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Occupational Health Psychology (occupational + health_psychology)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Psychology75%

Selected Abstracts

The Future of Occupational Health Psychology

APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 4 2004
Wilmar B. Schaufeli
A partir de la prise en considération de la nature changeante du travail, on a identifié trois thèmes prospectifs pour la psychologie de la santé au travail: 1) l'examen des caractéristiques des lieux de travail; 2) la recherche sur les effets des pratiques organisationnelles; 3) la recherche-action. On recense aussi cinq catégories de recherches dans la psychologie de la santé au travail, chacune pouvant contribuer à sa façon aux développements futurs du domaine: 1) la recherche explicative (le développement conceptuel de modèles de stress au travail, le développement d'une perspective d'action personnelle); 2) la recherche descriptive (des études épidémiologiques, les relations avec les paramètres organisationnels objectifs); 3) le développement des outils (la standardisation des questionnaires de stress au travail, l'évaluation des performances); 4) la recherche-action (l'utilisation de programmes de recherche plus rigoureux, l'évaluation coût-efficacité); 5) le changement organisationnel (des comptes rendus plus systématiques des projets de changement, une plus grande attention portée à la mise en oeuvre des projets). Finalement, pour que la psychologie de la santé au travail puisse se développer à l'avenir d'une façon plus équilibrée, on insiste sur la nécessité d'une mutation théorique en passant d'un modèle de la maladie à un modèle de la santé authentique. Taking into account the changing nature of work, three future topics for occupational health psychology were identified: (1) surveillance of workplace characteristics; (2) research on effects of organisational practices; (3) intervention research. Furthermore, five types of research in occupational health psychology are distinguished, each of which may contribute in its own specific way to future developments in the field: (1) explanatory research (e.g. conceptual development of job stress models, development of a personal agency perspective); (2) descriptive research (e.g. epidemiological studies, relationships with objective organisational parameters); (3) tool development (e.g. standardisation of job stress questionnaires, benchmarking); (4) intervention research (e.g. the use of more rigorous research designs, evaluation of cost-effectiveness); (5) organisational change (e.g. more systematic accounts of change projects, more attention for implementation of projects). Finally, the necessity of a paradigm shift from a disease model towards a genuine health model is emphasised so that occupational health psychology may develop in future in a more balanced way. [source]

Evaluation of a Program on Systematic Self-Monitoring and Reflection of Health Behavior in Organisations: Results of Two Randomised Controlled Studies on Well-Being and Absenteeism of Employees and Skilled Workers

APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY: HEALTH AND WELL-BEING, Issue 1 2010
Günter Krampen
Effects of a group health promotion program on well-being and absenteeism of employees and skilled workers were tested. The objectives of the program are systematic self-monitoring and reflection on everyday life health behavior as well as the promotion of health- and development-related cognitions and well-being. Randomised group designs were employed to evaluate the program's effects on well-being, psychosomatic complaints, personal regulation of own development, and absenteeism. Program effects were confirmed with reference to these outcome measures administered at the end of the 8-week treatment and at 2-month follow-up in samples of 56 public employees (Study 1) and 39 skilled workers (Study 2). Results demonstrate the effectiveness and usability of the SySeRe program as an economical individual-level health promotion intervention in occupational health psychology with large effect sizes in psychometric measures of well-being and in the reduction of employee sick leave as well. [source]

Stress and help-seeking for drought-stricken citrus growers in the Riverland of South Australia

AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF RURAL HEALTH, Issue 3 2009
Alice K. Staniford
Abstract Objective:,To explore the psychological impact of a problematic industrial climate for citrus growers, their help-seeking behaviour and perspectives on ways to encourage better use of rural mental health services. Design:,Thematic analysis of in-depth interviews. Setting:,The Riverland of South Australia. Participants:,Sixteen citrus growers (12 male, 4 female) from eight Riverland towns. Main outcome measures:,Citrus growers' perceived factors relating to psychological stress, coping behaviours, impact of stress on well-being, help-seeking behaviours, barriers to help-seeking and ways to encourage better use of rural mental health services. Results:,Work-related stresses grouped under broad themes, including ,Uncontrollable events', ,Financial hardship' and ,Pressure', had negative effects on participants' well-being. Furthermore, it was found that significant difficulties arise because many of the stresses which growers endure are not controllable, and that the alleviation of strain with the help of mental health professionals is uncommon because of barriers preventing help-seeking. Five broad themes of barriers to help-seeking were extracted from the data: ,Self-reliance', ,Social image', ,Lack of knowledge', ,Negative perceptions of health professionals' efficacy' and ,Restrictive lifestyle factors'. A specialised model of occupational health for citrus growers was proposed. Conclusions:,These results highlight the practical need to address the identified issues in delivery and promotion of health services when facilitating help-seeking within this group. The findings also add to our knowledge of occupational health psychology broadly. [source]