Cognitive reserve in ALS: the role of occupational skills and requirements

OBJECTIVE

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a heterogeneous neurodegenerative condition featuring variable degrees of motor and cognitive impairment. We assessed the impact of specific, empirically derived occupational skills and requirements on cognitive and motor functioning in ALS.

METHODS

Individuals with ALS (n = 150) were recruited from the University of Pennsylvania's Comprehensive ALS Clinic. The Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioral ALS Screen (ECAS) measured cognition, and the Penn Upper Motor Neuron (PUMNS) and ALS Functional Rating Scales (ALSFRS-R) measured motor symptoms. We derived 17 factors representing distinct occupational skills and requirements from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET), which were related to cognitive and motor scores using multiple linear regression.

RESULTS

Occupational roles involving greater reasoning ability (β = 2.12, p < .05), social ability (β = 1.73, p < .05), analytic skills, (β = 3.12, p < .01) and humanities knowledge (β = 1.83, p<.01) were associated with better performance on the ECAS, while jobs involving more exposure to environmental hazards (β=-2.57, p < .01) and technical skills (β=-2.16, p<.01) were associated with lower ECAS scores. Jobs requiring more precision skills (β = 1.91, p < .05) were associated with greater motor dysfunction on the PUMNS.

CONCLUSIONS

Occupational histories involving more cognitively complex skills and activities were related to preserved cognitive functioning in ALS consistent with the cognitive reserve hypothesis, while jobs with greater exposure to environmental hazards and technical demands were linked to poorer cognitive functioning. Jobs involving more repetitive movements were associated with worse motor functioning, possibly due to overuse. Occupational history provides insight into protective and risk factors for variable degrees of cognitive and motor dysfunction in ALS.

Moxie begets MOXI: The journey to a novel hypothesis about Mu-opioid and OXytocin system Interactions

This narrative review summarizes the early life of the author, Khalin E. Nisbett, and highlights the factors that led to her career in research and her development of two novel research hypotheses: the Mu-opioid and OXytocin system Interaction (MOXI) hypothesis and Mu-Opioid receptor antagonist and OXytocin receptor Agonist In Combination (MOXAIC) treatment hypothesis. Notably, Nisbett's career began in the era after countless studies demonstrated that oxytocin is not just a female neurotransmitter and not just a female reproductive hormone, an era in which researchers are exploring the role of oxytocin in emotion regulation, social interaction, and cognitive processing across both sexes. As such, the previously held perspective that oxytocin is "just a female hormone" did not impede Nisbett's ideas. Intrigued by science, emotion regulation, and social interaction, she began to explore the role of oxytocin and opioids in emotion regulation. On the heels of earlier theories, such as the Tend-and-Befriend theory and Opioid Theory of Social Attachment, she began to develop the MOXI hypothesis, which postulates that the μ-opioid receptor and oxytocin systems interact to mediate social interaction and emotion regulation. In this narrative review, Nisbett summarizes two studies that explored (i) the role of oxytocin in anxiety- and depression-like behavior and (ii) the effect of opioid receptor blockade on the anxiolytic-like effect of oxytocin, which led to a revision of the MOXI hypothesis and postulation of the Mu-Opioid receptor antagonist and OXytocin receptor Agonist In Combination (MOXAIC) treatment hypothesis. Nisbett also discusses several limitations of these hypotheses and her current research interests and aspirations.

The effect of lower limb osteoarthritis on work-related outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Lower limb osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent condition that has a profound impact on an individual's life in several domains, including occupational activities. The objective of this study was to systematically describe and compare work-related outcomes (e.g., employment status, absenteeism, and productivity loss) in individuals with and without lower limb OA.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Five databases were searched until 17 June 2023. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they compared work-related outcomes between individuals with lower limb OA and healthy controls (e.g., people without OA or the general population).

RESULTS

Seven studies met the inclusion criteria of which two were included in a meta-analysis. Meta-analysis revealed that individuals with OA were less frequently in paid employment than control individuals (odds ratio: 0.25; 95% confidence intervals: 0.12, 0.53). Evidence from single studies indicated greater absenteeism and presenteeism and poorer functional capacity in people with lower limb OA compared to controls.

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review suggests that individuals with lower limb OA have poorer work-related outcomes than those without OA. Low study numbers and lack of consistency in the way work outcomes are defined and measured make accurate quantification of the impact of OA on work challenging.Prospero: registration number: CRD42020178820.

Joint associations of leisure time physical activity and screen sitting time with long-term sickness absence due to mental and musculoskeletal diseases: a registry linked follow-up study

OBJECTIVES

To examine joint associations of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and screen sitting time with subsequent sickness absence among the adult population.

STUDY DESIGN

Registry linked follow-up study.

METHODS

A representative sample of Finnish adults (n = 10,300) were asked to fill out a questionnaire for the FinHealth 2017 survey. Self-reported LTPA was classified into three groups: inactive, moderately active, and active, and screen sitting time into two groups: 3 h or less and over three hours a day, yielding a six-category variable for the joint analyses. Questionnaire data were linked to the Finnish Social Insurance Institution's register data on sickness benefits (over 9 days), including diagnoses (follow-up 2.9 years). The analytical samples were restricted to working age (18-64 years), which included 5098 participants. Associations were examined using logistic regression analysis adjusting for covariates with SPSS 29.

RESULTS

The inactive and high sitting time had a higher risk for sickness absence due to mental disorders (OR 2.07, 95% CI 1.03-4.18) compared with the physically active, low-sitting time group. Additionally, the inactive and low sitting time (OR 1.69 95% CI 1.12-2.55) and the moderately active and high-sitting time groups (OR 2.06 95% CI 1.15-3.67) had a higher risk. No significant associations were found for all-cause and musculoskeletal diseases sickness absence.

CONCLUSION

Employers and policymakers could support reducing sitting in front of a screen and increase LTPA outside working hours to prevent mental health problems and related sickness absences.

Workplace-related determinants of mental health in food and bar workers in Western, high-income countries: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

This review synthesizes evidence from etiologic and intervention studies of workplace-related determinants of mental health in workers in food and bar workers in the hospitality industry in Western high-income countries.

METHODS

Peer-reviewed literature published between January 2000 and August 2023 was gathered from five bibliographic databases. Any study design was eligible. Study quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute tools for appraisal.

RESULTS

A narrative analysis was conducted for 26 included studies (total n = 15,069 participants) across Australia (3), Ireland (1), Norway (1), Spain (2), the United States (17) and the United Kingdom (2). Individual and task-related factors such as high emotional job demands and low job control were associated with high burnout and depression. Uncivil and hostile interpersonal interactions with customers, management, and colleagues were found to contribute to poor mental health outcomes, including depression, anxiety, and burnout.

CONCLUSION

Findings from included studies highlight the impact of workplace culture, including management practices and workplace social support, on mental health. Organization-level interventions may therefore be most effective for addressing individual, interpersonal, and organizational determinants of mental health in food and bar occupations, particularly when implemented as part of broader organizational efforts to support health and wellbeing. Industry-wide policy changes may also be necessary to address structural concerns, including job and financial insecurity, job strain and access to benefits, such as secure sick leave and minimum contract hours.

Identifying high school risk factors that forecast heavy drinking onset in understudied young adults

Heavy alcohol drinking is a major, preventable problem that adversely impacts the physical and mental health of US young adults. Studies seeking drinking risk factors typically focus on young adults who enrolled in 4-year residential college programs (4YCP) even though most high school graduates join the workforce, military, or community colleges. We examined 106 of these understudied young adults (USYA) and 453 4YCPs from the National Consortium on Alcohol and NeuroDevelopment in Adolescence (NCANDA) by longitudinally following their drinking patterns for 8 years from adolescence to young adulthood. All participants were no-to-low drinkers during high school. Whereas 4YCP individuals were more likely to initiate heavy drinking during college years, USYA participants did so later. Using mental health metrics recorded during high school, machine learning forecasted individual-level risk for initiating heavy drinking after leaving high school. The risk factors differed between demographically matched USYA and 4YCP individuals and between sexes. Predictors for USYA drinkers were sexual abuse, physical abuse for girls, and extraversion for boys, whereas 4YCP drinkers were predicted by the ability to recognize facial emotion and, for boys, greater openness. Thus, alcohol prevention programs need to give special consideration to those joining the workforce, military, or community colleges, who make up the majority of this age group.

"Always online": How and when task interdependence and dispositional workplace anxiety affect workplace telepressure after hours

Information and communication technology (ICT) provides employees with convenience in communication. However, it also creates a preoccupation with and urges to respond quickly to work-related ICT messages during nonworking time, which is defined as workplace telepressure after hours (WTA). Drawing on the job demand-resource model, conservation of resource theory, and workplace anxiety theory, this study explores how and when task interdependence and dispositional workplace anxiety affect WTA and how individuals cope with WTA. A total of 269 full-time workers from an online survey panel completed questionnaires at three time-points. We found that both task interdependence and dispositional workplace anxiety are positively related to WTA. The perception of pay-for-responsiveness moderates the relationship between task interdependence and WTA, such that the relationship is significant only for employees with a strong perception of pay-for-responsiveness. Others' approval contingency of self-worth moderates the relationship between dispositional workplace anxiety and WTA, and the relationship is significant only for employees with high degrees of others' approval contingency of self-worth. Finally, WTA arising from external work requirements or the internal pursuit of achieving work goals prompts employees to generate responsiveness coping strategies. Overall, these findings suggest that task interdependence and dispositional workplace anxiety are important factors affecting employees' WTA and highlight the importance of being responsive to WTA.

Countering technostress in virtual work environments: The role of work-based learning and digital leadership in enhancing employee well-being

Virtual work has been highlighted as an important business trend nowadays. Technostress caused by information and communication technology threatens employee well-being in a virtual context. We integrate insights from the Job Demands-Resources theory to explore the impact of technostress on employee well-being and examine work-based learning and digital leadership capability as buffers of this negative impact via the attenuating effect of work exhaustion. We collected multi-wave survey data from 300 virtual employees to test the theoretical model. Results revealed a significant negative impact of technostress on employee well-being. However, work-based learning and digital leadership capability buffered employees' well-being from this negative effect by reducing their work exhaustion. Our findings extend our understanding of work design and shed light on how to cope with virtual work demands.

Bibliometric Mapping of Psychological Flexibility Research: Trends and Future Directions

In this article, we offer an exhaustive analysis of academic work on psychological flexibility using bibliometric techniques. We identify emerging trends in a dataset of 3535 scholarly articles from the Web of Science database. We highlight key publications, map out the field's intellectual framework, and anticipate future research avenues through co-citation and co-word analytics. The co-citation assessment revealed five distinct clusters, while the co-word analysis showed three. Although research regarding psychological flexibility has gained recent popularity, there remains a need for more scholarly initiatives to achieve a nuanced understanding of this subject.

The Role of Leader-Member Exchange Relations and Individual Differences on Counterproductive Work Behavior

Although researchers have documented relations between abusive supervision and subordinate counterproductive work behavior (CWB), might CWB result from non-abusive treatment? We address the question by examining the relation between leader-member relations (LMX) and CWB as well as potential mediators and moderators of that relation. One hundred and eighty subordinates completed surveys assessing their LMX quality, entitlement, negative emotions, self-control, and CWB. Twenty-six supervisors also provided CWB data on 88 of those subordinates. We found that subordinates reporting lower quality relations with their supervisors were more likely to experience CWB than other subordinates and that anger mediated that relation. There was some support for the moderating effect of self-control on the negative emotion - CWB relation. Entitlement did not moderate the LMX - anger relation as hypothesized. One implication is that supervisors do not have to treat their subordinates poorly for the subordinates to react negatively and engage in behavior detrimental to their organization.

An Examination of the Inverse Relationship Between Dimensions of Political Skill and Interpersonal Conflict at Work: Exploring Perceived Control as a Mediating Factor

Political skill has been established as an antidote to workplace stress and strain. However, despite the scholarly attention it has attracted, we still know very little about mediating mechanisms that explain this relationship and the role of political skill dimensions in mitigating workplace stressors. Thus, in this study, we investigate the impact of perceived control as a mediating mechanism between the political skill dimensions (i.e., social astuteness, interpersonal influence, networking ability, apparent sincerity) and interpersonal conflict (i.e., stress arising due to social interactions). Structural equation modeling was applied to analyze the data collected from 370 employees in a textile organization. The study found that perceived control mediated the relationship of social astuteness, interpersonal influence, and networking ability with interpersonal conflict. It, however, did not mediate the link between apparent sincerity and interpersonal conflict. Limitations, implications, and directions for future research are also discussed.

The Work-life Check-ins randomized controlled trial: A leader-based adaptive, semi-structured burnout intervention in primary care clinics

BACKGROUND

Burnout in primary care undermines worker well-being and patient care. Many factors contribute to burnout, including high workloads, emotional stress, and unsupportive supervisors. Formative evidence suggests that burnout might be reduced if clinic leaders hold quarterly and brief (∼30 min) one-on-one check-ins with team members to acknowledge and address work-life stressors (e.g., schedules, workflow breakdowns, time off requests). This paper describes the intervention protocol for a randomized controlled trial (RCT) designed to evaluate the effectiveness and process of the check-ins in reducing burnout among primary care professionals.

METHODS

Two-arm RCT conducted at 12 primary care clinics of a healthcare system in the Pacific Northwest. Six clinics received an adaptive design, semi-structured intervention, including predefined training modules with evidence-based tactics to reduce burnout through the check-ins, followed by clinic-specific feedback sessions prior to offering and conducting quarterly leader-employee check-ins. Six clinics were randomized as waitlist controls. Burnout was measured using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) at baseline and at the 12-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes include organizational constraints, psychological safety, and supervisor support. Multilevel modeling and qualitative methods were applied to evaluate the effects and process of the intervention.

CONCLUSION

By focusing on modifiable work-life factors such as stressors and supervisor support, the check-ins intervention aims to reduce burnout rates among primary care professionals. Findings from this trial will shed light on the conditions upon which check-ins might reduce burnout. Results will also inform policies and interventions aimed at improving mental health and well-being in primary care settings.

CLINICALTRIALS

gov: ID NCT05436548.

Problematic smartphone use and mental health outcomes among Singapore residents: The health and lifestyle survey

BACKGROUND

The excessive use of smartphones and its association with adverse outcomes has been widely reported, with several studies showing an association between smartphone overuse, depression, anxiety, and sleep-related problems.

METHODS

The study used data from the Health and Lifestyle Survey, a nationwide population survey. It examined the prevalence of Problematic Smartphone Use (PSU) and its association with mental health outcomes among Singapore residents aged 15-65 years.

PARTICIPANTS

Participants were assessed for PSU using the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version, psychological distress with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and Generalised Anxiety Disorder -7 questionnaire, sleep problems using the Insomnia Severity Index, and positive mental health with Rapid Positive Mental Health Instrument.

RESULTS

In all, 6509 participants completed the survey, giving a survey response rate of 73.2 %. The prevalence of PSU was 30.2 % in the population. Individuals with PSU were more likely to have symptoms of moderate or severe depression (OR: 3.2, 95 % CI: 2.4-4.4), anxiety (OR: 3.4, 95 % CI: 2.4-4.8), insomnia (OR: 3.4, 95 % CI: 2.8-4.2), and poorer positive mental health (β: -0.3, 95 % CI: -0.4 to -0.2).

CONCLUSIONS

The study is the first to examine PSU in a national sample of Singaporeans across a wide age range. It provides valuable insights into mental health comorbidities among those with PSU, which is useful for practitioners.

The moderating effects of perceived social worth and organizational virtuousness on the relationship between emotional labor, precarious work, and organizational commitment among ASHA workers in India

Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) in India are the subjects of this study, which explores the complex relationships between emotional labor (EL) and unstable work environments and how these relationships affect organizational commitment (OC). The study also looked at how organizational virtuousness (OV) and perceived social value mediated the relationship between precarious work (PW), EL, and OC. This study included a total sample size of N = 467 ASHA personnel from a variety of healthcare settings. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to look at the moderating effects using the Hayes Process Macro. The findings suggest that there are noteworthy negative associations between EL, PW, and the OC of ASHA workers. Nevertheless, OV and perceived social worth (PSW) emerged as significant moderators. More precisely, elevated levels of PSW and OV mitigated the adverse effects of PW and EL on the OC of ASHA workers.

Body image, self-efficacy, and sleep quality among patients with breast cancer: A latent profile and mediation analysis

PURPOSE

As a sign of femininity, impaired breast after surgery causes particularly confusion for patients with breast cancer resulting in increased body image distress, which has negative impacts on sleep quality. And self-efficacy enables patients to use positive and effective coping strategies to maintain a favorable night's sleep. Therefore, our study is to explore the heterogeneity in body image experienced by patients with breast cancer and to examine the mediation effects of self-efficacy between body image and sleep quality.

METHOD

Between July 2023 and October 2023, 251 patients with breast cancer were recruited for the Be Resilient to Breast Cancer program. They responded to the General Perceived Self-Efficacy Scale, Body Image Scale, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Scale. Data were analyzed using a latent profile analysis (LPA) and mediation analysis.

RESULTS

Results of the LPA indicated that body image could be classified into three subgroups as follows: low (43.0%), moderate (45.5%), and high (11.5%). Furthermore, the mediation analysis demonstrated two partially mediated effects upon comparing the low and moderate (standard error, SE = 0.548, 95% confidence interval, CI = 0.009, 0.366) and the high and low (SE = 0.848, 95% CI = 0.570, 3.909) body image groups.

CONCLUSION

Heterogeneity exists in body image, and self-efficacy mediates the relationship between body image and sleep quality. Hence, promoting self-efficacy can buffer the negative impacts of body image on sleep quality in patients with breast cancer, and self-efficacy-orientated interventions should also receive more attention in clinic.

Effects of work-directed interventions on return-to-work in people on sick-leave for to common mental disorders-a systematic review

PURPOSE

To evaluate the body of evidence of the effects of work-directed interventions on return-to-work for people on sick leave due to common mental disorders (i.e., mild to moderate depression, anxiety, adjustment disorders and reactions to severe stress).

METHODS

The systematic review was conducted in accordance with an a priori developed and registered protocol (Prospero CRD42021235586). The certainty of evidence was assessed by two independent reviewers using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations.

RESULTS

We reviewed 14,794 records published between 2015 and 2021. Of these, eight RCTs published in eleven articles were included in the analysis.

POPULATION

Working age adults (18 to 64 years), on sick leave due to mild to moderate depression, anxiety, adjustment disorders or reactions to severe stress.

INTERVENTION

Work-directed interventions.

COMPARATOR

No comparator, Standard care, or other measures.

OUTCOME

return to work, number of days on sick leave, income. Overall, the effects of work-focused CBT and work-focused team-based support on RTW resulted in increased or faster return-to-work compared with standard care or no intervention (low certainty of evidence). The effects of Individual Placement and Support showed no difference in RTW compared with standard care (very low certainty of evidence).

CONCLUSION

Interventions involving the workplace could increase the probability of RTW. Areas in need of improvement in the included studies, for example methodological issues, are discussed. Further, suggestions are made for improving methodological rigor when conducting large scale trials.

Iron deficiency, anemia, and patient-reported outcomes in kidney transplant recipients

Kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) experience more fatigue, anxiety, and depressive symptoms and lower concentration and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) compared with the general population. Anemia is a potential cause that is well-recognized and treated. Iron deficiency, however, is often unrecognized, despite its potential detrimental effects related to and unrelated to anemia. We investigated the interplay of anemia, iron deficiency, and patient-reported outcomes in 814 outpatient KTRs (62% male, age 56 ± 13 years) enrolled in the TransplantLines Biobank and Cohort Study (Groningen, The Netherlands). In total, 28% had iron deficiency (ie, transferrin saturation < 20% and ferritin < 100 μg/L), and 29% had anemia (World Health Organization criteria). In linear regression analyses, iron deficiency, but not anemia, was associated with more fatigue, worse concentration, lower wellbeing, more anxiety, more depressive symptoms, and lower HRQoL, independent of age, sex, estimated glomerular filtration rate, anemia, and other potential confounders. In the fully adjusted logistic regression models, iron deficiency was associated with an estimated 53% higher risk of severe fatigue, a 100% higher risk of major depressive symptoms, and a 51% higher chance of being at risk for sick leave/work disability. Clinical trials are needed to investigate the effect of iron deficiency correction on patient-reported outcomes and HRQoL in KTRs.

Psychometric Support and Measurement Invariance of a Turkish Version of the Transformational Parenting Questionnaire

Our primary objective in this study was to psychometrically evaluate the Transformational Parenting Questionnaire (TPQ) within the Turkish context. Secondarily, we aimed to determine whether the questionnaire demonstrated measurement invariance across children's genders and grade levels. We included 950 participants, aged 11-18 years (446 girls, 498 boys, 6 unspecified gender identity; Mage = 14.73, SD = 1.85 years). Confirmatory factor analysis provided support for the original 4-factor structure of the TPQ, and there was satisfactory criterion-related correlational validity between this instrument and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. The TPQ exhibited robust internal item reliability coefficients, and respondent's test-retest correlations over a 15-day interval suggested adequate item response consistency. Importantly, we confirmed measurement invariance of the scale across participants gender and educational grade levels. In summary, we found that the TPQ was a valid and reliable tool for assessing Turkish children's perceptions of transformative parenting behaviors.

The effects of occupational and mental stress among home care rehabilitation professionals working during the COVID-19 pandemic: An exploratory qualitative study

Home care rehabilitation professionals (hcRPs) provide health services for clients with a broad range of medical conditions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, home care rehabilitation professionals experienced exacerbations of pre-existing work-related stressors, increased risk of transmission of the COVID-19 virus, reduced resource availability, greater workloads, and staffing shortages. The primary aim of this study was to examine the experience and impact of occupational and mental stress on hcRPs working during the COVID-19 pandemic. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 hcRPs working in Ontario, Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic. Inductive thematic analysis was used to interpret and organize the data into conceptualized themes. Interview data was organized into three themes: (a) unique challenges of a home care rehabilitation professional, (b) COVID-19 exacerbations of home care occupational and mental stress, and (c) personal and workplace coping strategies. Many participants reported reducing their hours or taking on adjunctive roles in different clinical settings outside of home care due to work-related stress exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. With a focus on the effects of COVID-19 on the practice of home care, this study provides a unique perspective on the challenges experienced by hcRPs during an emergent and evolving global public health concern. The exploratory nature of this research works towards providing a framework of factors to be addressed when creating sustainable healthcare interventions, as well as recommendations to support hcRPs to benefit both the community and health-care providers.

Eat healthy, feel better: Are differences in employees' longitudinal healthy-eating trajectories reflected in better psychological well-being?

Eating healthily in terms of fruit and vegetable consumption has beneficial effects for employees and their organisations. Yet, we know little about how employees' eating behaviour develops over longer periods of time (trajectories) as well as about how subgroups of employees in these trajectories differ (trajectory classes). Gaining such insights is critical to understand how employees address healthy eating recommendations over time as well as to develop individualised interventions that also consider the development of healthy eating (i.e. improvement versus impairment beyond mean levels). We analysed panel data (Longitudinal Internet Studies for the Social Sciences) from 1054 employees by means of growth mixture modelling. Our analyses revealed three relevant classes of healthy-eating trajectories: a favourable trajectory class, an unfavourable trajectory class and a strongly improving trajectory class. Furthermore, unfavourable healthy-eating trajectories were especially critical with respect to impaired psychological well-being. Specifically, we found robust results for impaired positive and negative affects, but not for self-esteem, in the unfavourable trajectory class. We discuss limitations and implications of these findings, thereby encouraging research and practice to further consider such fine-grained approaches (i.e. focusing on subgroups within a larger population) when addressing healthy-eating promotion over time.

Social Determinants of Health and Psychological Capital Among Youth Experiencing Homelessness

BACKGROUND

Social determinants of health affect health behaviors and outcomes. Youth experiencing homelessness suffer significant deprivation of resources such as inadequate housing, reduced education, poor health care, and decreased economic stability. Inner resources, such as psychological capital, may also be related to health behaviors and health outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we sought to describe and explore associations among selected determinants of health and self-reported scores on indicators of psychological capital among youth experiencing homelessness.

METHODS

This cross-sectional secondary analysis was conducted with a randomized subsample of 148 youth. We calculated chi-square frequencies to describe the data, classical item analyses to evaluate responses, and correlation tests to examine significance of associations.

RESULTS

Youth in this sample demonstrated that they possess inner resources associated with determinants of health. Education, health care, and social support were significantly associated with attributes of psychological capital (hope, efficacy, resilience, optimism). Sexual minority groups had high representation in this subsample (25.7%), indicating a need for more study and equitable services for this population.

CONCLUSION

More research should be conducted to better understand the associations between determinants of health, psychological capital, and health behaviors among disadvantaged youth to advance health equity initiatives.

Precarious employment and the workplace transmission of COVID-19: evidence from workers' compensation claims in Ontario, Canada

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association between precarious employment and risk of work-related COVID-19 infection in Ontario, Canada.

METHODS

We combined data from an administrative census of workers' compensation claims with corresponding labour force statistics to estimate rates of work-related COVID-19 infection between April 2020 and April 2022. Precarious employment was imputed using a job exposure matrix capturing temporary employment, low wages, irregular hours, involuntary part-time employment and a multidimensional indicator of 'low', 'medium', 'high' and 'very high' overall exposure to precarious employment. We used negative binomial regression models to quantify associations between precarious employment and accepted compensation claims for COVID-19.

RESULTS

We observed a monotonic association between precarious employment and work-related COVID-19 claims. Workers with 'very high' exposure to precarious employment presented a nearly fivefold claim risk in models controlling for age, sex and pandemic wave (rate ratio (RR): 4.90, 95% CI 4.07 to 5.89). Further controlling for occupational exposures (public facing work, working in close proximity to others, indoor work) somewhat attenuated observed associations. After accounting for these factors, workers with 'very high' exposure to precarious employment were still nearly four times as likely to file a successful claim for COVID-19 (RR: 3.78, 95% CI 3.28 to 4.36).

CONCLUSIONS

During the first 2 years of the pandemic, precariously employed workers were more likely to acquire a work-related COVID-19 infection resulting in a successful lost-time compensation claim. Strategies aiming to promote an equitable and sustained recovery from the pandemic should consider and address the notable risks associated with precarious employment.

Vulnerability profiles of workers and the relation with burnout symptoms: results from the Netherlands working conditions survey

INTRODUCTION

Unfavorable working conditions may place workers in a vulnerable position in the labour market, but studies on the clustering of these factors and their relation to burnout symptoms are lacking. This study aims to identify subgroups of workers in potentially vulnerable positions in the labour market and examine whether burnout symptoms differ across the established subgroups.

METHODS

This study utilizes cross-sectional data from 2019 of the Netherlands Working Conditions Survey (n = 55,283). Working conditions included employment contracts, working hours, multiple jobs, tenure, physical strain, autonomy, and workload. Burnout symptoms were measured with five items on a 7-point Likert scale. Latent Class Analysis was used to identify vulnerability subgroups based on working conditions and educational level. Wilcoxon rank-sum tests were used to examine whether burnout symptoms differed between the identified subgroups.

RESULTS

Three out of nine subgroups (i.e., classes 4, 6, and 7) presented combinations of multiple unfavourable working conditions. The vulnerability of class 4, characterized by low educational level, physically demanding work, low autonomy, and a high workload, was underscored by a significantly higher burnout symptom score (M = 2.91;SD = 0.97) compared to all other subgroups. Subgroups 3 (M = 2.69;SD = 1.43) and 8 (M = 2.41;SD = 1.41), without striking unfavourable conditions, had the second and third highest scores on burnout symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Determining vulnerability in the labour market is not straightforward as not all profiles that presented clusters of unfavourable working conditions scored high on burnout symptoms, and vice versa. Future research should investigate whether findings are similar to other mental health outcomes.

Nurses' organizational climate of perceived organizational support and its relationships with psychosocial working conditions and psychological contracts: A longitudinal questionnaire study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present study was to investigate the longitudinal relationships between nurses' organizational climate of perceived organizational support (POS-climate) and their psychosocial working conditions and psychological contracts.

METHODS

A two-wave longitudinal cohort questionnaire study was carried out among registered nurses employed within six hospitals in two regions in Sweden (n = 711). Two cross-lagged panel models were tested after ensuring scalar factorial invariance of the measurement models. The first model investigated longitudinal relationships between psychosocial working conditions and the POS-climate, while the second model investigated such relationships between the psychological contracts and the POS-climate.

RESULTS

The results indicated that influence at work and an ideology-infused psychological contract had positive effects on the nurses' POS-climate.

CONCLUSIONS

These results highlight the importance of providing nurses with such influence, and of a shared ideology within the entire health-care organization, centered on the ethical values of the health-care professions.

Psychometric properties and cut-off scores for the Swedish version of the Negative Acts Questionnaire: The full scale and short version

The present study investigates the psychometric properties and cut-off scores of a Swedish version of the Negative Acts Questionnaire, the most frequently used instrument to measure exposure to workplace bullying. Based on a probability sample of the Swedish workforce (n = 1853), we investigate the validity of both the full version (NAQ-R) and the short version (SNAQ). We suggest optimal cut-offs for the NAQ-R and SNAQ, and for the subscales measuring work- and person-related bullying. Based on the cut-off scores we provide estimates of prevalence in a Swedish context. The factor structure and psychometric properties are comparable to the Norwegian original and the English versions of the instrument. We also tested the criterion validity using 11 outcome and antecedent variables to bullying, and all provided support for its validity. The identified cut-off scores differentiate clearly when tested against the 11 variables used to test criterion validity in the study. The results showed that the Swedish version of the NAQ-R, including the SNAQ, is a valid measure of workplace bullying. To our knowledge, this study is the first study presenting statistical cut-offs for the NAQ-R subscales as well as investigating both the NAQ-R and the SNAQ simultaneously. The present study also provides some criticism against and suggestions for improving the NAQ-R, aiming to capture even more of the overall experience of exposure, ability to defend oneself, overall duration, and on- and offline exposure.

A Dual-Process Model of Promoting Employee Mental Health in Crises: Impacts of Leadership Health Support and Organizational Leaders' Crisis Communication in COVID-19

This study examined how organizations may promote their employees' mental health in difficult times. Drawing from organizational crisis communication and organizational health promotion research, it proposed and tested a dual-process model that links leadership health support, an essential dimension of organizational health culture, with organizational leaders' crisis communication (i.e. use of ethical-base responses) and workers' self-care awareness and perceived stress in a crisis. Through a survey of 502 full-time U.S. employees conducted during COVID-19, we found that organizational leaders' use of ethical-base responses predicted employees' enhanced self-care awareness and decreased stress levels. Further, leadership health support provided a double-buffer effect to sustain employee mental health by directly bolstering employees' self-care awareness and organizational leaders' use of ethical-base responses. The findings of this study bridge the gaps in organizational health promotion and crisis communication literature and offer practical suggestions for organizations seeking to foster employees' mental health challenges during crises.

Association between work-related factors and health behaviour clusters among Finnish private-sector service workers

PURPOSE

We examined how work-related factors associate with several health behaviours that appear together among the large, but less-studied, blue- and pink-collar worker group, which is characterized by low education and income levels.

METHODS

In 2019, we conducted a cross-sectional survey among private sector service workers (n = 5256) in Finland. We applied two-step cluster analysis to identify groups on the basis of leisure-time physical activity, sleep adequacy, frequency of heavy drinking, smoking status, and frequency of fruit, vegetable and berry consumption. We examined the associations with work-related factors, using multinomial regression analyses and adjusting for confounding factors.

RESULTS

We identified six clusters labelled as Moderately Healthy (28% of the participants), Healthy - Vigorous Exercise (19%), Sedentary Lifestyle (16%), Inadequate Sleep (15%), Mixed Health Behaviours (15%), and Multiple Risk Behaviours (8%). Those who perceived their work to be mentally or physically strenuous more commonly belonged to the Inadequate Sleep and Multiple Risk Behaviours clusters. Time pressure made belonging to the Inadequate Sleep, Mixed Health Behaviours, and Multiple Risk Behaviours clusters more likely. Those who were dissatisfied with their work more often belonged to the Healthy - Vigorous Exercise, Inadequate Sleep, and Multiple Risk Behaviours clusters.

CONCLUSION

In addition of finding several considerably differing health behaviour clusters, we also found that adverse working conditions were associated with clusters characterized by multiple risk behaviours, especially inadequate sleep. Private-sector service workers' working conditions should be improved so that they support sufficient recovery, and occupational health services should better identify co-occurring multiple risk behaviours.

The interplay among EFL teachers' emotional intelligence and self-efficacy and burnout

Considering the essential role of teachers and their characteristics in language education, their emotions are the main focus of recent studies. Emotions such as burnout which usually happens due to stress, can hinder their career progress so it needs to be addressed as it affects both learners and teachers respectively. Another construct is self-efficacy which contemplates the teachers' confidence in their aptitudes and it may reduce the probability of burnout and prevent job stress. Also, Emotional intelligence (EI) is an eminent variable in this field that is a significant predictor of job performance. Therefore, this study attempted to address English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers' burnout by associating the effects of these factors such as EI and self-efficacy. Accordingly, 400 EFL teachers agreed to participate and were given three relevant questionnaires. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was utilized and the findings indicated that both teacher self-efficacy (β = -0.123, p < .05) and emotional intelligence (β = -0.14, p < .05) are significant predictors of burnout. The two variables jointly could explain 4.3 % of variances in teacher burnout. Teacher self-efficacy has a significant direct effect on burnout with standard estimate of -0.123 (p = .03). It also has a positive effect on emotional intelligence with standardized estimate of 0.245 (p = .000). Emotional intelligence, in turn, has a negative effect on burnout with standardized estimate of 0.14 (p = .16). The mediation analysis showed that the indirect effect of teacher self-efficacy is 0.034 (p = .017). Finally, some implications and recommendations for EFL stakeholders are presented.

Psychological capital and well-being: An opportunity for teachers' well-being? Scoping review of the scientific literature in psychology and educational sciences

In a context marked by teachers' shortage, prioritizing teachers' well-being emerges as one of the factors that can encourage them to stay in the profession. Well-being is a multidimensional concept and difficult to define and measure. Moreover, its link with Psychological Capital (PsyCap), a concept that includes personal psychological resources (hope, self-efficacy, resilience, and optimism) (Luthans & Youssef, 2004), has received little attention in the educational sciences. The main objective of this paper is therefore to investigate the links between these two concepts from a theoretical point of view in psychology and educational sciences. For this purpose, the scoping review methodology (Tricco et al., 2018) is mobilized to identify research issues, methodological questions, and the various links between well-being and PsyCap. Based on a systematic review of 376 bibliographic references conducted in the main databases in psychology and educational sciences, 32 articles were selected analysed. The data extracted indicate that these concepts particularly affect teachers (42.11 % of subjects concerned, N = 42,750). In addition, all the sources selected report significant and positive statistical links between well-being and PsyCap. These results suggest possible avenues for research on teachers' well-being.

Are my wife's recovery activities related to my subsequent recovery activities at work?

We proposed a model where a male employee's wife's engagement in recovery activities results in the husband's own enactment of recovery activities while in the workplace, via emotional contagion, based on the COR theory and broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions. We expected wives may experience positive emotions after engaging in social interactions, which has a contagion effect on husbands' positive emotions. Further, husbands were expected to leverage their positive emotions to engage in future recovery activities (better lunch nap and meal quality while at work). Lastly, we examined whether power imbalance in the married couple has a moderating effect on emotional contagion processes. To test our model, we used an experience-sampling method in which 110 dyads completed daily diary questionnaires for 8 consecutive days (N = 768, after removing 112 invalid observations). As expected, wives' social interactions are linked to husbands' positive emotions via wives' positive emotions. Further, husbands' positive emotions predict the quality of two workplace recovery activities (lunch naps and meals). Finally, power imbalance moderates the association between wives' (donors) emotions and husbands' (recipients) emotions such that the crossover of emotions is stronger when wives (donors) have relatively more power than when they have less.

Proactive vitality management, goal attainment, and psychological well-being among college students: A weekly diary study

Student well-being is under renewed scrutiny due to escalating academic stress and mental health concerns among young adults. However, in addition to the measures taken by lecturers, universities, and local governments (top-down approaches), we still know little about how students themselves can take the proactive strategy to manage their well-being (bottom-up approaches). The current study addressed this gap by proposing and examining the beneficial role of proactive vitality management (PVM)-a proactive action aimed at managing physical and mental energy based on personal unique needs and conditions-on student psychological well-being. We collected data from 97 college students (36% male, age mean = 21) over four consecutive weeks (308 data observations) and tested a multilevel moderated mediation model. Results showed that weekly PVM was positively related to student weekly goal attainment, which, in turn, enhanced the current week's well-being and the next week's well-being as well. Further, this positive indirect (carryover) effect of PVM through goal attainment on well-being was stronger for those who had a high learning orientation. Our results indicated that PVM can be an effective self-customized strategy to manage college students' weekly well-being. Theoretical and practical implications were discussed.

Correlation analysis of occupational stress and metabolic syndrome among employees of a power grid enterprise in China

BACKGROUND

Being in a state of high occupational stress may disrupt the metabolic balance of the body, thus increasing the risk of metabolic diseases. However, the evidence about the relationship between occupational stress and metabolic syndrome was limited.

OBJECTIVES

To explore the association between occupational stress and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in employees of a power grid enterprise.

METHODS

A total of 1091 employees were recruited from a power grid enterprise in China. Excluding those who failed to complete the questionnaire and those who had incomplete health check-ups, 945 subjects were included in the study. Assessment of occupational stress was used by job demand-control (JDC) and effort-reward imbalance (ERI) questionnaires, respectively. The information on body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were collected. The levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), and fasting blood glucose (FBG) in the fasting venous blood samples were measured. Logistic regression analysis and multiple linear regression methods were used to analyze the correlation between JDC and ERI models of occupational stress, metabolic syndrome, and its components, respectively.

RESULTS

The prevalence of MetS was 8.4% and 9.9% in JDC and ERI model high occupational stress employees, respectively. ERI model occupational stress and smoking are significantly associated with the risk of MetS. ERI ratio was significantly associated with lower HDL-C levels. Gender, age, marital status, smoking, high-temperature and high-altitude work were significantly associated with metabolic component levels.

CONCLUSION

Our study revealed a high detection rate of occupational stress in both JDC and ERI models among employees of a power grid enterprise. ERI model occupational stress, demanding more attention, was associated with the risk of MetS as well as its components such as HDL-C.

Proposed Framework for Developing and Evaluating Total Worker Health ® Education and Training Programs

OBJECTIVE

Propose a framework for developing and evaluating Total Worker Health ® (TWH) education and training efforts by implementing institutions.

METHODS

This is a review of TWH information from symposia, workshops, academic offerings, and publications, along with a review of education and training development and evaluation resources applicable across various disciplines.

RESULTS

Examples of knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) are provided for each TWH core competency, and a framework for developing and evaluating a TWH competency-based education or training program.

CONCLUSIONS

The proposed set of KSAs and framework for developing and evaluating TWH education or training programs may inform future pilot testing of KSAs and framework by implementing institutions and help standardize practices across the discipline. Academic, business, community, labor, and government stakeholders are encouraged to provide further input to assist in its maturation and uptake.

Factors Associated With Reporting Attitudes of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Direct Care Workers in South Korea

BACKGROUND

Workers' reporting of work-related injuries or illnesses is important for treatment and prevention, yet research often focuses on reporting barriers. This study aimed to identify factors related to work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WRMSD) reporting attitudes and their connection to reporting intention and behavior.

METHODS

We analyzed data from 377 direct care workers employed in 19 long-term care facilities in South Korea. A self-administered questionnaire collected demographics, job characteristics, physical and psychosocial factors, musculoskeletal symptoms, reporting attitudes, and WRMSD reporting intentions and behavior between May and August 2022. We used a generalized linear mixed model with a random intercept by employers to identify factors influencing reporting attitudes. To explore the relationship between reporting attitude and reporting intention and behavior, simple logistic regression was also conducted.

RESULTS

We achieved an 86% response rate. The majority of the study participants were female (87.2%), married (95.9%), and non-immigrant (72.8%). Of the study participants, 48.9% had no intention to report WRMSDs, and 44.3% held negative reporting attitudes. Among 200 workers with WRMSDs, 86.5% did not report them. Attitudes were associated with work duration, safety training, management safety priority, WRMSD experience, and symptom severity and frequency. Management safety priority did not moderate this relationship. Significant links existed between attitudes and reporting intention and behavior.

CONCLUSIONS/APPLICATIONS TO PRACTICE

This study highlights the vital influence of workers' attitudes on reporting work-related injuries and illnesses. Occupational health providers should employ strategies, such as tailored safety training and management commitment, with a focus on addressing the unique needs of long-tenured and musculoskeletal-exposed workers. Fostering a safety culture that promotes open and timely reporting is crucial, and implementing these strategies can significantly enhance workplace safety and health.

The Influence of Prenatal Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy on Breastfeeding Behavior of Taiwanese Pregnant Women

BACKGROUND

The benefits of breastfeeding for mothers and infants are well known. However, in Taiwan, the average breastfeeding rate remains below the World Health Organization recommendations. Breastfeeding self-efficacy is a known predictor of breastfeeding.

RESEARCH AIMS

To determine: (1) the relationship of sociodemographic factors to prenatal breastfeeding self-efficacy, and (2) the relationship of sociodemographic factors and prenatal breastfeeding self-efficacy to breastfeeding behavior at 8 weeks postpartum among women living in Taiwan.

METHODS

This was a prospective cohort study of 206 pregnant women collected in an outpatient clinic located in Taiwan. The validated Chinese version of the Prenatal Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale (PBSES) was used to measure self-efficacy for breastfeeding during pregnancy. At 8 weeks postpartum, participants were contacted by telephone to obtain information regarding infant feeding method and duration.

RESULTS

The mean age of the pregnant women was 32 years, and the mean prenatal breastfeeding self-efficacy score was 78.6 (SD = 10.6). Scores differed across levels of maternal education, previous breastfeeding experience, and support systems. Prenatal breastfeeding self-efficacy scores were highest among participants reporting spouse support versus other types of support. Maternal age and prenatal breastfeeding self-efficacy were predictive of breastfeeding duration. A 1-year increase in maternal age was associated with a 6% lower likelihood of breastfeeding for at least 2 months postpartum, and a 1-point increase in the prenatal breastfeeding self-efficacy score was associated with a 14% increase in the likelihood of breastfeeding for at least 2 months postpartum.

CONCLUSIONS

Prenatal breastfeeding self-efficacy may help predict breastfeeding continuation among Taiwanese women in the first 2 months postpartum.

Enduring education and employment: Examining motivation and mechanisms of psychological resilience

Resilience, the ability to bounce back from difficult events, is critical for an individual to negotiate stressors and adversity. Despite being widely studied, little is known about the processes involved in the development of resilience. The goal of the studies are to investigate the relationship between motivation orientation, emotional intelligence, cognitive appraisals, and psychological resilience. Two studies, using self-report questionnaires were conducted with employed young adults also enrolled in post-secondary studies (pre- and during the pandemic) to test the tenability of our proposed models. Study 1 and Study 2 showed that emotional intelligence and challenge appraisals were mediators of autonomous motivation and resilience. Study 2 revealed statistically significant differences in mean scores of autonomous motivation and emotional intelligence between non-pandemic students and pandemic students. Based on the findings, it is suggested that autonomous motivation, emotional intelligence, and challenge appraisals are important aptitudes for the development of resilience. Furthermore, findings suggest that social isolation caused by the pandemic may have affected levels of emotional intelligence. Ultimately, the research expands the literature on both self-determination theory and resilience by offering a unique multiple mediation model for predicting the development of resilience within the employed undergraduate population.

A Canadian National Survey Study of Harassment in Surgery-Still a Long Way to Go

OBJECTIVES

Previous literature has consistently documented harassment and discrimination in surgery. These experiences may contribute to the continuing gender inequity in surgical fields. The objective of our study was to survey Canadian surgeons and surgical trainees to gain a greater understanding of the experience of harassment across genders, career stage, and specialty.

METHODS

A cross-sectional, online survey was distributed to Canadian residents, fellows, and practicing surgeons in general surgery, plastic surgery, and neurosurgery through their national society email lists and via social media posts.

RESULTS

There were 194 included survey respondents (60 residents, 11 fellows, and 123 staff) from general surgery (44.8%), plastic surgery (42.7%), and neurosurgery (12.5%). 59.8% of women reported having experienced harassment compared to only 26.0% of men. Women were significantly more likely to be harassed by colleagues and patients/families compared to men. Residents (62.5%) were two times more likely to report being harassed compared to fellows/staff (38.3%). Residents were significantly more likely to be harassed by patients/families while fellows/staff were more likely to be harassed by colleagues. There were no significant differences in self-reported harassment across the three surgical specialties. There was no significant difference in rates of reported harassment between current residents (62.5%), and fellow/staff recollections of their experiences of harassment during residency (59.2%).

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of gender-based discrimination remains high and harassment prevalence remains largely unchanged from when current staff were in residency. Our findings highlight a need to implement systemic changes to support the increasing number of women entering surgery, and to improve surgical culture to continue to attract the best and brightest to the field.

When experiencing nice interactions at work: Good sleep quality via well-being

Based on the Work-Home Resources Model and Conservation of Resources Theory, we develop dual mechanisms by which nice interactions (patients' compliments and coworkers' informational support) predict sleep quality. Specifically, we expect these nice interactions to help individuals conserve their personal energy in the form of less cognitive depletion (a cognitive process) and diminished physical fatigue (a physical process). Further, we propose employees utilise their energy resources to experience better sleep quality. To test the proposed model, we utilised an experience-sampling method by recruiting 223 female nurses working in a regional university hospital in South Korea. Specifically, we measured nice interactions and personal resources at 3 PM on Day t and sleep quality at 5-6 AM on Day t + 1, and we administered the questionnaire for 10 consecutive days. Overall, after removing 79 invalid observations (not completing questionnaire in a timely manner), we had a final total of two-wave 1997 daily observations from 223 nurses. Receiving more compliments from patients and more information from coworkers positively affects nurses' cognitive energy (less cognitive depletion) and physical energy (less physical fatigue), which predicts better sleep quality. Finally, results supported indirect effects of these nice interactions on sleep quality via cognitive and physical processes.

Understanding the impact of abusive leadership on third-party observers' turnover intentions: Insights from organizational identification and authority orientation

This study proposes and tests a conceptual model including three predictors (observed abusive leadership, workplace identification, and authority orientation) of third-party observers' turnover intentions. Analyzing responses from of 367 sales employees from Chinese hotels suggests that organizational identification partially mediates the relationship between observed abusive leadership and observer turnover intention. Also, observed abusive leadership is negatively associated with observers' workplace identification. Finally, authority orientation is negatively associated with observers' turnover intentions. This study contributes theoretically to understanding the repercussions of abusive leadership and offers managerial insights for hospitality firms to mitigate high turnover rates.

The impact of transformational leadership on workers' personal resources: latent profile analysis and links with physical and psychological health

BACKGROUND

Several studies have examined the impact of leadership on employee well-being and health. However, this research has focused on a variable-centred approach. By contrast, the present study adopts a person-centred approach.

AIMS

To (a) identify latent 'resources' profiles among two samples combining vigour at work, work engagement and physical activity levels; (b) examine the link between the identified profiles and indicators of psychological/physical health; and (c) test whether different levels of transformational leadership determine the probability of belonging to a particular profile.

METHOD

Two samples of workers, S1 and S2 (NS1 = 354; NS2 = 158), completed a cross-sectional survey before their annual medical examination.

RESULTS

For S1, the results of latent profile analysis yielded three profiles: spiritless, spirited and high-spirited. Both high-spirited and spirited profiles showed a positive relationship with mental health, whereas spiritless showed a negative relationship. For S2, two profiles (spirited and spiritless) were replicated, with similar effects on mental health, but none of them was related to total cholesterol. In both samples, transformational leadership determined the probability of belonging to a particular profile.

CONCLUSIONS

Transformational leadership increased the probability of belonging to a more positive profile and, therefore, to better workers' health.

An examination of the relationship between sport performers' organizational stressor dimensions, physical health, and well-being

Whilst research has assessed the multidimensionality of organizational stressors, severity has been overlooked. This study aimed to develop and validate a severity response scale, before examining the relationship between organizational stressor severity, physical health, and well-being, and if severity mediated the relationship between stressor occurrence and outcomes. 403 sport performers (186 male; Mage = 21.43) completed a questionnaire assessing study variables and data were analysed using structural equation modelling. Organizational stressor severity had a significant, negative relationship with physical health (r = -.374, p < .001), but notwith hedonic or eudaimonic well-being (p = .624 and .203). Direct effects were found for neuroticism (β = -0.632, p < .001) and stressor frequency (β = -0.226, p = .016) on physical health; however, when adding severity as a mediator, stressor frequency positively predicted stressor severity (β = 1.025, p < .001); however, the indirect effect of stressor frequency on physical health via stressor severity (β = -0.018, p = .885) and the direct effect between stressor frequency and physical health (β = -0.191, p = .204) were non-significant. These novel findings highlight that higher stressor severity is associated with higher physical health complaints, and that repeated exposure to stressors may heighten an vulnerability to future stressors.

Predictors of Pregnancy Disclosure in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III Athletes

CONTEXT

Pregnant athletes cannot receive proper care if they choose to conceal their pregnancy. Unfortunately, many factors may lead an athlete to conceal. Whereas the extant qualitative literature suggests scholarship and sponsorship are prominent factors in the decision to disclose, this research is limited to elite athletes.

OBJECTIVE

To quantitatively examine predictors of pregnancy disclosure beyond scholarship and sponsorship in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III college athletes.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Midwestern United States.

PARTICIPANTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS

Athletes on Division III women's sports teams (N = 127).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Confidence in the athletic trainer (AT), perceived training and performance changes, athletic identity, and athletic identity during pregnancy. Two separate multiple regression analyses were conducted with the 4 predictors and 2 outcomes: likelihood to disclose and time to disclosure.

RESULTS

Confidence in the AT and athletic identity during pregnancy were significant predictors in both models, whereas the variable of perceived training and performance changes was only significant in the likelihood to disclose model. Athletic identity was not a significant predictor in either model. Results suggest Division III athletes believe they would be more likely to disclose their pregnancy and may disclose sooner if they feel that their AT can properly manage their physical, emotional, and social wellness during the pregnancy. Additionally, disclosure is promoted if they believe they will still be viewed as athletes by themselves and the people around them.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings emphasize the importance of the role of the AT, with implications that formal education of ATs should include the holistic support of the pregnant athlete.

Should I stay or should I go? The collective effects of work, family, and mental health on military career intentions among active-duty and national guard and reserve soldiers

This study examined diverse predictors of military career intentions, specifically whether to stay in the military or leave, and differences based on duty status (i.e. active-duty versus National Guard or Reserve [NG/R] Service members). The combined perspectives of the personal choice model of military retention and family systems theory suggest that work factors (i.e. unit support, morale), family factors (i.e. work-family balance, romantic relationship quality), and mental health (i.e. depressive symptoms) simultaneously influence Service members' military career intentions. Understanding how these factors together impact different dimensions of retention, namely, intentions to stay and intentions to leave, and whether they have a similar impact based on duty status are needed next steps. With data from the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience (Army STARRS; N = 3,506 Soldiers), path models examined the direct and indirect paths through which these factors contributed to Soldiers' intentions to remain and intentions to leave. Then, a multigroup mediation analysis explored possible model differences based on duty status. Unit support and work-family balance directly and indirectly contributed to intentions to remain and/or leave through romantic relationship quality, depressive symptoms, and morale. Few differences emerged between active-duty and NG/R Soldiers. In sum, work factors, family factors, and depressive symptoms worked together simultaneously to explain Soldiers' military career intentions. Military leadership, at multiple levels, is encouraged to promote supportive work environments and work-family balance. Practitioners may reinforce mental health resources to promote retention.

Social media use for work during non-work hours and turnover intention: the mediating role of burnout and the moderating role of resilience

Introduction

This study uses survey data from 504 Chinese teachers to investigate the relationship between social media use for work during non-work hours (SMUNW) and turnover intention, focusing on the mediating role of burnout and the moderating role of resilience in this relationship.

Methods

In November 2023, online survey links were sent to 529 teachers from Shandong Province, China, asking them to report their perceptions of SMUNW, burnout, resilience, and turnover intention. A sample of 504 valid responses was obtained. The analysis was performed using SPSS 26.0 and Hayes' PROCESS MACRO for SPSS for testing the hypotheses.

Results

The results revealed that burnout acts as a mediator in the relationship between SMUNW and turnover intention. In addition, resilience moderated the relationship between SMUNW and burnout such that when resilience was higher, the relationship between SMUNW and burnout was alleviated. Moreover, resilience moderated the indirect relationship between SMUNW and turnover intention through burnout such that when resilience was higher, the indirect relationship was alleviated.

Discussion

The results of this study indicate that SMUNW is related to turnover intention through the mediating role of burnout. Furthermore, resilience moderates the influence of SMUNW on burnout and thus weakens the influence of SMUNW on turnover intention through burnout. This study expands our knowledge of the nuanced influence mechanisms of social media use in the context of increasing technostress among public employees. Practically, it suggests that managers should pay due attention to the impairments brought about by social media use, especially from the perspectives of preventing burnout and fostering resilience.

Managers in the context of small business growth: a qualitative study of working conditions and wellbeing

PURPOSE

In view of the importance of managers' wellbeing for their leadership behaviour, employee health, and business effectiveness and survival, a better understanding of managers' wellbeing and working conditions is important for creating healthy and sustainable businesses. Previous research has mostly provided a static picture of managers' wellbeing and work in the context of small businesses, missing the variability and dynamism that is characteristic of this context. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore how managers in small companies perceive their working conditions and wellbeing in the context of business growth.

METHODS

The study is based on qualitative semi-structured interviews with 20 managers from twelve small companies. Content and thematic analysis were applied.

RESULTS

The findings indicate that a manager's working environment evolves from its initial stages and through the company's growth, leading to variations over time in the manager's experiences of wellbeing and work-life balance as well as changes in job demands and resources. Managers' working situation becomes less demanding and more manageable when workloads and working hours are reduced and a better work-life balance is achieved. The perceived improvement is related to changes in organizational factors (e.g. company resources), but also to individual factors (e.g. managers' increased awareness of the importance of a sustainable work situation). However, there were differences in how the working conditions and wellbeing changed over time and how organizational and individual resources affected the studied managers' wellbeing.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that, in the context of small business, managers' working conditions and wellbeing are dynamic and are linked to growth-related changes that occur from the start of organizational activities and during periods of growth. In addition, the findings suggest that changes in managers' working conditions and wellbeing follow different trajectories over time because of the interaction between organizational and personal factors.

Associations of psychosocial factors and cardiovascular health measured by Life's Essential 8: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study

AIMS

Few studies investigate whether psychosocial factors (social isolation, social support, trait anger, and depressive symptoms) are associated with cardiovascular health, and none with the American Heart Association's new definition of cardiovascular health, Life's Essential 8 (LE8). Therefore, we assessed the cross-sectional associations of psychosocial factors with Life's Essential 8 and individual components of Life's Essential 8.

METHODS

We included 11,311 Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities cohort participants (58% females; 23% Black; mean age 57 (standard deviation: 6) years) who attended Visit 2 (1990-1992) in this secondary data analysis using cross-sectional data from the ARIC cohort study. Life's Essential 8 components included diet, physical activity, nicotine exposure, sleep quality, body mass index, blood lipids, blood glucose, and blood pressure. Life's Essential 8 was scored per the American Heart Association definition (0-100 range); higher scores indicate better cardiovascular health. Associations of categories (high, moderate, and low) of each psychosocial factor with continuous Life's Essential 8 score and individual Life's Essential 8 components were assessed using multivariable linear regressions.

RESULTS

11% of participants had high Life's Essential 8 scores (80-100), while 67% and 22% had moderate (50-79) and low Life's Essential 8 scores (0-49) respectively. Poor scores on psychosocial factor assessments were associated with lower Life's Essential 8 scores, with the largest magnitude of association for categories of depressive symptoms (low β = Ref.; moderate β = -3.1, (95% confidence interval: -3.7, -2.5; high β = -8.2 (95% confidence interval: -8.8, -7.5)). Most psychosocial factors were associated with Life's Essential 8 scores for diet, physical activity, nicotine, and sleep, but psychosocial factors were not associated with body mass index, blood lipids, blood glucose, or blood pressure.

CONCLUSION

Less favorable measures of psychosocial health were associated with lower Life's Essential 8 scores compared better measures of psychosocial health among middle-aged males and females.

Black-White Differences in The Effects of Parental Education on College Students' Beliefs about Racial Discrimination

Background

Racial discrimination remains a significant issue in the United States, particularly affecting Black individuals. Understanding how beliefs about the persistence of racial discrimination are shaped by race and parental education among college students is crucial for developing strategies to address these inequities.

Objectives

This study aims to examine the multiplicative effects of race and parental education on beliefs about the persistence of racial discrimination among Black and White college students. We hypothesize that Black students, particularly those with highly educated parents, will exhibit stronger beliefs in the persistence of racial discrimination as a significant issue compared to their White peers.

Methods

Data were drawn from the Higher Education Research Institute (HERI) study, which includes a national sample of Black and White young adults on college campuses across the United States. We conducted statistical analyses to explore the influence of race and parental education on students' beliefs about racial discrimination.

Results

Black students demonstrated stronger beliefs in the persistence of racial discrimination compared to White students. Additionally, students with higher parental education levels were more likely to recognize racial discrimination as a significant issue than those with lower parental education. The impact of parental education on these beliefs was more pronounced for Black students compared to White students.

Discussion

Black college students, especially those from higher SES backgrounds, exhibit a heightened awareness of racial discrimination due to their lived experiences and educational exposure. High SES Black individuals often face increased visibility and prejudice in predominantly White environments, further reinforcing their beliefs about the persistence of discrimination. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to support Black students in higher education and promote awareness of racial discrimination. Policy solutions should include comprehensive anti-discrimination policies, increased diversity and inclusion efforts, and educational curricula that address systemic racism and social justice. The cross-sectional nature of the data limits causality inference, and self-reported measures may be subject to bias. Despite these limitations, the study's large and diverse sample enhances the generalizability of the findings. Race and parental education have multiplicative effects on college students' beliefs about the persistence of racial discrimination. Black students, particularly those from high SES backgrounds, are more likely to perceive racial discrimination as a continuing problem. Addressing these disparities through targeted policies and interventions is essential for creating equitable and inclusive educational environments.

Factors influencing decent work among psychiatric nurses in China: a cross-sectional study

AIMS

This study aimed to investigate the current status of decent work among psychiatric nurses and analyze its influencing factors.

METHODS

In February 2024, a cross-sectional study was conducted with a cluster sample of 358 nurses from a tertiary Grade A psychiatric hospital in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. Data were collected using a custom-made nurse demographic scale to gather demographic information. The Effort-Reward Imbalance Questionnaire (ERIQ) was used to assess the imbalance between effort and reward through the effort-reward ratio (ERR). The Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) measured subjective support, objective support, and support utilization. The Decent Work Perception Scale (DWPS) was used to evaluate nurses' perceptions of decent work. T-tests, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression analyses were employed for data analysis.

RESULTS

The study found that the correlation between decent work and social support was positive (r = 0.360, p < 0.001), while it was negative for effort-reward imbalance (r = -0.584, p < 0.001). Factors influencing perceptions of decent work included years of work experience (β = -0.164, p = 0.046 for < 5 years; β = -0.157, p = 0.040 for > 25 years), social support (β = 0.259, p < 0.001), and the effort-reward imbalance (β=-0.458, p < 0.001). These factors collectively explained 40.2% of the variance in perceptions of decent work. Furthermore, social support plays a mediating role between effort-reward imbalance and decent work (β=-0.062, Bootstrap 95% CI: -0.107, -0.023).

CONCLUSION

The findings suggest that years of work experience, social support, and the effort-reward imbalance are factors influencing decent work among psychiatric nurses. By offering career development opportunities, fostering supportive work environments, and ensuring fair compensation, we can empower psychiatric nurses to navigate job challenges effectively and sustain a sense of decency in their work.

Mediating and moderating factors between economic pressure and turnover intention among school teachers in Lebanon during the ongoing crisis era

Background

The Lebanese ongoing crisis has exposed big challenges for the education system, including low teachers' salaries and their desire to leave their jobs. Identifying key contributing factors to teacher turnover intention may help policymakers develop and implement appropriate and informed retention strategies aiming at preserving the struggling Lebanese educational system and saving costs. The present study aimed to examine the mediating role of three potential factors, i.e. job satisfaction, work-related fatigue, and psychological distress, and the moderating role of employment sector, in the relationship between economic pressure and turnover intention among teachers who work in Lebanon during the economic crisis.

Methods

We carried-out a cross-sectional, web-based study targeting a nationally-representative sample of Lebanese teachers (N = 3779, mean age = 38.33 years, 86.7 % females).

Results

The results of mediation analyses showed that physical/emotional/mental work fatigue, psychological distress and job satisfaction mediated the relationship between perceived economic pressure and turnover intentions among Lebanese teachers. Economic pressure was significantly associated with higher work fatigue, more distress, less job satisfaction and more turnover intentions. Also, more work fatigue, higher distress levels and less job satisfaction were significantly associated with higher turnover intentions. Finally, more economic pressure was significantly associated with more turnover intentions. On the other hand, the moderating effect of teachers' sector of employment (Private versus Public) was not significant.

Conclusion

This is among the first studies to link economic pressure, job satisfaction, work fatigue, psychological distress and turnover intentions in the teachers' psychology literature. This is also the first study on this topic in Lebanon, a country that offers a unique context and opportunity to understand the link between teachers' economic pressure and turnover intentions. The results expand on past research by showing that work-related fatigue, job satisfaction and psychological distress are three factors that underline the cross-sectional relationship between economic pressure and teachers' turnover intention. This implies that further attention of policy makers and school officials should be paid to enhance job satisfaction, decrease work fatigue and prevent psychological distress in order to retain and attract teachers at schools in Lebanon.

The Total Worker Health® (TWH) approach: a systematic review of its application in different occupational settings

BACKGROUND

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), in 2011, developed the "Total Worker Health®" (TWH) as a holistic approach to protect and promote the workers' safety, health, and well-being. After over ten years from the TWH development, the aim of the present systematic review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the worldwide TWH initiatives.

METHODS

PubMed, Scopus and ISI Web of Science were searched for TWH studies published up to the 31st of July 2023, and 43 investigations could be included. The review was registered on the International prospective register of systematic reviews PROSPERO with the reference number CRD42023416972.

RESULTS

Issues that emerged as relevant for the TWH operationalization were the awareness about the TWH approach and fundamentals, the leadership commitment, and a participatory engagement of the workforce: these aspects all contributed to acceptable and effective setting oriented TWH plans, specifically tailored on the peculiarities of the workplace, including small enterprises and multiemployer worksites. Evaluation and continual improvement were reported as fundamental for the successful implementation of TWH initiatives. Limited resources for safety and health initiatives, in terms of time, people, and funds, together with difficulties in the identification of safety and health priorities and a poor participatory culture were recognized as obstacles to the TWH application. Training resulted the core component of the TWH leadership and workforce preparedness, with beneficial results in terms of safety culture and adoption of preventive measures.

CONCLUSIONS

Although interesting aspects emerged from our review, future longitudinal investigations should confirm the effectiveness, easy integration, and long-term sustainability of TWH models in different workplaces, in order to effectively support safe and health-enhancing works able to improve innovation and productivity.