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Wang YZ, Yu RF. The influence of spousal support on the outcomes and willingness of work from home for female knowledge workers. ERGONOMICS 2024; 67:941-953. [PMID: 37824713 DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2023.2270747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
This study identified the key factors of spousal support that influence the outcomes and willingness of female knowledge workers to work from home (WFH). A questionnaire of 59 items was developed, covering basic personal information, spousal support, work perception, work-life balance, and willingness to WFH: 139 valid responses from female participants were collected and analysed. Exploratory factor analysis revealed six distinct factors of spousal support. Regression analysis found that personal-related emotional support, personal-related instrumental support, work-related emotional support, and work-related instrumental support demonstrated positive correlations with work perception and work-life balance, while family-related instrumental support positively correlated with work-life balance. Personal-related emotional support and personal-related instrumental support positively correlated with the willingness to WFH. Notably, personal-related emotional support exhibited the strongest correlation coefficients for willingness and outcomes. The findings could provide information on how a husband could improve his wife's well-being when WFH.Practitioner summary: A survey was conducted among female knowledge workers to examine the influence of different factors of spousal support on the outcomes and willingness of WFH. The results shed light on how husbands can improve their wives' well-being during WFH, offering practical guidance for supporting spouses in this context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Zhen Wang
- Department of Industrial Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Rui-Feng Yu
- Department of Industrial Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
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Weber C, Golding SE, Yarker J, Teoh K, Lewis R, Ratcliffe E, Munir F, Wheele T, Windlinger L. Work fatigue during COVID-19 lockdown teleworking: the role of psychosocial, environmental, and social working conditions. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1155118. [PMID: 37260958 PMCID: PMC10228694 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1155118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background During national lockdowns in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, previously office-based workers who transitioned to home-based teleworking faced additional demands (e.g., childcare, inadequate homeworking spaces) likely resulting in poor work privacy fit. Previous office research suggests poor work privacy fit is associated with lower wellbeing and higher work fatigue. Emerging evidence suggests a relationship between childcare duties during pandemic teleworking and work fatigue. In addition to psychosocial working conditions (job demand, job control, and job change management), which are acknowledged predictors of work fatigue, this poses a significant threat to occupational health during pandemic teleworking. However, the relative effects of aspects of the psychosocial environment (job demands and resources), the home office environment (including privacy fit), and the social environment (childcare) on work fatigue as well as their interactions are under-explored. Objective This study examined the relationships between the psychosocial, environmental, and social working conditions of teleworking during the first COVID-19 lockdown and work fatigue. Specifically, the study examined teleworkers' physical work environment (e.g., if and how home office space is shared, crowding, and noise perceptions) as predictors of privacy fit and the relationship between privacy fit, childcare, psychosocial working conditions (job demand, job control, and job change management), and work fatigue. Work privacy fit was hypothesized to mediate the relationship between childcare and work fatigue. Methods An online cross-sectional survey was conducted with teleworkers (n = 300) during the first COVID-19 lockdown in April and May 2020; most participants were in Germany, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Results Path analysis was used to examine the hypothesized relationships. Privacy fit was lower for those reporting greater levels of noise in home-working spaces and those feeling crowded at home. Work fatigue was lower amongst those with greater privacy fit and higher amongst those with high levels of job demand. An indirect relationship was observed between childcare and work fatigue with privacy fit mediating this relationship. Conclusion The influence of privacy fit has so far been largely neglected in research on teleworking, especially during the pandemic. However, its contribution to workers' wellbeing should be acknowledged in occupational health strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Weber
- Institute of Facility Management, School of Life Sciences and Facility Management, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Zurich, Switzerland
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah E. Golding
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
| | - Joanna Yarker
- Department of Organisational Psychology, Birkbeck University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin Teoh
- Department of Organisational Psychology, Birkbeck University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel Lewis
- Department of Organisational Psychology, Birkbeck University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Eleanor Ratcliffe
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
| | - Fehmidah Munir
- School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, United Kingdom
| | - Theresa Wheele
- Institute of Facility Management, School of Life Sciences and Facility Management, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Lukas Windlinger
- Institute of Facility Management, School of Life Sciences and Facility Management, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Zurich, Switzerland
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Appel-Meulenbroek R, Voulon T, Bergefurt L, Arkesteijn M, Hoekstra B, Jongens-Van der Schaaf P. Perceived health and productivity when working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Work 2023; 76:417-435. [PMID: 37092204 DOI: 10.3233/wor-220575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND During the COVID-19 pandemic, office workers were obliged to work from home (WFH). Alongside known positive aspects of home-based telework, it is associated with reduced health and productivity impacts. Its success depends on employee and environmental characteristics. OBJECTIVE This paper fills the gap in knowledge on the mediating role of health between personal and environmental factors and employee productivity, when obliged to work from home full-time. It covers health in full (physical, mental, and social) unlike other WFH studies. METHODS Two large survey-based datasets (gathered April 27th - November 20th, 2020) were analysed resp. with a path model and descriptive analyses. The data provide experiences on health and productivity of resp. 25,058 and 18,859 Dutch office workers from different public organisations, who were obliged to work from home during the COVID-19 lockdowns. RESULTS In general, the workers in the sample perceived their health to be quite good. Path analysis revealed that gender, age, education, the at-home workspace, the presence of children in the household, and perceived organisational support were significantly related to self-perceived productivity. However, most of these effects were found to be mediated by physical, mental, and/or social health indicators. Possible explanations for health issues from the descriptive analyses were sedentary behaviour, unsuitable furniture, having to be at home, social isolation and changed content and frequency of contact with colleagues. CONCLUSION Findings imply that specifically engagement and organisational support of teleworkers are most relevant to steer on to ensure productivity while WFH.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Thijs Voulon
- Urban Systems & Real Estate, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Lisanne Bergefurt
- Urban Systems & Real Estate, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Monique Arkesteijn
- Management of the Built Environment, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
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Han C, Zhang R, Liu X, Wang X, Liu X. The virus made me lose control: The impact of COVID-related work changes on employees' mental health, aggression, and interpersonal conflict. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1119389. [PMID: 37113188 PMCID: PMC10126831 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1119389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction COVID-related work changes have seriously disrupted employees' familiar routines and hampered their lives and work. Although this topic has drawn rising attention, to our knowledge, limited studies have investigated the impact of COVID-related work changes on employees' mentality and behavior. In this paper, we developed a moderated mediation model based on ego depletion theory to test how and when COVID-related work changes impact employees' mental health, interpersonal conflict, and aggression behavior. Methods We collected 536 valid participants by conducting a questionnaire survey in a large Chinese manufacturing company, and tested our proposed theoretical model and hypotheses using SPSS 26.0 and Mplus 8.1. Results The empirical results showed that COVID-related work changes would harm employees' mental health and boost their interpersonal conflict and aggression via increasing their ego depletion. Moreover, trait resilience has an intervention in the relationship between COVID-related work changes and employees' ego depletion, which weakens the indirect impact of COVID-related work changes on mental health, interpersonal conflict, and aggression. Discussion These findings suggest that although COVID-related work changes were inevitable, managers should take measures to improve the employees' mental status and avoid conflicts promptly while taking steps to keep organizations on track.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changlin Han
- School of Business, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Ruyi Zhang
- Student Affairs Department, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Xiyao Liu
- School of Business, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Xueling Wang
- School of Business, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Xiaotong Liu
- School of Business, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaotong Liu,
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Torresin S, Ratcliffe E, Aletta F, Albatici R, Babich F, Oberman T, Kang J. The actual and ideal indoor soundscape for work, relaxation, physical and sexual activity at home: A case study during the COVID-19 lockdown in London. Front Psychol 2022; 13:1038303. [PMID: 36643696 PMCID: PMC9835560 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1038303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The period of home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic made the importance of a high-quality surrounding environment even more evident than before. Several studies have been carried out to assess the (negative) impacts of noise on annoyance, particularly whilst working from home (WFH). The present study takes a step further by (1) investigating the positive and negative impacts of the "actual" acoustic environment on a range of activities, i.e., WFH, relaxation, physical, and sexual activities, and (2) identifying the characteristics of an "ideal" indoor soundscape. The study is based on the qualitative analysis of verbal descriptions collected from open-ended questions included in a survey administered in January 2021 to 464 respondents living in London, during the COVID-19 lockdown. The range of impacts in the actual scenario varied from no effect on task execution, to disruption, distraction, concern of disturbing others or being heard. Positive impacts included support of concentration, relaxation, motivation, freedom of sound expression, feeling of being connected to the surroundings and comforted by the presence of others, according to mechanisms described in the study. Negative appraisal could trigger coping strategies (e.g., controlling windows, playing music, wearing headphones) and behavioural changes (e.g., lowering the volume of the voice or music, muting oneself during call, changing workout type) that could in turn limit or enhance the freedom of behaviour, affect or foster wellbeing. Negative impacts were most frequently reported on WFH (by 55% of the participants), followed by relaxation activities (40.6%), sexual activities (30.1%), and home workout (20.1%). The ideal soundscape was described as a quiet, well-sound insulated environment, which guarantees access to positive sounds (i.e., natural sounds, music, urban background), thus resulting in privacy, intimacy, and a place where to express themselves without noise-related constraints. The study complements literature findings on housing design directions in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, by providing further evidence on the impacts of poor sound insulation at home, the potential benefits of nature-based solutions for positive indoor soundscapes, and opportunities for an activity-based design of domestic environments, inclusive of a broader set of home uses and household compositions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Torresin
- Institute for Renewable Energy – Eurac Research, Bolzano, Italy
- UCL Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, The Bartlett, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Eleanor Ratcliffe
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
| | - Francesco Aletta
- UCL Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, The Bartlett, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rossano Albatici
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | | | - Tin Oberman
- UCL Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, The Bartlett, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jian Kang
- UCL Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, The Bartlett, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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