wellbeing: Processes and Outcomes)

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