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Saiki M, Matthews TA, Kawakami N, Robbins W, Li J. Formulations of Job Strain and Psychological Distress: A Four-year Longitudinal Study in Japan. Saf Health Work 2024; 15:59-65. [PMID: 38496287 PMCID: PMC10944203 DOI: 10.1016/j.shaw.2024.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Different job strain formulations based on the Job Demand-Control model have been developed. This study evaluated longitudinal associations between job strain and psychological distress and whether associations were influenced by six formulations of job strain, including quadrant (original and simplified), subtraction, quotient, logarithm quotient, and quartile based on quotient, in randomly selected Japanese workers. Methods Data were from waves I and II of the Survey of Midlife in Japan (MIDJA), with a 4-year follow-up period. The study sample consisted of 412 participants working at baseline and had complete data on variables of interest. Associations between job strain at baseline and psychological distress at follow-up were assessed via multivariable linear regression, and results were expressed as β coefficients and 95% confidence intervals including R2 and Akaike information criterion (AIC) evaluation. Results Crude models revealed that job strain formulations explained 6.93-10.30% of variance. The AIC ranged from 1475.87 to 1489.12. After accounting for sociodemographic and behavioral factors and psychological distress at baseline, fully-adjusted models indicated significant associations between all job strain formulations at baseline and psychological distress at follow-up: original quadrant (β: 1.16, 95% CI: 0.12, 2.21), simplified quadrant (β: 1.01, 95% CI: 0.18, 1.85), subtraction (β: 0.39, 95% CI: 0.09, 0.70), quotient (β: 0.37, 95% CI: 0.08, 0.67), logarithm quotient (β: 0.42, 95% CI: 0.12, 0.72), and quartile based on quotient (β: 1.22, 95% CI: 0.36, 2.08). Conclusion Six job strain formulations showed robust predictive power regarding psychological distress over 4 years among Japanese workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayumi Saiki
- School of Nursing, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States
| | - Timothy A. Matthews
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health, College of Health & Human Development, California State University, Northridge, Northridge, United States
| | - Norito Kawakami
- Department of Digital Mental Health, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Wendie Robbins
- School of Nursing, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States
| | - Jian Li
- School of Nursing, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States
- Department of Public Health Nursing, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
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Association Between Workplace Social Capital and Neck Pain. J Occup Environ Med 2022; 64:e186-e190. [DOI: 10.1097/jom.0000000000002462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Work-Related Factors Affecting the Occurrence of Presenteeism - Recent Research Trends and Future Directions. J UOEH 2021; 43:61-73. [PMID: 33678787 DOI: 10.7888/juoeh.43.61] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Productivity loss due to presenteeism accounts for a large proportion of economic losses caused by workers' health problems. To reduce presenteeism, it is necessary to identify its causes, but, in contrast to the large amount of research on the effects of diseases and lifestyles, there is not enough research on the effects of work-related factors on presenteeism. In this study, those factors include the work environment and the work-related psychological status of workers. The purpose of this review was to identify research trends in presenteeism, defined as work-related productivity loss, and to examine future directions for presenteeism research. We conducted a search with only the keyword "presenteeism" using MEDLINE/PubMed for the last 5 years and extracted 30 relevant articles, most of which were cross-sectional studies. The articles were categorized into the following themes: 1) studies on the associations of various stress models and factors with presenteeism; 2) studies on the mediators and the pathways of association between stress factors and presenteeism; 3) studies on the relationships between organizational factors and presenteeism; and 4) studies on the link between workers' positive and negative psychological status and presenteeism. Our findings showed that, over the last 5 years, the relationship between psychological stress and presenteeism has been extended to include a variety of stress models and stressors. In addition, by putting many models and factors into a single statistical model and adjusting for their interrelationships, important factors have been examined by ensuring that a significant relationship with presenteeism remains. As there is still a lack of longitudinal studies necessary to discuss causality, more research of higher quality is needed.
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Xu JM, Kunaviktikul W, Akkadechanunt T, Nantsupawat A, Turale S. Factors influencing workplace social capital among registered nurses in China. Int Nurs Rev 2021; 68:372-379. [PMID: 33639024 DOI: 10.1111/inr.12666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
AIM To examine the modifiable predictors and the level of workplace social capital, transformational leadership, emotional intelligence and organizational justice among registered nurses in Chinese hospitals. BACKGROUND Workplace social capital is a relational network developed among nurses and other healthcare professionals that provides social support, and gives value to their working lives. Internationally, cultivating high levels of social capital is critical as it can help improve nurse satisfaction and care, and address nurse turnover. However, knowledge of factors influencing nurses' workplace social capital is limited in China. METHODS In this cross-sectional, descriptive predictive study, 344 registered nurses were randomly selected from three urban Chinese hospitals in Zhejiang province. Five standard instruments were applied to collect data. Descriptive statistics were used to present the level of the variables and stepwise multiple regression was performed to identify the predictors of nurses' workplace social capital. RESULTS Among eight potential factors, transformational leadership and emotional intelligence positively predicted workplace social capital. Nurses perceived the overall level of workplace social capital, emotional intelligence and unit managers' transformational leadership as high, and the overall level of organizational justice as moderate. DISCUSSION Enhancing unit managers' transformational leadership and nurses' emotional intelligence was found to positively influence the development of workplace social capital. Although it is not a predictor of workplace social capital, nurses' organizational justice should be improved due to its importance and current unsatisfactory level. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING AND HEALTH POLICY Nursing and health policymakers need to consider the enhancement of transformational leadership and emotional intelligence when implementing policies to improve nurses' workplace social capital, nursing retention and job satisfaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- J-M Xu
- Department of Nursing Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Lishui University, Lishui, China
| | - W Kunaviktikul
- Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - T Akkadechanunt
- Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - A Nantsupawat
- Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - S Turale
- Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.,International Nursing Review, Geneva, Switzerland
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Zhang YD, Gao YQ, Tang Y, Li YH. The role of workplace social capital on the relationship between perceived stress and professional identity among clinical nurses during the COVID-19 outbreak. Jpn J Nurs Sci 2020; 18:e12376. [PMID: 32896954 DOI: 10.1111/jjns.12376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Revised: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
AIM Workplace social capital refers to relationship networks formed by individuals in an organization through long-term mutually beneficial interactions and cooperation with members. These relationship networks can create value and resources for organizations and individuals. This current study aimed to explore the potential impact of workplace social capital on the association between perceived stress and professional identity in clinical nurses during the COVID-19 outbreak. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, 308 Chinese clinical nurses filled out the Chinese Workplace Social Capital Scale, the Chinese Perceived Stress Scale, and the Chinese Nurse's Professional Identity Scale. Descriptive analysis, independent samples t test, analysis of variance, Pearson correlation analyses, and bootstrap method were performed to analyze the data. RESULTS Perceived stress was negatively correlated with professional identity (r = -0.455, p < .001). Workplace social capital was not found to moderate the relationship between perceived stress and professional identity (95% CI -0.03 to- 0.06, p = .47 > .05). Instead, it mediated that relationship (95% CI -0.61 to -0.19, p < .05), and its mediating effect was -0.37. CONCLUSIONS In the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak, workplace social capital among the investigated clinical nurses failed to buffer the negative impact of perceived stress on professional identity, but it did play a part in mediating perceived stress and professional identity. A healthy workplace should be provided to clinical nurses to improve their professional identity, while lowering perceived stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Dong Zhang
- School of Nursing, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Ya-Qin Gao
- School of Nursing, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yan Tang
- The Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yu-Hong Li
- School of Nursing, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
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Inoue A, Tsutsumi A, Eguchi H, Kachi Y, Shimazu A, Miyaki K, Takahashi M, Kurioka S, Enta K, Kosugi Y, Totsuzaki T, Kawakami N. Workplace social capital and refraining from seeking medical care in Japanese employees: a 1-year prospective cohort study. BMJ Open 2020; 10:e036910. [PMID: 32747350 PMCID: PMC7401998 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-036910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We examined the association of workplace social capital (WSC), including structural and cognitive dimensions, with refraining from seeking medical care (RSMC) among Japanese employees. DESIGN One-year prospective cohort study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS We surveyed 8770 employees (6881 men and 1889 women) aged 18-70 years from 12 firms in Japan using a self-administered questionnaire comprising the WSC scale and the items on potential confounders (ie, age, educational attainment and equivalent annual household income) at baseline (from April 2011 to March 2013). OUTCOME MEASURES At a 1-year follow-up, we measured RSMC using a single-item question 'In the past year, have you ever refrained from visiting a hospital, clinic, acupuncturist or dentist despite your sickness (including a slight cold or cavity) or injury?' RESULTS The results of Cox regression with robust variance showed that, after adjusting for potential confounders, the low WSC group (ie, the lowest tertile group) had a significantly higher relative risk (RR) of RSMC compared with the high WSC group (ie, the highest tertile group) among both men and women (overall WSC: RR 1.09 (95% CI 1.01 to 1.17) and 1.20 (95% CI 1.06 to 1.37); structural dimension: RR 1.13 (95% CI 1.04 to 1.22) and 1.25 (95% CI 1.07 to 1.45); and cognitive dimension: RR 1.11 (95% CI 1.03 to 1.20) and 1.21 (95% CI 1.06 to 1.38), respectively). Trend analysis using a continuous score of the WSC scale also showed a significant association of low WSC with a higher risk of RSMC among both men and women. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that the lack of social capital in the workplace is associated with RSMC among Japanese employees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akiomi Inoue
- Department of Public Health, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Akizumi Tsutsumi
- Department of Public Health, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Hisashi Eguchi
- Department of Public Health, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
- Department of Mental Health, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yuko Kachi
- Department of Public Health, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Akihito Shimazu
- Faculty of Policy Management, Keio University, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
- Asia Pacific Centre for Work Health and Safety, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Koichi Miyaki
- Research Institute of Occupational Mental Health (RIOMH), Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
- Innovative Research Center for Preventive Medical Engineering, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Masaya Takahashi
- Research Center for Overwork-Related Disorders, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health Japan, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Sumiko Kurioka
- Faculty of Education, St. Andrew's University of Education, Sakai, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Enta
- Health Care Center, Central Japan Railway Company, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Yuki Kosugi
- Kosugi Health Management Office, Toyama, Japan
| | - Takafumi Totsuzaki
- Uchisaiwaicho Medical Center, Mizuho Health Insurance Society, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Norito Kawakami
- Department of Mental Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
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Hori D, Takao S, Kawachi I, Ohtaki Y, Andrea CS, Takahashi T, Shiraki N, Ikeda T, Ikeda Y, Doki S, Oi Y, Sasahara S, Matsuzaki I. Relationship between workplace social capital and suicidal ideation in the past year among employees in Japan: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health 2019; 19:919. [PMID: 31288766 PMCID: PMC6617579 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-019-7244-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A growing body of evidence has demonstrated the associations between social capital and health. In residential or geographical areas, social capital has attracted attention for its protective effects against suicide. However, to this date, the relationship between social capital and suicidal ideation is not fully elaborated in the occupational setting. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine the association between workplace social capital and suicidal ideation in the past year among employees in Japan. Methods A cross-sectional, web-based survey was conducted in February/March 2017 via an anonymous self-administered questionnaire distributed to workers in Tsukuba Science City, Japan. Binomial logistic regressions were used to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for suicidal ideation in the past year, controlling for age group, marital status, educational attainment, and annual household income. The results were shown stratified by sex and occupation. Results In total, 7255 of 19,481 workers responded, out of which we could analyze 6325 responses (4030 men, 2295 women). The prevalence of suicidal ideation in the past year was 5.9% for men and 7.8% for women. Low workplace social capital was statistically significantly associated with suicidal ideation both for men (OR = 2.57, 95% CI = 1.72–3.83) and for women (OR = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.15–2.66), compared with high workplace social capital after controlling for socioeconomic factors. Conclusion Higher workplace social capital was associated with a reduced risk of suicidal ideation in the past year. Promoting workplace social capital could contribute to preventing suicide among employees in Japan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisuke Hori
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, 305-8575, Japan
| | - Soshi Takao
- Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
| | - Ichiro Kawachi
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H.Chan School of Public Health, Boston, USA
| | | | | | - Tsukasa Takahashi
- Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Nagisa Shiraki
- Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Tomohiko Ikeda
- Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Yu Ikeda
- Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Shotaro Doki
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, 305-8575, Japan
| | - Yuichi Oi
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, 305-8575, Japan
| | - Shinichiro Sasahara
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, 305-8575, Japan.
| | - Ichiyo Matsuzaki
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, 305-8575, Japan.,International Institute for Integrative Sleep Medicine, Tsukuba, Japan
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Eguchi H, Tsutsumi A, Inoue A, Hikichi H, Kawachi I. Association of workplace social capital with psychological distress: results from a longitudinal multilevel analysis of the J-HOPE Study. BMJ Open 2018; 8:e022569. [PMID: 30580264 PMCID: PMC6318521 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-022569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Workplace social capital (WSC) is increasingly recognised as a social contextual determinant of workers' mental health, but longitudinal data are sparse. We aimed to evaluate the impact of changes in unit-level WSC on psychological distress among Japanese employees using a prospective multilevel repeated-measures design. PARTICIPANTS AND STUDY DESIGN We conducted a 2-year prospective cohort study with 1,944 men and 786 women aged 18-65 years. Participants worked at two manufacturing worksites in Japan and were free from mental illness from the first to third study waves. We used a three-level multilevel regression design to evaluate the prospective association of unit-level WSC with individual-level psychological distress. WSC was measured using a validated six-item instrument and individual-level psychological distress with the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6). RESULTS The null model indicated a significant degree of between-work unit variation in psychological distress (intraclass correlation=0.1%, p<0.001). In the full model, each SD increase in unit-level WSC was associated with 0.69 point improvement in K6 scores (95% CI -1.12 to -0.26). CONCLUSIONS This prospective study builds on existing knowledge by showing an association between unit-level WSC and modest improvements in mental health among employees in Japan. We recommend that WSC is considered alongside other contextual influences when assessing employees' mental health risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hisashi Eguchi
- Takemi Program in International Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Public Health, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Japan
| | - Akizumi Tsutsumi
- Department of Public Health, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Japan
| | - Akiomi Inoue
- Department of Public Health, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Hikichi
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ichiro Kawachi
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Middleton N, Andreou P, Karanikola M, Kouta C, Kolokotroni O, Papastavrou E. Investigation into the metric properties of the workplace social capital questionnaire and its association with self-rated health and psychological distress amongst Greek-Cypriot registered nurses: cross-sectional descriptive study. BMC Public Health 2018; 18:1061. [PMID: 30139337 PMCID: PMC6108116 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-018-5959-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2017] [Accepted: 08/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Social capital can been described as an individual or a collective attribute, with structural and cognitive components, and a bonding, bridging and linking typology. While extensively studied in the community, studies in occupational settings are sparse by comparison. Furthermore, there is no uniformity in its measurement. This study investigated the construct validity of a Workplace Social Capital questionnaire (WSC), originally developed in the Finnish Public Sector occupational cohort, in a different socio-cultural setting (Cyprus), language (Greek) and occupational group (Registered Nurses). It also explored its criterion concurrent validity according to observed association with self-rated health and psychological distress. Methods Participants were 10% of all registered nurses (N = 362) who responded to the 8-item WSC scale during a nationwide educational programme. A unidimensional model was compared with the postulated two-factor (structural vs cognitive) and three-factor model (bonding, bridging, linking) in Confirmatory Factor Analyses. The association with self-rated health (0–100 Visual Analogue Scale) and mental distress (GHQ-12 ≥ 4) was assessed in linear and logistic regression models. Results A bonding (Cronbach’s a = 0.76), bridging (a = 0.78) and linking (a = 0.89) structure explained 77.6% of the variance and was a better fit as indicated by goodness of fit indices. Elevated odds of mental distress and poorer self-rated health were observed among participants with the lowest levels of perceived workplace social capital. In adjusted models, associations appeared stronger with bonding social capital (adjOR of mental distress = 2.71 95% CI = 1.08, 6.79) while those with the highest scores rated their health higher by 8.0 points on average (95% CI = 2.1, 13.8). Low linking social capital was also associated with poorer health but no consistent associations were observed with bridging. Conclusion While associations appeared stronger with bonding and linking, this may reflect a weakness of the measure to fully capture bridging social capital. Even though, this aspect might need strengthening, the WSC showed good metric properties in a different setting, language and occupational group. Cross-national and cognitive validation studies are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicos Middleton
- Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, Cyprus University of Technology, 15 Vragadinou Str, 3041, Limassol, Cyprus.
| | - Panayiota Andreou
- Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, Cyprus University of Technology, 15 Vragadinou Str, 3041, Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Maria Karanikola
- Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, Cyprus University of Technology, 15 Vragadinou Str, 3041, Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Christiana Kouta
- Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, Cyprus University of Technology, 15 Vragadinou Str, 3041, Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Ourania Kolokotroni
- Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, Cyprus University of Technology, 15 Vragadinou Str, 3041, Limassol, Cyprus.,St George University of London Medical School at the University of Nicosia, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Evridiki Papastavrou
- Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, Cyprus University of Technology, 15 Vragadinou Str, 3041, Limassol, Cyprus
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Gao J, Wang J, Yu D, Dai J, Zhu Y, Fu H. Associations between psychosocial work environments and social capital: a multilevel analysis study in a Chinese context. BMC Public Health 2018; 18:976. [PMID: 30081887 PMCID: PMC6090743 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-018-5916-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2018] [Accepted: 07/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding the determinants of social capital is the prerequisite to building social capital. However there was few studies to explore factors related to workplace social capital. We aim to examine associations between psychosocial work environments and social capital in a Chinese context through a cross-sectional study. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted in Shanghai, China from December 2016 through March 2017. In total, 2380 workers from 32 workplaces were randomly sampled by a two-stage sampling procedure. Workplace social capital (WSC), psychosocial work environments (PWEs), and workplace Chinese Confucian values (CCVs), were assessed using validated and psychometrically tested measures. Multilevel ordinal regression models were used to examine the associations of WSC with individual- and workplace-level PWEs and workplace CCVs after controlling for individual socioeconomic characteristics. RESULTS After controlling for individual socioeconomic characteristics, all individual-level PWEs (unstandardized coefficients [B] ranging from 0.280 to 2.467) were positively associated with WSC. Individual-level workplace CCVs had mixed associations with WSC-high individual levels of respect for authorities (B: 0.325; 95%CI: 0.134, 0.516) and altruism (B: 0.347; 95%CI: 0.155, 0.539) were associated with high WSC, while high individual levels of acceptance of authorities (B: - 0.214; 95%CI: - 0.381, - 0.046) and the mianzi rule (B: - 0.258; 95%CI: - 0.435, - 0.080) were associatecd with low WSC. No workplace-level variable was associated with WSC. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that workplace social capital associates with multiple factors. Psychosocial work environments and cultural context are important in understanding variations in workplace social capital between individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junling Gao
- School of Public Health, Fudan University; Fudan Health Communication Institute, PO Box 248, 138 Yixueyuan Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Pudong Center of Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, 200136, China
| | - Denglai Yu
- Pudong Center of Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, 200136, China
| | - Junming Dai
- School of Public Health, Fudan University; Fudan Health Communication Institute, PO Box 248, 138 Yixueyuan Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yongkai Zhu
- School of Public Health, Fudan University; Fudan Health Communication Institute, PO Box 248, 138 Yixueyuan Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Hua Fu
- School of Public Health, Fudan University; Fudan Health Communication Institute, PO Box 248, 138 Yixueyuan Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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11
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Psychometric assessment of a scale to measure bonding workplace social capital. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0179461. [PMID: 28662058 PMCID: PMC5491017 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0179461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2017] [Accepted: 05/29/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Workplace social capital (WSC) has attracted increasing attention as an organizational and psychosocial factor related to worker health. This study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of a newly developed WSC scale for use in work environments, where bonding social capital is important. METHODS We assessed the psychometric properties of a newly developed 6-item scale to measure bonding WSC using two data sources. Participants were 1,650 randomly selected workers who completed an online survey. Exploratory factor analyses were conducted. We examined the item-item and item-total correlations, internal consistency, and associations between scale scores and a previous 8-item measure of WSC. We evaluated test-retest reliability by repeating the survey with 900 of the respondents 2 weeks later. The overall scale reliability was quantified by an intraclass coefficient and the standard error of measurement. We evaluated convergent validity by examining the association with several relevant workplace psychosocial factors using a dataset from workers employed by an electrical components company (n = 2,975). RESULTS The scale was unidimensional. The item-item and item-total correlations ranged from 0.52 to 0.78 (p < 0.01) and from 0.79 to 0.89 (p < 0.01), respectively. Internal consistency was good (Cronbach's α coefficient: 0.93). The correlation with the 8-item scale indicated high criterion validity (r = 0.81) and the scale showed high test-retest reliability (r = 0.74, p < 0.01). The intraclass coefficient and standard error of measurement were 0.74 (95% confidence intervals: 0.71-0.77) and 4.04 (95% confidence intervals: 1.86-6.20), respectively. Correlations with relevant workplace psychosocial factors showed convergent validity. CONCLUSIONS The results confirmed that the newly developed WSC scale has adequate psychometric properties.
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12
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Sakuraya A, Imamura K, Inoue A, Tsutsumi A, Shimazu A, Takahashi M, Totsuzaki T, Kawakami N. Workplace social capital and the onset of major depressive episode among workers in Japan: a 3-year prospective cohort study. J Epidemiol Community Health 2017; 71:606-612. [PMID: 28235820 DOI: 10.1136/jech-2016-208561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2016] [Revised: 01/19/2017] [Accepted: 01/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study examined the prospective association of workplace social capital (WSC) with major depressive episode (MDE) among Japanese employees. METHODS A 3-year prospective cohort study was conducted among 1058 employees from a private think-tank company who participated in a baseline survey; after excluding those with MDE in the past 12 months, 929 were followed up. WSC at baseline was measured using a 3-item scale. MDE was assessed at baseline and at follow-up every year, by using a web-based, self-administered version of the WHO Composite International Diagnostic Interview (WHO-CIDI) 3.0 depression section, based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition: Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR)/DSM-5 criteria. Cox discrete-time hazards analyses were used to estimate HRs and 95% CIs, adjusting for covariates. RESULTS A group with middle-level WSC scores had the lowest risk of MDE after being fully adjusted (HR 0.34, 95% CI 0.14 to 0.84, p=0.02). The relationship between WSC and MDE was U-shaped, although a non-linear model fit better than a linear model, with only marginally statistical significance (p=0.06). Dichotomised and continuous variables of WSC scores were significantly and negatively associated with MDE (p=0.03 and p<0.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS The current study replicated a previous finding from Finland that WSC was a protective factor of the onset of MDE in Japan. The slightly U-shaped relationship, that is, the group with high WSC having a small elevated risk of MDE, may reflect a dark side of WSC in a country with collectivity-oriented and hierarchy-oriented culture, such as Japan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asuka Sakuraya
- Department of Mental Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kotaro Imamura
- Department of Mental Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akiomi Inoue
- Department of Mental Health, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Akizumi Tsutsumi
- Department of Public Health, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Japan
| | - Akihito Shimazu
- Department of Mental Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masaya Takahashi
- Occupational Epidemiology Research Group, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Japan, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Takafumi Totsuzaki
- Department of Work Systems and Health, Institute ofIndustrial Ecological Sciences, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Norito Kawakami
- Department of Mental Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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Inoue A, Kawakami N, Eguchi H, Tsutsumi A. Buffering effect of workplace social capital on the association of job insecurity with psychological distress in Japanese employees: a cross-sectional study. J Occup Health 2016; 58:460-469. [PMID: 27488045 PMCID: PMC5356980 DOI: 10.1539/joh.16-0129-oa] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: The present study aimed to examine the buffering effect of workplace social capital (WSC) on the association of job insecurity with psychological distress in Japanese employees. Methods: 2,971 employees from two factories of a manufacturing company in Japan completed a self-administered questionnaire including the scales on job insecurity, WSC, psychological distress, demographic and occupational characteristics, and quantitative workload. Using psychological distress (defined as a total score of the K6 scale ≥5) as a dependent variable, multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted. In a series of analyses, interaction term of job insecurity×WSC was included in the model. Results: After adjusting for demographic and occupational characteristics as well as for quantitative workload and interaction effect of quantitative workload×WSC, high job insecurity and low WSC were significantly associated with psychological distress. Furthermore, a significant interaction effect of job insecurity×WSC was observed. Specifically, the association of job insecurity with psychological distress was greater among those who perceived lower levels of WSC (prevalence odds ratio=3.79 [95% confidence interval=2.70-5.32] for high vs. low job insecurity subgroup) than among those who perceived higher levels of WSC (prevalence odds ratio=2.96 [95% confidence interval=2.19-4.01] for high vs. low job insecurity subgroup). These findings were replicated among permanent male employees in the gender-stratified analyses. Conclusions: The present study suggests that WSC has a buffering effect on the association of job insecurity with psychological distress at least among Japanese permanent male employees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akiomi Inoue
- Department of Mental Health, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health
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14
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Løkke AK. Social capital and health and job related outcomes: the case of a large municipality. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF WORKPLACE HEALTH MANAGEMENT 2016. [DOI: 10.1108/ijwhm-12-2014-0055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between workplace social capital and health and job related outcomes in a large Danish municipality.
Design/methodology/approach
– Data used in this cross-sectional study are based on an electronic employee survey conducted in 2012 in a large municipality. Of the total population of 5,672 individuals, the number of participants amounted to 4,162, leading to a response rate of 73.4 percent. Binary logistic regression analysis is used as a statistical method, and odds ratios and their corresponding 95 percent confidence intervals have been estimated.
Findings
– The level of social capital is fairly high in the municipality (3.75 on a five-point scale). Social capital is related to health (OR=0.420) and psychological distress (OR=0.282) but has an even stronger relationship to job satisfaction and commitment (OR is 9.889 and 7.800, respectively). The study contributes with the conclusion that different sub-dimensions of social capital are related to health and job related outcomes. Therefore, managers need to be specific about what exactly they want to achieve with the implementation of social capital in municipalities.
Originality/value
– Research of the relationship between social capital and health and job related outcomes based on a case study approach of a municipality are limited. This paper makes an original contribution in providing evidence of the importance of social capital for Danish municipal sector employees’ health, job satisfaction, and commitment in a work context.
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Characteristics of Employees of Small Manufacturing Businesses by Occupation: Informing Evidence-Based Intervention Planning. J Occup Environ Med 2015; 57:1185-91. [PMID: 26539766 DOI: 10.1097/jom.0000000000000536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We examined characteristics of employees in six occupational categories in small manufacturing businesses (20-150 employees). METHODS We analyzed survey data from 47 businesses (n = 2577 employees; 86% response rate) and examined relationships between job type and sociodemographic, health, and organizational support characteristics. Analyses were adjusted for age and sex, and company as a random effect. RESULTS Smoking rates were highest for production workers (33%), production managers (27%), and support staff (28%) and lowest for managers (11%) (P <0.001). Job stress was higher for production workers and support staff than managers (P < 0.0001). Managers perceived social capital (P<0.001), safety climate (P < 0.0001) and support for smoking cessation (P < 0.001) higher than production managers, production workers, and support staff. CONCLUSIONS Differences in characteristics by occupation call for integrated interventions that target working class employees, leverage the influence of production managers, and enhance organizational support.
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Oshio T, Tsutsumi A, Inoue A. Do time-invariant confounders explain away the association between job stress and workers' mental health? Evidence from Japanese occupational panel data. Soc Sci Med 2014; 126:138-44. [PMID: 25550077 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2014.12.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
It is well known that job stress is negatively related to workers' mental health, but most recent studies have not controlled for unobserved time-invariant confounders. In the current study, we attempted to validate previous observations on the association between job stress and workers' mental health, by removing the effects of unobserved time-invariant confounders. We used data from three to four waves of an occupational Japanese cohort survey, focusing on 31,382 observations of 9741 individuals who participated in at least two consecutive waves. We estimated mean-centered fixed effects models to explain psychological distress in terms of the Kessler 6 (K6) scores (range: 0-24) by eight job stress indicators related to the job demands-control, effort-reward imbalance, and organizational injustice models. Mean-centered fixed effects models reduced the magnitude of the association between jobs stress and K6 scores to 44.8-54.2% of those observed from pooled ordinary least squares. However, the association remained highly significant even after controlling for unobserved time-invariant confounders for all job stress indicators. In addition, alternatively specified models showed the robustness of the results. In all, we concluded that the validity of major job stress models, which link job stress and workers' mental health, was robust, although unobserved time-invariant confounders led to an overestimation of the association.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Oshio
- Institute of Economic Research, Hitotsubashi University, 2-1 Naka, Kunitachi-shi, Tokyo 186-8603, Japan.
| | - Akizumi Tsutsumi
- Department of Public Health, Kitasato University School of Medicine, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0374, Japan
| | - Akiomi Inoue
- Department of Mental Health, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, 1-1 Iseigaoka, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka 807-8555, Japan
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Tsuboya T, Tsutsumi A, Kawachi I. Change in psychological distress following change in workplace social capital: results from the panel surveys of the J-HOPE study. Occup Environ Med 2014; 72:188-94. [PMID: 25472019 DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2014-102427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Research on the longitudinal association of workplace social capital and mental health is limited. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the prospective association of social capital in the workplace with mental distress, measured by K6, adjusting for individuals factors as well as workplace-related factors among employees in Japan. METHODS The participants included 6387 men and 1825 women from 12 private companies in Japan. Questionnaires, inquiring about workplace social capital, K6, job strain and effort-reward imbalance were administered at the baseline survey between October 2010 and December 2011 (response rate=77.4%). At 1-year follow-up, social capital and K6 were assessed again (follow-up rate=79.5%), and a generalised linear model was used to estimate the association between changes in workplace social capital and change in K6. RESULTS After adjusting for baseline demographic characteristics and workplace-related factors (Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ), Effort-Reward Imbalance Questionnaire (ERIQ)), increased workplace social capital between waves was associated with improved psychological distress (β=-0.2327, p<0.0001). An inverse association was found in both men and women, all age groups, and among employees with high or low baseline mental health. The association was stronger among those who reported higher stress at baseline. CONCLUSIONS Boosting workplace social capital may promote mental health in the workplace.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toru Tsuboya
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA Department of International and Community Oral Health, Tohoku University Graduate School of Dentistry, Sendai, Japan
| | - Akizumi Tsutsumi
- Department of Public Health, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Japan
| | - Ichiro Kawachi
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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