Search Results (538)

As work–life balance (WLB) is considered the main premise of a sustainable workforce, organizations and policymakers direct their efforts toward helping employees attain it. However, there is a lack of research on organizational efforts to sustain WLB across different work arrangements. This study, therefore, explores the relationships among WLB culture, boundary control, and WLB among teleworkers and on-site workers. A two-wave survey with a six-month time lag involved 379 white-collar employees from various industries. The results showed that WLB culture was associated with greater boundary control over time. Moreover, this effect was significant only among office workers but not among teleworkers, suggesting that WLB culture is more important when working on site. Additionally, greater boundary control was related to a higher affective dimension of WLB, but not with the effectiveness dimension, six months later. Practical and empirical implications for organizational practices that enhance work–life balance across various settings are discussed. Full article

(1) Background: The non-consensual dissemination of intimate images constitutes a severe form of online gender-based violence (OGBV) that inflicts profound harm on victims’ sexual privacy, psychological well-being, and social functioning. Taiwan enacted comprehensive legislative reforms in 2023—commonly referred to as the “Four Acts on Sexual Violence Prevention”—to strengthen criminal responses and expand victim protection mechanisms. However, the extent to which these reforms have translated into effective frontline practice remains insufficiently examined. (2) Methods: This qualitative study employed reflexive thematic analysis to investigate frontline professionals’ experiences with enforcing intimate image offence legislation and delivering victim support services. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with 20 practitioners, including social workers, police officers, prosecutors, and lawyers. (3) Results: Three superordinate themes emerged across macro, meso, and micro structural levels. At the macro level, limited public awareness and persistent victim-blaming attitudes undermine prevention, help-seeking, and reporting. At the meso level, legislative fragmentation, challenges in preserving and analysing digital evidence, and inter-agency coordination gaps constrain enforcement capacity. At the micro level, procedural delays, risks of secondary victimization, and perceived inadequacies in compensation and support mechanisms weaken victims’ trust in institutional responses. (4) Conclusions: While Taiwan’s legislative reforms represent a significant institutional advancement, legal reform alone is insufficient to address digital sexual violence effectively. Comprehensive responses require integrated public education initiatives, enhanced inter-agency coordination, strengthened digital investigation capacity, and trauma-informed victim protection practices across all structural levels. In particular, the findings underscore an urgent public health need to establish rapid digital evidence preservation and takedown mechanisms to limit the proliferation of non-consensual sexual images and mitigate the associated mental health harms among victims. Full article

Accurate classification of physical activity (PA) intensity is essential for exercise prescription, rehabilitation monitoring, and evaluation of guideline adherence. However, widely used wrist-worn accelerometer cut-points may substantially misclassify physiological intensity. This study evaluated absolute accelerometer thresholds during a maximal 2400 m run in military office workers and examined whether individualized cut-points improve agreement with physiological intensity. Seventy-four military office workers completed the test while wearing a wrist-worn ActiGraph GT9X Link and a chest-worn Zephyr BioHarness. Participants achieved near-maximal physiological effort, with peak heart rate averaging 187 ± 11 bpm (95 ± 4.2% age-predicted HRmax). Despite this high intensity, absolute wrist-worn cut-points classified only 34.5% of participants as performing vigorous activity for most of the test. Individualized cut-points, derived from each participant’s individual reference intensity, calculated as the three highest consecutive one-minute epochs during the 2400 m test, substantially improved agreement between accelerometer-derived classifications and physiological intensity. Agreement with %HRmax increased from fair (κ = 0.31), using absolute thresholds, to good (κ = 0.74), using individualized thresholds, and intraclass correlation increased from 0.52 to 0.81. These findings demonstrate that absolute cut-points markedly underestimate high-intensity activity, potentially leading to inaccurate exercise load monitoring and misinterpretation of training intensity. Individualized calibration during a standardized maximal running test provides a feasible strategy to improve the validity of intensity assessment using wearables. Although the study population consisted of military office workers, the approach may be applicable to other active populations. However, further validation in independent samples is needed. Full article

Background: During the flu season, there is an increase in absenteeism due to illness, a drop in productivity, and a greater risk of the virus spreading among workers. Thus, the Italian Ministry of Health recommends vaccination for essential service workers. The University of Salerno, in collaboration with the local health authority of Salerno, offers free vaccination to its employees. Methods: A public health methodology for seasonal influenza vaccination in the workplace is presented—specifically in the university setting—with the aim of identifying individual, contextual, and organizational elements of the model that have promoted vaccination uptake. An ad hoc questionnaire was used (October–December 2025) to survey 399 academic employees, investigating seasonal influenza vaccination in the following aspects: recent personal experiences, motivations, vaccination experiences at university, sources of information, considerations regarding national and local vaccination campaigns, and level of vaccine confidence (VCI). Results: Seasonal influenza vaccination at the University is appreciated for its compatibility with working hours (66.1%), the availability of a platform that allows flexible booking (56.9%), the perception of safety in the environment (31.6%), the fact that the vaccine is free (17.4%), and the involvement of office/laboratory colleagues (5%). Participants appreciate the model and would apply it to other vaccinations at the University and in other institutional settings. A significant relationship (F = 7.24; df = 1; p < 0.05) exists between confidence in the vaccine and the sense of security experienced when receiving the vaccine in the workplace. Data analysis was performed using the IBM SPSS v.28 software. Conclusions: The model proposed can be applied to other institutional contexts, simplifying and facilitating access to vaccines by implementing vaccination campaigns tailored to specific work environments. Full article

Unsafe behaviors by construction workers are a primary cause of accidents in commercial building construction. While traditional studies focus on the frequency of violations, they often overlook the disorder and unpredictability of such behaviors. This study introduces “Unsafe Behavior Entropy” as a new index to measure the disorder of workers’ behaviors, complementing traditional violation frequency. Utilizing a dataset from a large-scale commercial building construction project in Wuhan, China, this research uses Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR) and Gray Relational Analysis (GRA) to examine the influence of six key factors, including safety meeting coverage and supervision density. The PLSR results indicate that the number of workers supervised per safety officer is the most critical driver of both frequency and entropy, while the coverage rate of entry safety education significantly impacts behavioral stability. GRA findings further reveal a high degree of correlation between management interventions and reductions in behavioral disorder. The study concludes that optimizing safety resource allocation and standardizing educational processes are fundamental to controlling human-related risks. By integrating the dual perspectives of frequency and entropy, this research provides a more comprehensive framework for safety management in complex building projects. Full article

Office workers are exposed to a range of occupational health risks, including prolonged sedentary behaviour, postural load, elevated heart rate, and noise, yet objective and continuous monitoring of these risk factors in workplace settings remains uncommon. This study aimed to co-design occupational health visualisations based on smartphone and smartwatch data, through a multi-stakeholder group of office workers and occupational health professionals. A generative co-design framework was applied, comprising a pre-design phase with a field study and questionnaire, a structured multi-stakeholder workshop, and a follow-up evaluation session. Thematic analysis of the workshop transcript yielded 17 occupational health themes, which were subsequently assessed for technical feasibility relative to the available sensing platform. Of the 27 discrete visualisation elements proposed across both groups, the majority were classified as directly addressable using smartphone and smartwatch sensor data. Visualisations covering physical activity, heart rate, environmental noise exposure, and postural load were implemented in Python using real-world data collected from office workers. The follow-up session provided qualitative confirmation that the developed visualisations were interpretable and aligned with the stakeholder expectations. The generative co-design framework proved well-suited to the occupational health visualisation context, enabling structured translation of stakeholder requirements into technically feasible and interpretable visualisation outputs. Full article

Emergency departments (EDs) are critical points of contact for treating and responding to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women who have experienced traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by violence. This study aimed to explore how care, support, and treatment can be improved for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women who have experienced TBI caused by violence by drawing on the perspectives of ED staff in a regional hospital in Queensland (Australia). Using purposeful and snowballing sampling, 24 health professionals (including Indigenous hospital liaison officers and Aboriginal health workers and nursing, medical, and allied health staff) were recruited to participate in the study. Using reflexive thematic analysis, four key recommendations were identified: (1) development of a formalised pathway for head injury from family violence; (2) providing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women with a timely acute-care-to-community pathway; (3) resourcing hospital- and community-based services for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and their children; and (4) strengthening responses from health professionals to violence and head injury. The findings inform opportunities to strengthen ED and system-level responses to improve care and support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women who have experienced this injury. Full article

Infection prevention and control remains an essential component of effective healthcare delivery and disease prevention. This study aimed to explore healthcare workers’ perspectives on factors influencing compliance with infection prevention and control practices in Katavi Regional Referral Hospital, Tanzania. With a qualitative approach, we aimed to enable a broader narrative, gain a more detailed understanding of IPC practices, and identify experiences that may be overlooked in a forced-choice questionnaire. A cross-sectional design using a phenomenological approach was employed. An interview guide was used to collect data from 19 participants (five doctors, four nurses, four laboratory practitioners, and six from administration positions; ward in-charges, quality improvement officers and administrative officers) between 24 July 2025, and 23 August 2025. Among participants, nine were the key informants, and 10 were involved in in-depth interviews. Thematic analysis revealed that the availability of IPC supplies, desire for personal and patient protection, high patient volume, awareness of IPC protocols, institutional support, supportive supervision, and HCWs’ attitudes towards IPC activities were factors influencing IPC compliance. Strengthening structured supervision, ensuring a constant supply of IPC materials, and investing in continuous IPC capacity building may be an important approach in enhancing compliance with IPC practices and reducing hospital-associated infection risk in Katavi Regional Referral Hospital and similar resource-limited healthcare settings. Full article

Sudden disruptions can destabilize everyday routines and open the door to pro-environmental behavioral change. This paper examines whether exogenous Moments of Change (MoC) with different temporal profiles—an acute nationwide power outage in Spain and the prolonged COVID-19 disruption—reshape employees’ workplace pro-environmental behavior (PEB) by weakening the relationship between habits and PEB. Study 1 surveyed 226 Spanish office workers 38 days after a brief blackout, while Study 2 followed 135 employees in Spain and the Netherlands longitudinally across the COVID-19 period. We found that, while reported PEB increased after both disruptions, the short-term blackout was insufficient to weaken the relationship between habits and behavior significantly, or to strengthen individual and organizational drivers of behavior. In contrast, the more prolonged COVID-19 disruption significantly weakened the influence of habits on PEB and strengthened the relationship between perceived corporate environmental responsibility and behavior. These findings suggest that the duration of a disruption is a critical factor. Specifically, brief shocks may elicit specific new behaviors; only prolonged disruptions appear sufficient to break established habits and enhance the influence of organizational factors on employees’ pro-environmental actions. Full article

This article explores the perceived benefits and barriers associated with employing former prisoners as street outreach workers, based on the perspectives of social welfare and prison system professionals. The study aims to contribute to discussions on collaborative approaches to social reintegration and community-based support for socially excluded populations. A qualitative study was conducted between January and March 2025 using in-depth individual interviews. The sample consisted of 30 participants, including 15 social welfare workers and 15 prison officers with professional experience in working with individuals leaving prison. The findings indicate that employing former prisoners as street outreach workers is perceived as offering potential benefits, such as increased credibility, authenticity, and improved engagement with hard-to-reach groups, alongside significant concerns related to emotional stability, institutional readiness, and the risk of role strain. The results suggest that this model may represent an innovative form of support for social reintegration when embedded within appropriate structures of preparation, supervision, and inter-institutional cooperation. The study contributes to ongoing debates on peer-based support and post-prison employment by highlighting professional perceptions of both opportunities and limitations associated with this approach. Full article

Firefighters and correctional workers are highly exposed to potentially traumatic events, but research shows that resiliency training may help support their mental health. Both occupations remain men-dominated and highly masculinized, creating challenges for women public safety personnel (PSP) and reinforcing stigma about mental health as a feminized topic. This exploratory qualitative study examines the gender dynamics of peer resiliency training for firefighters and correctional officers in Canada. Based on interviews with 10 trainers from three provinces, we developed three key themes. First, mental health is constructed as a “feminine” topic, which may create access barriers for men, but also for women who wish to avoid marginalization. Second, gendered beliefs shape perceptions of trainers’ credibility and skills. Men trainers are respected for performing masculinity, while respect for women trainers stems from stereotypes about their maternal “nature”. Such beliefs may increase respect for mental health topics while further entrenching gendered stereotypes. Third, a gender stereotyping paradox exists regarding the roles of women in these occupations. That is, mental health training may provide a leadership pathway for women PSP while simultaneously “pigeonholing” them into emotional-labour roles. We conclude that peer resiliency training is best positioned as the responsibility of both men and women. Full article

Windows are key elements of the building’s system; they connect workers with the outdoor environment, influence daylight penetration, sound insulation, and thermal exchanges of façades, but they also moderate the workers’ well-being and productivity. This research investigates how the window-to-wall ratio, as well as the position and orientation of mullions, in movable offices affect the combination of workers’ perceptual and emotional responses. A smart co-working prefabricated movable office was modelled in virtual reality to include dynamic visual elements and acoustic stimuli. Experiments were performed in a laboratory under controlled thermal conditions involving 32 volunteers. The Igroup Presence and Emotional Salience Questionnaires were used to collect subjective responses. ANOVA analysis and post hoc test with the Bonferroni correction were used for data elaboration. Results revealed that window design affects emotional salience. High window-to-wall ratio and no mullions achieved the highest scores. Increasing the number of mullions, particularly when they obstruct key visual elements, reduced the positive emotional salience rating. Horizontal mullions diminish the outdoors’ spatial perception, interrupting visual continuity and restricting users’ capacity to recognise variations in the views. Finally, the results suggest some valuable insights and suggestions that can help designers improve window design and people’s well-being and satisfaction. Full article

Vehicular emissions are a major contributor to air pollution and respiratory morbidity in Ecuador’s urban centers. Despite increasing evidence of traffic-related health impacts, national research remains fragmented and unevenly distributed. This narrative review synthesizes 26 peer-reviewed studies published between 2000 and 2024 to characterize vehicular air pollution sources, pollutants, and respiratory health effects in Ecuador. The evidence shows a strong geographic concentration, with more than half of the studies conducted in Quito, followed by Guayaquil and Cuenca. National inventories indicate that the transport sector accounts for approximately 41.7% of Ecuador’s CO₂ emissions. Across cities, PM_2.5, PM₁₀, NO₂, CO, and SO₂ were the most frequently assessed pollutants and were repeatedly reported to approach or exceed international guideline values, particularly during traffic peaks and under low-dispersion conditions. Health-related studies documented substantial impacts, including up to 19,966 respiratory hospitalizations in Quito, with short-term PM_2.5 exposure associated with increased hospitalization risk in children. Among schoolchildren attending high-traffic schools, carboxyhemoglobin levels above 2.5% were linked to a threefold increase in the risk of acute respiratory infections. Occupationally exposed adults, such as drivers, traffic police officers, and outdoor workers with regular exposure to traffic-related air pollution, also showed a higher prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms. Environmental evidence further highlighted the accumulation of traffic-related heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Pb, Cr) and pronounced spatial inequalities affecting low-income neighborhoods. Overall, the review identifies aging vehicle fleets and diesel-based transport as dominant contributors to observed pollution and health patterns, while underscoring methodological limitations such as the scarcity of longitudinal studies and uneven monitoring coverage. These findings provide integrated and policy-relevant evidence to support sustainable urban planning, cleaner transport strategies, and targeted respiratory health policies in Ecuador. Full article

As remote and hybrid work arrangements become increasingly embedded in modern professional life, understanding indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in work-from-home (WFH) settings has become critical for supporting sustainable and healthy work environments. This study assessed both subjective perceptions and objective measurements of IEQ from three different working environments of home, employer offices, and simulated standard-compliant offices. Within the home environment, household characteristics resulted in significantly different measured IEQ: larger households and pet ownership were associated with higher CO₂, VOC, and air temperature levels, while noise levels varied by childcare responsibilities and flooring type. IEQ perceptions also significantly differed: air temperature satisfaction was lower among those providing childcare, and overall environmental satisfaction varied by WFH frequency, with occasional WFH workers reporting the least satisfaction. Across the three working environments, participants were significantly more satisfied with thermal and acoustic conditions in WFH than employer offices, with simulated standard-compliant offices showing intermediate results. Notably, these perception patterns did not always align with measured environmental conditions. These findings demonstrate that both household characteristics and work context shape occupants’ IEQ perceptions, underscoring the importance of occupant-centered evaluation in advancing sustainable building design and remote work strategies. The results suggest that integrating both objective IEQ metrics and subjective experience is essential for promoting long-term environmental sustainability and occupant well-being across evolving work environments. Full article

Problem Statement: Upper crossed syndrome (UCS), as first described by Janda, refers to a group of muscle imbalances in which tightness in the upper trapezius and levator scapulae dorsally cross with tightness in the pectoralis major and minor muscles, and weakness of deep cervical flexors cross ventrally with weakness of the middle and lower trapezius. Postural alterations from this dysfunction, including forward head, rounded shoulders, and scapular dyskinesis, contribute to upper-back and shoulder pain, particularly among office workers who spend long periods of the workday on a computer. Upper crossed syndrome is a significant contributor to both neck pain and shoulder pain among computer users, which have been rated at 55–69%, and 15–52%, respectively. Despite its prevalence, knowledge about UCS and its treatment remains spotty among primary care physicians. In addition, improvements in workstation ergonomics along with hourly work breaks may be considered as primary prevention strategies for UCS. Objectives: This narrative review examines and synthesizes evidence about the epidemiology and diagnosis of UCS, along with clinical recommendations for physiotherapeutic approaches to treatment. Ergonomic measures in the workplace, including changes in the design of computer workstations so that both the keyboard and monitor are at the proper heights to minimize the risk of long-term musculoskeletal disorders, are also critical. Methods: The first author, a Doctor of Behavioral Health, performed the initial literature search, which was reviewed by the second author, a PhD in sports injury epidemiology. The third author, a chiropractor and practice owner, provided clinical recommendations for stretching and strengthening exercises, which were also described in the literature. Discussion: While easily treatable when caught early, UCS may become resistant to noninvasive approaches over time, and more severe pathologies of the neck and shoulder, including impingement, thoracic outlet syndrome, and cervicogenic headaches may result. Because there is no specific ICD code for UCS, it is important for physicians to recognize the early signs, consider them in the context of workplace-related injuries, and understand physiotherapeutic strategies for symptom resolution. Full article