ORCID Profile
0000-0002-3128-8727
Current Organisation
University of South Australia
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Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 12-10-2021
Abstract: It is widely recognised that employment is vital in assisting young refugees’ integration into a new society. Drawing on psychosocial safety climate (PSC) theory, this research investigated the effect of organisational climate on young refugee workers’ mental health (psychological distress) through stressful social relational aspects of work (e.g., harassment, discrimination). Drawing on data from 635 young refugees aged between 15 and 26 in South Australia, 116 refugees with paid work were compared with 519 refugee students without work, and a s le of young workers from Australian Workplace Barometer (AWB) data (n = 290). The results indicated that refugees with paid work had significantly lower psychological distress compared with refugees with no paid work, but more distress than other young Australian workers. With respect to workplace harassment and abuse, young refugee workers reported significantly more harassment due to their ongoing interaction and engagement with mainstream Australian workers compared with unemployed refugees. Harassment played a vital role in affecting psychological health in refugees (particularly) and other young workers. While refugee youth experienced harassment at work, overall, their experiences suggest that their younger age upon arrival enabled them to seek and find positive employment outcomes. Although PSC did not differ significantly between the employed groups, we found that it likely negatively influenced psychological distress through the mediating effects of harassment and abuse. Hence, fostering pathways to successful employment and creating safe work based on high PSC and less harassment are strongly recommended to improve refugees’ mental health and adaptation.
Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
Date: 08-10-2019
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 02-08-2023
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 02-2006
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 08-2015
Publisher: Hindawi Limited
Date: 2015
DOI: 10.1155/2015/628749
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2018
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 18-09-2018
Abstract: This study examined whether particular recovery activities after work have a positive or negative effect on employee recovery from work (i.e., cognitive, emotional, and physical detachment) and sleep quality. We used a two-wave panel study of 230 health care employees which enabled looking at both short-term and long-term effects (i.e., two-year time interval). Gender, age, marital status, children at home, education level, management position, and working hours were used as control variables. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses showed that work-related off-job activities were negatively associated with cognitive and emotional detachment in both the short and long run, whereas low-effort off-job activities were positively related to cognitive detachment in the short run. Moreover, household/care off-job activities were positively related to sleep quality in the long run, whereas physical off-job activities were negatively associated with sleep quality in the long run. The long-term findings existed beyond the strong effects of baseline detachment and sleep quality. This study highlights the importance of off-job recovery activities for health care employees’ detachment from work and sleep quality. Practical implications and avenues for further research are discussed.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 03-03-2005
DOI: 10.1002/SMI.1045
Publisher: Emerald
Date: 13-11-2007
DOI: 10.1108/02683940710837714
Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to focus on home care organization employees, and examine how the interaction between job demands (emotional demands, patient harassment, workload, and physical demands) and job resources (autonomy, social support, performance feedback, and opportunities for professional development) affect the core dimensions of burnout (exhaustion and cynicism). Hypotheses were tested with a cross‐sectional design among 747 Dutch employees from two home care organizations. Results of moderated structural equation modeling analyses partially supported the hypotheses as 21 out of 32 (66 per cent) possible two‐way interactions were significant and in the expected direction. In addition, job resources were stronger buffers of the relationship between emotional demands atient harassment and burnout, than of the relationship between workload hysical demands and burnout. The conclusions may be particularly useful for occupational settings, including home care organizations, where reducing or redesigning demands is difficult. The findings confirm the JD‐R model by showing that several job resources can buffer the relationship between job demands and burnout.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2010
DOI: 10.1016/J.AAP.2009.07.016
Abstract: We investigated the relationship between work stress arising from effort-reward imbalance at work (ERI) and driving anger in a community s le of workers in Nagoya, a mid-sized city in Japan. We hypothesised that ERI would exert a positive effect on driving anger via its influence on trait anger. The study also pioneered the use of the Driving Anger Scale (DAS) in a non-western country and explored cultural differences in the experience of anger on the road. A random s le of 215 (N = 138, 64% females N = 77, 36% males) full-time Japanese workers was obtained through random selection of one participant per household in three randomly selected suburbs (response rate 71% of each eligible participant approached). Participants completed a confidential self-report questionnaire. Japanese motorists reported significantly higher levels of ERI than all comparative western s les, and lower total driving anger and anger on all DAS subscales compared with American and Australian s les. British and Japanese drivers did not differ significantly on total driving anger. The findings indicate that Japanese may possess a different acceptance and expression of anger on the road. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses supported our hypothesis. Stress experienced in the workplace originating from a perceived disparity in extrinsic efforts and rewards was associated with increased enduring feelings of anger in employees, and through this anger an elevated level of aggressive feelings on the road. Stress from ERI may spill over into other domains, and changes at work are necessary to alleviate the impact on the in idual, organisation and economy.
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 2019
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 12-02-2016
DOI: 10.1002/EJP.841
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.JPAIN.2019.02.008
Abstract: The etiologic role of work-related psychological stress in the development of musculoskeletal pain disorders (MDs) has been systematically investigated. Less clear, however, is the role of perceived stress and life stressors. This review aimed to assess the evidence for an etiologic role of perceived stress and life stressors in the development of chronic MDs. Database searches were conducted to identify prospective longitudinal studies that assessed perceived stress and life stressors in in iduals without, or in the first 6 weeks of, musculoskeletal pain. The primary outcome was the development of a chronic MD. Methodologic quality was investigated using an adapted version of the Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort studies and Cross-Sectional studies, and the strength of evidence using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. Seven studies were included representing data from 6 independent cohorts. There was some evidence to support the etiologic role of perceived stress and life stressors in the development of arthritis (low quality) and chronic spinal pain (low quality). The limited number of studies, the poor quality of the evidence, and the heterogeneity of stress measures used across studies suggest that further high quality prospective studies are required to clarify the role of perceived stress and life stressors in the development of chronic MDs. PROSPERO: CRD42017059949 PERSPECTIVE: This review summarizes and critically appraises the evidence for the etiologic role of perceived stress and life stressors in the development of chronic MDs. The limited number of studies, the low quality of the evidence, and the heterogeneity across studies suggest that further research is needed on perceived stress and life stressors in MDs.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2012
DOI: 10.1016/J.AAP.2011.09.042
Abstract: Psychosocial safety climate (PSC) arises from workplace policies, practices, and procedures for the protection of worker psychological health and safety that are largely driven by management. Many work stress theories are based on the fundamental interaction hypothesis - that a high level of job demands (D) will lead to psychological distress and that this relationship will be offset when there are high job resources (R). However we proposed that this interaction really depends on the organizational context in particular high levels of psychosocial safety climate will enable the safe utilization of resources to reduce demands. The study s le consisted of police constables from 23 police units (stations) with longitudinal survey responses at two time points separated by 14 months (Time 1, N=319, Time 2, N=139). We used hierarchical linear modeling to assess the effect of the proposed three-way interaction term (PSC×D×R) on change in workgroup distress variance over time. Specifically we confirmed the interaction between emotional demands and emotional resources (assessed at the in idual level), in the context of unit psychosocial safety climate (aggregated in idual data). As predicted, high emotional resources moderated the positive relationship between emotional demands and change in workgroup distress but only when there were high levels of unit psychosocial safety climate. Results were confirmed using a split-s le analysis. Results support psychosocial safety climate as a property of the organization and a target for higher order controls for reducing work stress. The 'right' climate enables resources to do their job.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 03-2010
Publisher: Routledge
Date: 12-11-2012
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 2016
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 24-07-2023
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 1995
DOI: 10.1080/10615809508249361
Abstract: Abstract This study examined the role of social support in the relationship between work demand and psychological distress (GHQ 12) in correctional officers (N=419), a high stress occupational group. Work demands were positively associated with strain. There was no evidence that social support buffered the negative impact of work demands. Rather, consistent with most previous research findings, support showed direct benefits and these were discussed in the context of worker participation and control. The hypothesis that officers high in negative affectivity, as measured by trait anxiety would show greater reactivity to work demands was not supported. However, trait anxiety appeared to inflate the relationship between work stressors (work demand and work support) and psychological distress supporting recent suggestions that the role of trait anxiety in occupational stress should not be disregarded. Trait anxiety combined additively with work demand to predict in idual differences in psychological distress, however social support moderated the impact of trait anxiety on strain.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 23-02-2016
DOI: 10.1002/EJP.859
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 22-03-2022
Publisher: Emerald
Date: 05-06-2017
Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to use translation theory to develop a framework (called FTRA) that explains how companies adopt agile methods in a discourse of fragmentation and articulation. A qualitative multiple case study of six firms using the Scrum agile methodology. Data were collected using mixed methods and analyzed using three progressive coding cycles and analytic induction. In practice, people translate agile methods for local settings by choosing fragments of the method and continuously re-articulating them according to the exact needs of the time and place. The authors coded the fragments as technological rules that share relationships within a framework spanning two dimensions: static-dynamic and actor-artifact. For consistency, the six cases intentionally represent one instance of agile methodology (Scrum). This limits the confidence that the framework is suitable for other kinds of methodologies. The FTRA framework and the technological rules are promising for use in practice as a prescriptive or even normative frame for governing methodology adaptation. Framing agile adaption with translation theory surfaces how the discourse between translocal (global) and local practice yields the social construction of agile methods. This result contrasts the more functionalist engineering perspective and privileges changeability over performance. The use of translation theory and the FTRA framework to explain how agile adaptation (in particular Scrum) emerges continuously in a process where method fragments are articulated and re-articulated to momentarily suit the local setting. Complete agility that rapidly and elegantly changes its own environment must, as a concomitant, rapidly and elegantly change itself. This understanding also elaborates translation theory by explaining how the articulation and re-articulation of ideas embody the means by which ideas travel in practice.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 12-2003
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Date: 07-2021
DOI: 10.1037/APL0000939
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Date: 04-2019
DOI: 10.1037/OCP0000133
Abstract: Work environment hypothesis, a predominant theoretical framework in workplace bullying literature, postulates that job characteristics may trigger workplace bullying. Yet, these characteristics are often assessed by employees based on their experience of the job. This study aims to assess how job characteristics, independently assessed via Occupational Information Network (O*NET), are related to perceived job characteristics reported by employees, which, in turn, are associated with self-reported workplace bullying. Multilevel mediation analyses from 3,829 employees in 209 occupations confirmed that employees, whose work schedules are more irregular and whose work involves a higher level of conflictual contact (as assessed by O*NET), report experiencing higher job demands, which are associated with higher exposure to bullying. Moreover, employees working in jobs structured to allow for more discretion in decision-making (as assessed by O*NET) report experiencing more job autonomy and are less likely to experience bullying. The results offer some clues as to how the way in which a job is structured is related to how that job is perceived, which in turn is associated with exposure to bullying. Our findings also suggest that a job design perspective to redesign certain job characteristics may offer an additional viable approach to prevent workplace bullying. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 13-05-2023
DOI: 10.1097/J.PAIN.0000000000002684
Abstract: Predicting the development of chronic low back pain (LBP) at the time of an acute episode remains challenging. The Understanding persistent Pain Where it ResiDes study aimed to identify neurobiological and psychological risk factors for chronic LBP. In iduals with acute LBP (N = 120) participated in a prospective cohort study with 6-month follow-up. Candidate predictors were selected from the neurobiological (eg, sensorimotor cortical excitability assessed by sensory and motor-evoked potentials and brain-derived neurotrophic factor genotype), psychological (eg, depression and anxiety), symptom-related (eg, LBP history), and demographic domains. Analyses involved multivariable linear regression models with pain intensity or disability degree as continuous variables. Secondary analyses involved a multivariable logistic model with the presence of LBP at 6 months (thresholding pain intensity and disability degree) as a dichotomous variable. Lower sensory cortex and corticomotor excitability, higher baseline pain intensity, higher depression, stress, and pain catastrophizing were the strongest predictors ( R 2 = 0.47) of pain intensity at 6 months. Older age and higher pain catastrophizing were the strongest predictors ( R 2 = 0.30) of disability at 6 months. When the LBP outcome was dichotomised, sensory cortex and corticomotor excitability, brain-derived neurotrophic factor genotype, depression and anxiety, LBP history and baseline pain intensity, discriminated between those who did and did not report LBP at 6 months (C-statistic 0.91). This study identifies novel risk factors for the development of future LBP. Neurobiological risk factors, when added to a multivariable linear regression model, explained a further 15% of the variance in the 6-month pain intensity.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 17-09-2017
DOI: 10.1002/HBM.23816
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Date: 04-1996
DOI: 10.1007/BF01857716
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 12-2006
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 28-11-2022
DOI: 10.3389/FPSYG.2022.1046286
Abstract: Psychosocial safety climate (PSC) refers to workers’ shared perceptions of organizational policies, practices and procedures for the protection of psychological health and safety. PSC offers a multilevel organizational approach that expands traditional models of workplace stress, giving a more comprehensive understanding of occupational health and safety issues. Although considerable research on psychosocial risks in the healthcare sector has been conducted, few studies have explored the role of PSC among healthcare workers at middle management level. Additionally, no validated version of PSC is available in Italian language. The aim of this study is to contribute to the validation of the Italian 4-item version of the PSC and to explore this theory within the Job Demands-Resources model (JD-R) among a s le of Italian healthcare workers by testing PSC at the middle management level. We used cross-sectional data from 276 employees working in 17 different wards in a large Italian hospital. Intra-class coefficient (ICC) coefficient and agreement index were used to test PSC as a climate construct (data nested to hospital ward level). We performed hierarchical linear models to test mediation and moderation effects. The Italian version of PSC-4 proved to have good psychometric properties and confirmed its role as a group-level construct (α = 0.84 ICC = 0.16). Multilevel random coefficient models showed PSC was associated with Job demands (Effort: B = −0.36, SE = 0.07 Emotional demands: B = −0.03, SE = 0.01) and Job resources (Reward: B = 1.16, SE = 0.01 Physical work environment: B = 0.06, SE = 0.01). Results confirmed the indirect effect of PSC on Psychological (Burnout) and Occupational health (Job satisfaction) outcomes supporting the role of Job resources and Job demands as mediators. The multilevel analysis did not find a significant interaction terms between PSC and Job demands on Burnout therefore the moderation hypothesis was not supported. The Italian version of PSC-4 is a valid tool to evaluate PSC. These findings sustain the multilevel framework of PSC and the significant role played by mid-leaders in both the health impairment and motivational path. Further studies should explore the buffering effect of PSC at higher baseline levels as well as the adoption of PSC as a target for occupational health intervention the Italian context.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2017
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 11-09-2022
Publisher: Hindawi Limited
Date: 2016
DOI: 10.1155/2016/1859434
Abstract: Background . Chronic or persistent pain and disability following noncatastrophic “musculoskeletal” (MSK) trauma is a pervasive public health problem. Recent intervention trials have provided little evidence of benefit from several specific treatments for preventing chronic problems. Such findings may appear to argue against formal targeted intervention for MSK traumas. However, these negative findings may reflect a lack of understanding of the causal mechanisms underlying the transition from acute to chronic pain, rendering informed and objective treatment decisions difficult. The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis (IMHA) has recently identified better understanding of causal mechanisms as one of three priority foci of their most recent strategic plan. Objectives . A 2-day invitation-only active participation workshop was held in March 2015 that included 30 academics, clinicians, and consumers with the purpose of identifying consensus research priorities in the field of trauma-related MSK pain and disability, prediction, and prevention. Methods . Conversations were recorded, explored thematically, and member-checked for accuracy. Results . From the discussions, 13 themes were generated that ranged from a focus on identifying causal mechanisms and models to challenges with funding and patient engagement. Discussion . Novel priorities included the inclusion of consumer groups in research from the early conceptualization and design stages and interdisciplinary longitudinal studies that include evaluation of integrated phenotypes and mechanisms.
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Date: 11-2011
DOI: 10.1037/A0024849
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 17-11-2018
DOI: 10.1002/HBM.24471
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2019
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2017
DOI: 10.1016/J.JELEKIN.2017.10.009
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine if 8 weeks of exercise affects motor control in people with chronic low back pain (CLBP), measured by anticipatory (APAs) and compensatory postural adjustments (CPAs). APAs and CPAs were measured prior to and following 8 weeks in two groups of people with CLBP: an exercise group (n=12) who attended three exercise sessions per week for 8 weeks and a non-exercise control group (n=12) who were advised to continue their usual activities for the duration of the study. APAs and CPAs were recorded during unilateral arm flexion, bilaterally from rectus abdominis (RA), transverse abdominis/internal oblique (TA/IO), and erector spinae (ES) via surface electromyography. Analysis of muscle onsets and APA litudes suggests APAs did not change for either group. Ipsi-lateral TA/IO CPAs increased for the exercise group and ipsi-lateral TA/IO CPAs decreased for the control group. Only exercise promoted a pattern of TA/IO activity during CPAs similar to healthy in iduals, suggesting improved control of rotational torques. These results show motor control improvement following exercise in people with CLBP, highlighted by improved side specific control of TA/IO.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 21-10-2022
Abstract: Healthcare sector organizations have long been facing the issue of productivity loss due to presenteeism which is affected by psychosocial safety climate (PSC) and work intensification. Presenteeism has visibly increased among nurses during COVID-19 pandemic period. Grounded in COR theory and sensemaking theory, the current study aimed to examine the role PSC plays as driver or moderator to reduce presenteeism by lessening work intensification over time and the impact of work intensification over time on presenteeism during the COVID-19 pandemic. Adopting a time-lagged research design, this study gathered data from randomly selected registered nurses, practicing in Québec, Canada in two phases, i.e., 800 at Time 1 and 344 at Time 2 through email surveys. The study results showed that (1) PSC reduces presenteeism over time by reducing work intensification at time 1 (2) PSC moderates the relationship between work intensification at time 1 and work intensification at time 2 and (3) PSC as moderator also lessens the detrimental effect of work intensification at time 2 on presenteeism at time 2. Presenteeism among nurses affects their health and psychological well-being. We find that PSC is likely an effective organizational tool particularly in crises situations, by providing an organizational mechanism to assist nurses cope (through a resource caravan, management support) with managing intensified work.
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Date: 03-2019
DOI: 10.1007/BF01857284
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2012
DOI: 10.1016/J.COLEGN.2012.07.001
Abstract: To evaluate the impact of an organisational intervention aimed to reduce occupational stress and turnover rates of 55% in hospital nurses. The evaluation used a pre- and post-intervention design, triangulating data from surveys and archival information. Two public hospitals (H1 and H2) in the Northern Territory (NT) Australia participated in the intervention. 484 nurses from the two NT hospitals (H1, Wave 1, N = 103, Wave 2, N = 173 H2, Wave 1, N = 75, Wave 2, N = 133) responded to questionnaires administered in 2008 and in 2010. The intervention included strategies such as the development and implementation of a nursing workload tool to assess nurse workloads, roster audits, increased numbers of nursing personnel to address shortfall, increased access to clinical supervision and support for graduates, increased access to professional development including postgraduate and short courses, and a recruitment c aign for new graduates and continuing employees. We used an extended Job Demand-Resources framework to evaluate the intervention and 17 evaluation indicators canvassing psychological distress, emotional exhaustion, work engagement, job satisfaction, job demands, job resources, and system factors such as psychosocial safety climate. Turnover rates were obtained from archival data. Results demonstrated a significant reduction in psychological distress and emotional exhaustion and a significant improvement in job satisfaction, across both hospitals, and a reduction in turnover in H2 from 2008 and 2010. Evidence suggests that the intervention led to significant improvements in system capacity (adaptability, communication) in combination with a reduction in job demands in both hospitals, and an increase in resources (supervisor and coworker support, and job control) particularly in H1. The research addresses a gap in the theoretical and intervention literature regarding system/organisation level approaches to occupational stress. The approach was very successful on a range of health, work outcome, and job design indicators with results providing compelling evidence for the success of the system/organisational level intervention. The quasi-experimental design enabled us to conclude that improvements for the nurses and midwives could be attributed to the organisational intervention by the NT Department of Health (DoH). Further research should be undertaken to explore longer-term impacts, and particularly the influence on turnover. Levels of stress in hospital nurses remain high and present important implications for the psychological well-being of staff.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 21-09-2015
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Date: 2014
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 2003
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 06-2005
DOI: 10.1177/097306800400100106
Abstract: Work stress research has traditionally been limited to industrialized nations and urban settings, with a paucity of studies that have focused on workers in rural contexts and/or in developing economies.This study examined the applicability of the Job Demands–Resources Model of burnout among a s le of Indian rural development workers (N=194). Self–administered surveys measuring job demands, job resources, burnout, psychological distress and job satisfaction were distributed to participants. Job demands was the significant main variable accounting for exhaustion whereas control and rewards predominantly accounted for cynicism and job satisfaction respectively. Both demands and rewards were equally important in accounting for levels of psychological distress. Significant interaction effects were also found between job demands and job resources, and several outcome variables.The practical management implication is to enhance worker well–being by either reducing work demands or increasing job resources, especially levels of control and rewards. Focus should be on women and older workers who are particularly vulnerable to exhaustion and cynicism.
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Date: 2014
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2012
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Date: 2014
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Date: 2014
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 06-2021
DOI: 10.1136/BMJOPEN-2020-044133
Abstract: This study sought to assess the association between long working hours, psychosocial safety climate (PSC), work engagement (WE) and new major depression symptoms emerging over the next 12 months. PSC is the work climate supporting workplace psychological health. Australian prospective cohort population data from the states of New South Wales, Western Australia and South Australia. At Time 1, there were 3921 respondents in the s le. Self-employed, casual temporary, unclassified, those with working hours (37% of 2850) and participants with major depression symptoms at Time 1 (6.7% of 1782) were removed. The final s le was a population-based cohort of 1084 full-time Australian employees. The planned and measured outcomes were new cases of major depression symptoms. Long working hours were not significantly related to new cases of major depression symptoms however, when mild cases were removed, the 41–48 and ≥55 long working hour categories were positively related to major depression symptoms. Low PSC was associated with a threefold increase in risk for new major depression symptoms. PSC was not related to long working hours, and long working hours did not mediate the relationship between PSC and new cases of major depression symptoms. The inverse relationship between PSC and major depression symptoms was stronger for males than females. Additional analyses identified that WE was positively related to long working hours. Long working hours (41–48 and ≥55 hours) mediated a positive relationship between WE and major depression symptoms when mild cases of major depression were removed. The results suggest that low workplace PSC and potentially long working hours (41–48 ≥55 hours/week) increase the risk of new major depression symptoms. Furthermore, high WE may increase long working hours and subsequent major depression symptoms.
Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
Date: 2011
Publisher: Routledge
Date: 29-01-2018
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 31-08-2022
Abstract: The 2030 United Nations Goal 8 for sustainable development focuses on decent work. There is utility in identifying the occupational safety and health aspects of Goal 8, as they pertain to the four pillars of decent work: job creation, social protection, rights of workers, and social dialogue. A workgroup of the International Commission on Occupational Health and collaborators addressed the issue of decent work and occupational safety and health (OSH) with the objective of elaborating a framework for guidance for practitioners, researchers, employers, workers, and authorities. This article presents that framework, which is based on an examination of the literature and the perspectives of the workgroup. The framework encompasses the intersection of the pillars of decent (employment creation, social protection, rights of workers, and social dialogue) work with new and emerging hazards and risks related to various selected determinants: new technologies and new forms of work demographics (aging and gender) globalization informal work migration pandemics and OSH policies and climate change. The OSH field will need an expanded focus to address the future of decent work. This focus should incorporate the needs of workers and workforces in terms of their well-being. The framework identifies a starting point for the OSH community to begin to promote decent work.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2012
DOI: 10.1016/J.ENVINT.2012.07.007
Abstract: Organophosphorus (OP) and pyrethroid (PYR) compounds are the most widely used insecticides. OPs and PYRs are developmental neurotoxicants. Understanding the extent of exposure in the general population and especially in young children is important for the development of public health policy on regulation and use of these chemicals. Presented here are the results of the first investigation into the extent of environmental exposure to neurotoxic insecticides in preschool children in South Australia (SA). Children were enrolled from different areas of SA and assigned into urban, periurban and rural groups according to their residential address. Residential proximity to agricultural activity, parental occupational contact to insecticides and use of insecticides within the household were investigated as potential indirect measures of exposure. We used liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry to measure the following metabolites of OPs and PYRs in urine s les as direct indicators of exposure: dialkylphosphates, p-nitrophenol, 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol, 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol, cis- and trans-3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethyl-cyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid, cis-3-(2,2-dibromovinyl)-2,2-dimethyl-cyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid, 2-methyl-3phenylbenzoic acid and 3-phenoxybenzoic acid. Results were analysed to assess factors affecting the risk and level of exposure. Results were also compared to the published data in similar age groups from US and German studies. The results of this study demonstrate that there was widespread chronic exposure to OPs and and PYRs in SA children. OP metabolites were detected more commonly than PYR. Exposure to more than one chemical and contemporaneous exposure to chemicals from both OP and PYR groups was common in the study population. There were some differences in risks and levels of exposure between the study groups. Exposure to some restricted use of chemicals, for ex le, fenitrothion, was higher in periurban and rural children. There was no difference among the study groups in exposure to chlorpyrifos, used commonly in agriculture and in domestic settings and most frequently found OP pesticide in food in Australia. South Australian children appear to have higher levels of exposure compared their peers in US and Germany.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2016
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 09-2010
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-2017
DOI: 10.1002/EJP.1045
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 11-2011
Abstract: To examine the impact of globalization on employee psychological health and job satisfaction via job characteristics (i.e., job demands and job resources) in an emerging economy, that of Malaysia. As external factors are regarded as influences on the working environment, we hypothesized that global forces (increased pressure and competition) would have an impact on burnout and job satisfaction via increased demands (role conflict, emotional demands) and reduced resources (supervisor support, coworkers support). Data were collected using a population based survey among 308 employees in the state of Selangor, Malaysia. Participants were approached at home during the weekend or on days off from work. Only one participant was selected per household. Structural equation modelling was used to analyse the data. Nearly 54% of respondents agreed that they need to work harder, 25% agreed that their job was not secure and 24% thought they had lost power and control on the job due to global trade competition. Consistent with our predictions, demands mediated the globalization to burnout relationship, and resources mediated the globalization to job satisfaction relationship. Together, these results support the idea that external factors influence work conditions and in turn employee health and job satisfaction. We conclude that the jobs demands-resources framework is applicable in an Eastern setting and that globalization is a key antecedent of working environments.
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Date: 2013
DOI: 10.1037/A0025942
Abstract: Using a multilevel framework, this study examined the role of empowering leadership at the group level by fire brigade captains in facilitating the in idual level motivational processes that underpin work engagement in volunteer firefighters. Anonymous mail surveys were completed by 540 volunteer firefighters from 68 fire brigades and, separately, by 68 brigade captains. As predicted on the basis of the Job Demands-Resources model, increased levels of cognitive demands and cognitive resources partially mediated the relationship between empowering leadership and work engagement. In a three-way Leadership × Demands × Resources interaction, empowering leadership also had the effect of optimizing working conditions for engagement by strengthening the positive effect of a work context in which both cognitive demands and cognitive resources were high. Our findings shed light on a process through which leaders can empower workers and enhance well-being: via their influence on and interaction with the work environment. They also underscore the need to examine work engagement from a multilevel theoretical perspective.
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 13-07-2018
Abstract: The rise in working university students is a global phenomenon with more than half of the student population working while studying at university. Within this trend of dual participation, working students face unique stressors such as work–study conflict and facilitation. Work–study conflict drives students’ poor health, whereas work–study facilitation drives positive academic outcomes. In this article, we review and critique several work–study interface models proposed to explain the development and consequences of these stressors. The review uncovers important omissions and limitations of the models, reducing their utility and generalizability. Therefore, we propose a new work-to-study model, which addresses the omissions of the previous models. The work-to-study model builds on the current literature and models and integrates psychosocial safety climate theory, as it relates to the extended job demands–resources model to advance our understanding of the development and consequences of work–study conflict and facilitation.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2018
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 30-06-2016
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 08-2017
DOI: 10.1136/BMJOPEN-2016-013080
Abstract: Chronic low back pain (LBP) is a common and costly health problem yet current treatments demonstrate at best, small effects. The concurrent application of treatments with synergistic clinical and mechanistic effects may improve outcomes in chronic LBP. This pilot trial aims to (1) determine the feasibility, safety and perceived patient response to a combined transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and sensorimotor retraining intervention in chronic LBP and (2) provide data to support a s le size calculation for a fully powered trial should trends of effectiveness be present. A pilot randomised, assessor and participant-blind, sham-controlled trial will be conducted. Eighty participants with chronic LBP will be randomly allocated to receive either (1) active tDCS + sensorimotor retraining or (2) sham tDCS + sensorimotor retraining. tDCS (active or sham) will be applied to the primary motor cortex for 20 min immediately prior to 60 min of supervised sensorimotor retraining twice per week for 10 weeks. Participants in both groups will complete home exercises three times per week. Feasibility, safety, pain, disability and pain system function will be assessed immediately before and after the 10-week intervention. Analysis of feasibility and safety will be performed using descriptive statistics. Statistical analyses will be conducted based on intention-to-treat and per protocol and will be used to determine trends for effectiveness. Ethical approval has been gained from the institutional human research ethics committee (H10184). Written informed consent will be provided by all participants. Results from this pilot study will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals. ACTRN12616000624482
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 05-09-2011
DOI: 10.1017/S2045796011000588
Abstract: Work stress is widely thought to be a significant problem in the health and community services sector. We reviewed evidence from a range of different data sources that confirms this belief. High levels of psychosocial risk factors, psychological health problems and workers compensation claims for stress are found in the sector. We propose a multilevel theoretical model of work stress to account for the results. Psychosocial safety climate (PSC) refers to a climate for psychological health and safety. It reflects the balance of concern by management about psychological health v. productivity. By extending the health erosion and motivational paths of the Job Demands-Resources model, we propose that PSC within work organisations predicts work conditions and in turn psychological health and engagement. Over and above this, however, we expect that the external environment of the sector particularly government policies, driven by economic rationalist ideology, is increasing work pressure and exhaustion. These conditions are likely to lead to a reduced quality of service, errors and mistakes.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2011
DOI: 10.1016/J.AAP.2011.04.010
Abstract: Psychosocial safety climate (PSC) is defined as shared perceptions of organizational policies, practices and procedures for the protection of worker psychological health and safety, that stem largely from management practices. PSC theory extends the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) framework and proposes that organizational level PSC determines work conditions and subsequently, psychological health problems and work engagement. Our s le was derived from the Australian Workplace Barometer project and comprised 30 organizations, and 220 employees. As expected, hierarchical linear modeling showed that organizational PSC was negatively associated with workplace bullying and harassment (demands) and in turn psychological health problems (health impairment path). PSC was also positively associated with work rewards (resources) and in turn work engagement (motivational path). Accordingly, we found that PSC triggered both the health impairment and motivational pathways, thus justifying extending the JD-R model in a multilevel way. Further we found that PSC, as an organization-based resource, moderated the positive relationship between bullying/harassment and psychological health problems, and the negative relationship between bullying/harassment and engagement. The findings provide evidence for a multilevel model of PSC as a lead indicator of workplace psychosocial hazards (high demands, low resources), psychological health and employee engagement, and as a potential moderator of psychosocial hazard effects. PSC is therefore an efficient target for primary and secondary intervention.
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Date: 11-2014
DOI: 10.1037/A0038149
Publisher: Routledge
Date: 12-11-2012
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 12-03-2010
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 25-01-2011
DOI: 10.1111/J.1440-1584.2010.01174.X
Abstract: To describe the nursing workforce in very remote Australia, characteristics and key issues. Data were collected from four main sources: the refined CRANAplus database of remote health facilities the 2006 census which provided population and percentage of Indigenous people in communities in very remote Australia a national survey on occupational stress among nurses and an earlier study into violence and remote area nurses conducted in 1995. A descriptive analysis of the data was conducted. Health facilities in very remote Australia. The registered nursing workforce in very remote Australia is mostly female (89%) and ageing, with 40.2% 50 years or over, compared to 33% nationally. Many (43%) are in remote Indigenous communities. Over the last decade, there has been a significant decrease in registered nurses with midwifery qualifications (55%) and in child health nurses (39%) in very remote Australia. Only 5% have postgraduate qualifications in remote health practice. The nursing workforce in very remote areas of Australia is in trouble. The workforce is ageing, the numbers of nurses per population has fallen and the numbers of midwives and child health nurses have dropped significantly over the last 15 years. As many of these nurses work in Indigenous communities, if these trends continue it is likely to have a negative effect on 'closing the gap' in Indigenous health outcomes.
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Date: 02-2014
DOI: 10.1037/A0035795
Publisher: Hindawi Limited
Date: 10-06-2018
DOI: 10.1155/2018/6207508
Abstract: Homeostatic plasticity regulates synaptic activity by preventing uncontrolled increases (long-term potentiation) or decreases (long-term depression) in synaptic efficacy. Homeostatic plasticity can be induced and assessed in the human primary motor cortex (M1) using noninvasive brain stimulation. However, the reliability of this methodology has not been investigated. Here, we examined the test-retest reliability of homeostatic plasticity induced and assessed in M1 using noninvasive brain stimulation in ten, right-handed, healthy volunteers on days 0, 2, 7, and 14. Homeostatic plasticity was induced in the left M1 using two blocks of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) applied for 7 min and 5 min, separated by a 3 min interval. To assess homeostatic plasticity, 15 motor-evoked potentials to single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation were recorded at baseline, between the two blocks of anodal tDCS, and at 0 min, 10 min, and 20 min follow-up. Test-retest reliability was evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Moderate-to-good test-retest reliability was observed for the M1 homeostatic plasticity response at all follow-up time points (0 min, 10 min, and 20 min, ICC range: 0.43–0.67) at intervals up to 2 weeks. The greatest reliability was observed when the homeostatic response was assessed at 10 min follow-up ( I C C 0.61 ). These data suggest that M1 homeostatic plasticity can be reliably induced and assessed in healthy in iduals using two blocks of anodal tDCS at intervals of 48 hours, 7 days, and 2 weeks.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 10-2012
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 2016
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Date: 11-2012
DOI: 10.1037/A0030317
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 12-10-2022
DOI: 10.1017/DMP.2020.370
Abstract: Iran is among the top 15 countries in the world in terms of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection rates. The numbers of infections and deaths are still increasing in September 2020. This study aims to investigate the impact of the policies on terminating the quarantine period on the perception of psychosocial safety by employees and workers in Iran. In this study, policy announcements and regulations, media reports, and the results were collected from 2 previously published population surveys that collected employees’ views of the government approach to quarantine. The information thus collected was then analyzed using the “What is the Problem Represented (WPR)” approach for data analysis introduced by Carol Bacchi, and focuses on the question, “What effects are produced by the representation of the problem?” The Iranian Government decided to quarantine people and close most sectors during the New Year holidays in Iran in March 2020. The duration of quarantine was only 2 weeks, and the government then ordered government organizations and industrial companies to reopen. The advantage of a short quarantine period is assumed to be the reinstatement of productivity while the disadvantage is the likely risk of further transmission of the virus. The government approach to and communication about the quarantine period has neglected to consider the psychosocial safety climate of employees, who have to go to their workplaces using buses, subways, or other vehicles, and who are under pressure mentally because of fear of infection, dismissal for non-attendance, and the consequent economic problems. The government approach necessarily impacts on the perceived psychosocial safety climate of employees, and hence influences the causes of work stress. If the psychosocial safety climate is not considered and improved, it may reduce the quality of services and products, and increase accidents.
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 06-04-2023
DOI: 10.3389/FPSYG.2023.1082283
Abstract: Creativity is vital for competitive advantage within technological environments facing the fourth industrial revolution. However, existing research on creativity has rarely addressed how a climate beneficial for worker psychological health, a psychosocial safety climate (PSC), could additionally stimulate the growth of workplace creativity, innovation, and performance in digital environments. To examine how in idually perceived PSC influences subsequent work engagement promoting higher levels of computer-based radical and incremental creativity, innovation, and work performance, employees in a software engineering firm ( N = 29, 86 observations) completed a weekly questionnaire for 4 consecutive weeks. At the between-person level PSC was positively related to average future weekly in idual fluctuations of creativity (radical and incremental), work engagement, and job performance. Additionally weekly work engagement was related to future creativity (radical and incremental). Work engagement also mediated the between-person relationship between PSC and future creativity (both radical and incremental). PSC did not predict innovation. This study contributes to the theory on PSC, creativity, and work performance by elucidating the in idual perceived PSC-creativity relationship and suggesting PSC systems as meaningful antecedents to digital work performance.
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 2016
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 03-2006
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 12-03-2010
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 21-01-2015
Abstract: Primary motor cortical (M1) adaptation has not been investigated in the transition to sustained muscle pain. Daily injection of nerve growth factor (NGF) induces hyperalgesia reminiscent of musculoskeletal pain and provides a novel model to study M1 in response to progressively developing muscle soreness. Twelve healthy in iduals were injected with NGF into right extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB) on Days 0 and 2 and with hypertonic saline on Day 4. Quantitative sensory and motor testing and assessment of M1 organization and function using transcranial magnetic stimulation were performed prior to injection on Days 0, 2, and 4 and again on Day 14. Pain and disability increased at Day 2 and increased further at Day 4. Reorganization of M1 was evident at Day 4 and was characterized by increased map excitability. These changes were accompanied by reduced intracortical inhibition and increased intracortical facilitation. Interhemispheric inhibition was reduced from the "affected" to the "unaffected" hemisphere on Day 4, and this was associated with increased pressure sensitivity in left ECRB. These data provide the first evidence of M1 adaptation in the transition to sustained muscle pain and have relevance for the development of therapies that seek to target M1 in musculoskeletal pain.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2019
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 04-2012
Publisher: University of South Australia
Date: 2019
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 07-06-2016
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 06-03-2017
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2007
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 20-03-2019
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 11-01-2023
DOI: 10.1002/EJP.2078
Abstract: Early evidence suggests human assumed central sensitization (HACS) is present in some people with acute low back pain (LBP). Factors influencing in idual variation in HACS during acute LBP have not been fully explored. We aimed to examine the evidence for HACS in acute LBP and the contribution of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), clinical, psychological and demographic factors to HACS. Participants with acute LBP ( weeks after pain onset, N = 118) and pain‐free controls ( N = 57) from a longitudinal trial were included. Quantitative sensory testing including pressure and heat pain thresholds and conditioned pain modulation, BDNF serum concentration and genotype and questionnaires were assessed. There were no signs of HACS during acute LBP at group level when compared with controls. Sensory measures did not differ when compared between controls and LBP participants with different BDNF genotypes. Two LBP subgroups with distinct sensory profiles were identified. Although one subgroup ( N = 60) demonstrated features of HACS including pressure/heat pain hypersensitivity at a remote site and deficient conditioned pain modulation, pain severity and disability did not differ between the two subgroups. Variation in sensory measures (~33%) was partially explained by BDNF genotype, sex, age and psychological factors. This study confirms that HACS is present in some people with acute LBP, but this was not associated with pain or disability. Further, no relationship was observed between BDNF and HACS in acute LBP. More research is needed to understand factors contributing to in idual variation in sensory measures in LBP. Human assumed central sensitization (HACS) is present in acute low back pain (LBP) but factors contributing to in idual variation are not fully explored. This study investigated the relationship between factors such as brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and HACS in acute LBP. Our findings indicate that HACS was present in specific LBP subgroups but BDNF was unrelated to HACS. Combinations of BDNF genotype, demographic and psychological factors explained a small proportion of the variation in sensory measures during acute LBP.
Publisher: IEEE
Date: 06-2012
DOI: 10.1109/HSI.2012.16
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2007
DOI: 10.1016/J.AAP.2007.03.014
Abstract: Both workplace stress and road rage are reported to be on the increase. This study examined the effort-reward imbalance (ERI) model of work stress and its relationship with general anger and driving anger in a community s le of 130 Australian workers. It also examined international differences in driving anger, with Australian motorists reporting lower levels of driving anger than American motorists but higher levels than British motorists. Hierarchical multiple regressions confirmed ERI increased driving anger via the mediating variables of general anger and overcommitment in iduals suffering ERI may develop increased general anger or overcommitment, in turn increasing propensity to experience driving anger. Regressions also showed that overcommitment (but not general anger) moderated the effect of ERI on driving anger ERI has a greater influence on increasing driving anger in in iduals with high overcommitment at work. The results have considerable implications for the safety and emotional health of in iduals who perceive an imbalance between their efforts and rewards at work, and overcommitted in iduals may be at greater risk. The wider implications of the relationship between work stress, emotional well-being and driving anger in employees, along with the potential of driver education interventions, are discussed as public health issues.
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 2016
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Date: 12-2022
DOI: 10.1037/OCP0000335
Abstract: Though workplace bullying is conceptualized as an organizational problem, there remains a gap in understanding the contexts in which bullying manifests-knowledge vital for addressing bullying in practice. In three studies, we leverage the rich content contained within workplace bullying complaint records to explore this issue then, based on our discoveries, investigate people management practices linked to bullying. First, through content analysis of 342 official complaints lodged with a state health and safety regulator (over 5,500 pages), we discovered that the risk of bullying primarily arises from ineffective people management in 11 different contexts (e.g., managing underperformance, coordinating working hours, and entitlements). Next, we developed a behaviorally anchored rating scale to measure people management practices within a refined set of nine risk contexts. Effective and ineffective behavioral indicators were identified through content analysis of the complaints data and data from 44 critical incident interviews with subject matter experts indicators were then sorted and rated by two independent s les to form a risk audit tool. Finally, data from a multilevel multisource study of 145 clinical healthcare staff nested in 25 hospital wards showed that the effectiveness of people management practices predicts concurrent exposure to workplace bullying at in idual level beyond established organizational antecedents, and at the team level beyond leading indicator psychosocial safety climate. Overall, our findings highlight where the greatest risk of bullying lies within organizational systems and identifies effective ways of managing people within those contexts to reduce the risk, opening new avenues for bullying intervention research and practice. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 27-02-2018
Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
Date: 28-02-2013
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2018
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 2016
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 2016
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2017
DOI: 10.1016/J.BBR.2017.01.016
Abstract: Peripheral electrical stimulation (PES) modulates corticomotor excitability but its effect on motor performance has not been thoroughly investigated. The purpose of this study was to assess whether increases and/or decreases in corticomotor excitability, induced by PES, influenced motor performance using a visuomotor adaptation task. Three PES interventions (motor stimulation, sensory stimulation or sham) were delivered to the first dorsal interosseous (FDI) in 30 healthy participants matched for age, gender and handedness. Motor stimulation was applied to increase corticomotor excitability, sensory stimulation to decrease corticomotor excitability, while sham stimulation acted as a control. Corticomotor excitability was assessed using the litude of motor evoked potentials to transcranial magnetic stimulation recorded from FDI before and after each intervention. Following PES, participants completed a visuomotor adaptation task. This required participants to move a cursor accurately towards virtual targets with index finger movements when the cursor trajectory was rotated 30° counter clockwise. Performance was assessed as angular error (a measure of movement accuracy) and reaction time. The rate of visuomotor adaptation was greater following motor PES compared to sham, but not sensory, with no difference observed between sensory and sham. However, visuomotor adaptation performance overall (the total change in performance from beginning to end) was similar across intervention groups. These findings suggest that motor PES applied prior to task acquisition can facilitate the speed of adaptation.
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Date: 2014
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 2016
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 2007
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2022
DOI: 10.1016/J.JPAIN.2022.04.012
Abstract: Pain alters motor function. This is supported by studies showing reduced corticomotor excitability in response to experimental pain lasting minutes. Whether similar reductions in corticomotor excitability are present with pain of longer durations or whether alterations in corticomotor excitability are associated with pain severity is unknown. Here we evaluated the evidence for altered corticomotor excitability in response to experimental pain of differing durations in healthy in iduals. Databases were systematically searched for eligible studies. Measures of corticomotor excitability and pain were extracted. Meta-analyses were performed to examine: (1) group-level effect of pain on corticomotor excitability, and (2) in idual-level associations between corticomotor excitability and pain severity. 49 studies were included. Corticomotor excitability was reduced when pain lasted milliseconds-seconds (hedges g's = -1.26 to -1.55) and minutes-hours (g's = -0.55 to -0.9). When pain lasted minutes-hours, a greater reduction in corticomotor excitability was associated with lower pain severity (g = -0.24). For pain lasting days-weeks, there were no group level effects (g = -0.18 to 0.27). However, a greater reduction in corticomotor excitability was associated with higher pain severity (g = 0.229). In otherwise healthy in iduals, suppression of corticomotor excitability may be a beneficial short-term strategy with long-term consequences. PERSPECTIVE: This systematic review synthesised the evidence for altered corticomotor excitability in response to experimentally induced pain. Reduced corticomotor excitability was associated with lower acute pain severity but higher sustained pain severity, suggesting suppression of corticomotor excitability may be a beneficial short-term adaptation with long-term consequences.
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 09-2009
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Date: 10-2018
DOI: 10.1037/OCP0000101
Abstract: Psychosocial safety climate (PSC climate for psychological health) is an organizational antecedent to work conditions articulated in the job demands-resources model. We responded to calls for broader consideration of organizational climate in terms of both climate level and strength. We tested PSC level and strength as main and interactive predictors of work conditions, psychological health, and engagement. Using multilevel analysis and cross-sectional data, the effects of unit-level PSC constructs were investigated in 21 hospital work units (n = 249 employees) in Australia. The correlation between PSC levels (measured at the unit mean) and PSC strength (measured as unit -1 × SD) was moderate and positive, suggesting that ceiling effects of PSC scores were not problematic. PSC level was a better predictor than PSC strength or their interactions for job demands (psychological and emotional demands), job resources (e.g., skill discretion and organizational support), and health (emotional exhaustion). For engagement, the interaction was significant-improving engagement, therefore, benefits from high levels of PSC and PSC strength within the work units. So, in answer to the research question regarding PSC theory extension, "it depends on the outcome." Research limitations are acknowledged, and the potential of the PSC model to guide the reduction of workplace psychosocial risk factors and the negative consequences is discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Date: 10-2018
DOI: 10.1037/OCP0000102
Abstract: Despite a surge in workplace mindfulness research, virtually nothing is known about how organizations can cultivate everyday mindfulness at work. Using the extended job demands-resources model, we explored daily psychological demands and job control as potential antecedents of daily mindfulness, and the moderating effect of psychosocial safety climate (PSC, which relates to the value organizations place on psychological health at work). We also examined the relationship between mindfulness and learning to augment understanding of the benefits of everyday mindfulness at work. A s le of 57 employees, primarily working in education, health care, and finance, completed a diary for five days within a 2-week period, covering mindfulness, psychological demands, job control, and learning. PSC was measured in a baseline survey, with in idual ratings combined with those of up to four colleagues to tap objective (shared) climate. Hierarchical linear modeling showed that daily psychological demands were negatively related to daily mindfulness, and daily job control was positively related to daily mindfulness especially as PSC increased. Additionally, daily mindfulness was positively associated with daily workplace learning. This study is one of the first to identify work-related antecedents to everyday mindfulness. The findings suggest that (a) to support everyday mindfulness at work, jobs must be designed with manageable demands and a variety of tasks that allow for creativity and skill discretion, and (b) the benefits of mindfulness interventions for employee psychological health and well-being may not be sustainable unless employees have influence over when and how they do their work, in the "right" climate. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2023
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 06-2012
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Date: 2014
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Date: 2014
Publisher: Emerald
Date: 09-02-2010
DOI: 10.1108/13527601011016899
Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to advance the understanding of both directions of work‐family conflict (WFC), work interference with family (WIF) and family interference with work (FIW) in an Eastern culture. Findings are compared with those of 14 other Western studies and the relationships among WIF, FIW and job, family, community and life satisfaction are explored. This study is conducted in Malaysia, a country with Islam as the official religion. Data are obtained from 506 employees in three public and three private sector organizations. Questionnaires are distributed via human resource managers. Results show that similar to Western studies, WIF scores are higher than FIW scores. Malaysians are significantly lower on WIF than Westerners. Nevertheless, Malaysians score significantly higher on FIW than all Western s les. Within the Malaysian s le, FIW also has a stronger negative relationship with all facets of satisfaction and WIF has a positive relationship with family satisfaction. Cross‐sectional data are presented which could result in common method bias. Organizations can assist in minimizing WIF and FIW by providing family‐friendly policies and parenting related programmes. The importance of family in an in idual's life in Eastern cultures is different than in Western cultures. Therefore multi‐national companies operating in Eastern settings would be well‐advised to take cultural aspects such as collectivism into consideration. The study provides insights into Eastern experiences of WIF and FIW compared with Western experiences. The study expands previous studies by measuring both directions of WFC and employing a heterogeneous s le (e.g. not just female, those married, those with children).
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Date: 2014
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Date: 2014
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 21-06-2015
Publisher: Asia Pacific Centre for Work Health and Safety (UniSA)
Date: 2018
Publisher: Springer Publishing Company
Date: 2013
DOI: 10.1891/1061-3749.21.2.246
Abstract: Background and Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a measure that would adequately and sensitively measure the occupational stress experience of nurses working in very remote health care facilities. Because no existing nursing stress tool is suitable to assess the unique stressors of remote nursing practice, the aim was to address this gap in psychometric measurement capacity and develop the Remote Area Nursing Stress Scale (RANSS). Method: A focus group ( n = 19) of remote area nurses identified potential questionnaire items through open discussion and by later listing the stressors they experienced in idually in their day-to-day functioning. Subsequently, the Delphi method was employed to further refine the questionnaire ( n = 12 experts). The RANSS was successfully pilot tested and was afterward administered to nurses working in very remote Australia in 2008 ( n = 349) and in 2010 ( n = 433). Results: Principal components analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were performed for both waves of survey administration, demonstrating a robust 7-factor structure consistent across s les and accounting for significant variance in dependent measures. Conclusion: The development and validation of the RANSS is a significant advancement in remote area nursing research. The RANSS should be administered on an ongoing basis to monitor occupational stress among nurses working in very remote Australia. The RANSS should also be administered internationally in countries that also accommodate remote health care facilities. This would determine whether the RANSS is a psychometrically valid stress measure beyond the context of very remote Australia.
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 07-2020
DOI: 10.1136/BMJOPEN-2020-039152
Abstract: There is a gap between the care people with knee osteoarthritis (OA) should receive according to evidence-based guidelines and the care they do receive. This feasibility study aims to test the feasibility of developing and implementing a codesigned, physiotherapy-led, multidisciplinary, evidence-based model of care for knee OA, among community physiotherapy practices in Australia, where community practice is defined as a professional physiotherapy business that is not controlled or paid for by the government. A mixed-methods quasi-experimental (pre ostintervention) study. In the preintervention phase, all consented physiotherapists working in nine metropolitan-based, community physiotherapy practices, and 26 patients with knee OA will be recruited. Patients will be recruited from all practices by the physiotherapists, using the outlined inclusion/exclusion criteria. An audit of physiotherapy treatment notes will occur using a proforma, to gain an understanding of current community physiotherapy treatment and documentation. Patient and physiotherapist interviews will be conducted to determine current practice for the management of knee OA. A codesign phase will follow, where a model of care will be developed by researchers, patients, clinical staff, members of the public and other stakeholders, based on current guidelines for conservative management of knee OA. In the postintervention phase, a further 26 patients will be recruited, and the assessment process repeated to determine whether there is a change in practice. The feasibility outcome measures are: (1) number of patients who are recorded as receiving care according to current evidence-based guidelines (2) number of patients who have patient-reported outcomes incorporated into their assessment and management plan and (3) acceptability of the developed model to patients and physiotherapists. The clinical outcomes will include assessment of patient-reported outcome measures (pain, function, etc) in the preintervention and postintervention phases (baseline and 12 weeks) to assess trends towards change in participant symptoms. Ethical approval has been obtained from the University of New South Wales human ethics committee (approval number HC180864, approval period 6 February 2019 to 5 February 2024). The preintervention stage of this study is complete. The next stage is to implement the intervention and compare outcomes between the preintervention and postintervention phases. The results will be disseminated via peer-reviewed publications and presentations at conferences. The preintervention phase of the study is retrospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov with registration number: ACTRN12620000188932. The intervention and postintervention phase of the study is prospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov with registration number: ACTRN12620000218998.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 07-07-2020
DOI: 10.1002/BRB3.1702
Abstract: Accumulating evidence suggests that motor skill training is associated with structural and functional reorganization of the primary motor cortex. However, previous studies have focussed primarily upon the upper limb, and it is unclear whether comparable reorganization occurs following training of other regions, such as the lower back. Although this holds important implications for rehabilitation, no studies have examined corticomotor adaptations following short‐term motor training in the lower back. The aims of this study were to (a) determine whether a short‐term lumbopelvic tilt visuomotor task induced reorganization of the corticomotor representations of lower back muscles, (b) quantify the variability of corticomotor responses to motor training, and (c) determine whether any improvements in task performance were correlated with corticomotor reorganization. Participants were allocated randomly to perform a lumbopelvic tilt motor training task ( n = 15) or a finger abduction control task involving no lumbopelvic movement ( n = 15). Transcranial magnetic stimulation was used to map corticomotor representations of the lumbar erector spinae before, during, and after repeated performance of the allocated task. No relationship between corticomotor reorganization and improved task performance was identified. Substantial variability was observed in terms of corticomotor responses to motor training, with approximately 50% of participants showing no corticomotor reorganization despite significant improvements in task performance. These findings suggest that short‐term improvements in lower back visuomotor task performance may be driven by changes in remote subcortical and/or spinal networks rather than adaptations in corticomotor pathways. However, further research using tasks of varying complexities and durations is required to confirm this hypothesis.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 03-2010
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 12-2014
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Date: 08-2009
DOI: 10.1037/A0016841
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 04-05-2018
DOI: 10.1111/JAN.13580
Abstract: To present benchmarks for working conditions in healthcare industries as an initial effort into international surveillance. The healthcare industry is fundamental to sustaining the health of Australians, yet it is under immense pressure. Budgets are limited, demands are increasing as are workplace injuries and all of these factors compromise patient care. Urgent attention is needed to reduce strains on workers and costs in health care, however, little work has been done to benchmark psychosocial factors in healthcare working conditions in the Asia-Pacific. Intercultural comparisons are important to provide an evidence base for public policy. A cross-sectional design was used (like other studies of prevalence), including a mixed-methods approach with qualitative interviews to better contextualize the results. Data on psychosocial factors and other work variables were collected from healthcare workers in three hospitals in Australia (N = 1,258) and Malaysia (N = 1,125). 2015 benchmarks were calculated for each variable and comparison was conducted via independent s les t tests. Healthcare s les were also compared with benchmarks for non-healthcare general working populations from their respective countries: Australia (N = 973) and Malaysia (N = 225). Our study benchmarks healthcare working conditions in Australia and Malaysia against the general working population, identifying trends that indicate the industry is in need of intervention strategies and job redesign initiatives that better support psychological health and safety. We move toward a better understanding of the precursors of psychosocial safety climate in a broader context, including similarities and differences between Australia and Malaysia in national culture, government occupational health and safety policies and top-level management practices.
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 20-02-2021
DOI: 10.1101/2021.02.18.21251719
Abstract: Determining the mechanistic causes of complex biopsychosocial health conditions such as low back pain (LBP) is challenging, and research is scarce. Cross-sectional studies demonstrate altered excitability and organisation of the primary somatosensory and primary motor cortex in people with acute and chronic LBP, however, no study has explored these mechanisms longitudinally or attempted to draw causal inferences. Prospective, longitudinal, cohort study including 120 people with an acute episode of LBP. Sensory evoked potential area measurements were used to assess primary and secondary somatosensory cortex excitability. Transcranial magnetic stimulation derived map volume was used to assess corticomotor excitability. Directed acyclic graphs identified variables potentially confounding the exposure-outcome relationship. The effect of acute-stage sensorimotor cortex excitability on six-month LBP outcome was estimated using multivariable regression modelling, with adjusted and unadjusted estimates reported. Sensitivity analyses were performed to explore the effect of unmeasured confounding and missing data. Lower primary (OR = 2.08, 95% CI = 1.22 to 3.57) and secondary (OR = 2.56, 95% CI = 1.37 to 4.76) somatosensory cortex excitability in the acute stage of LBP increased the odds of developing chronic pain at six-month follow-up. This finding was robust to confounder adjustment and unmeasured confounding (E-Value = 2.24 & 2.58, respectively). Corticomotor excitability in the acute stage of LBP was associated with higher pain intensity at 6-month follow-up (B = −0.15, 95% CI: −0.28 to −0.02) but this association did not remain after confounder adjustment. These data provide the first evidence that low somatosensory cortex excitability in the acute stage of LBP is a cause of chronic pain. Interventions designed to increase somatosensory cortex excitability in acute LBP may be relevant to the prevention of chronic pain.
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 23-01-2020
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2017
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Date: 05-2015
DOI: 10.1037/A0038986
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 16-04-2016
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 24-04-2023
DOI: 10.1111/SJOP.12917
Abstract: To create healthy workplaces, organizations need tools for assessing factors contributing to employee well‐being. Psychosocial safety climate (PSC) refers to shared perceptions regarding the extent to which psychological health and safety are prioritized in organizations it is operationalized in the PSC scale. We evaluated the factor structure of the Finnish version of the PSC‐4 scale, its invariance across time and concurrent and predictive relationships with perceived stress, job exhaustion, and work engagement. Moreover, the mean‐level changes in PSC and well‐being during enforced remote work were studied. Participants were 442 higher education employees who completed a well‐being survey four times between April 2020 and February 2021. The longitudinal factor structure of the PSC‐4 and well‐being indicators were investigated using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling. The statistical analyses supported the one‐factor structure of the PSC‐4 and its measurement invariance across time. PSC was negatively associated with concurrent stress and job exhaustion and positively associated with concurrent work engagement at each measurement. Moreover, PSC predicted subsequent stress between each time point. Cross‐lagged effects were also evident for job exhaustion at T2–T3 and T3–T4 and for work engagement at T1–T2. The mean level of PSC decreased during enforced remote work. To conclude, the Finnish PSC‐4 is a valid tool for evaluating perceived psychosocial safety climate in organizations. PSC predicted well‐being over time and showed subsequent relationships with job exhaustion and work engagement, which is a new contribution to PSC theory and literature. Organizations need to design interventions to improve it, especially during stressful times.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 23-07-2009
DOI: 10.1111/J.1440-1584.2009.01073.X
Abstract: Review and synthesise the literature identifying the stresses experienced by remote area nurses (RANs). Identify interventions implemented to address identified stresses. Explore the use of the job demands-resources (JD-R) model. A comprehensive literature review was conducted using the meta-databases Ovid and Informit. Remote Australian primary health care centres. The reported demands experienced by RANs can be grouped into four themes: (i) the remote context (ii) workload and extended scope of practice (iii) poor management and (iv) violence in the workplace and community. In this high-demand, low-resource context, the JD-R model of occupational stress is particularly pertinent to examining occupational stress among RANs. The demands on RANs, such as the isolated geographical context, are immutable. However, there are key areas where resources can be enhanced to better meet the high level of need. These are: (i) adequate and appropriate education, training and orientation (ii) appropriate funding of remote health services and (iii) improved management practices and systems. There is a lack of empirical evidence relating to stresses experienced by RANs. The literature identifies some of the stresses experienced by RANs as unique to the remote context, while some are related to high demands coupled with a deficit of appropriate resources. Use of models, such as the JD-R model of occupational stress, might assist in identifying key areas where resources can be enhanced to better meet the high level of need and reduce RANs' levels of stress.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 03-02-2023
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Date: 1999
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 15-10-2020
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 05-04-2019
Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
Date: 28-11-2014
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 03-11-2017
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 10-06-2021
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 29-03-2016
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 22-10-2019
DOI: 10.1002/SMI.2898
Abstract: Little is known about how safety climates concerning physical safety and psychosocial safety interact in the prediction of working conditions and subsequent worker health. Frontline healthcare was selected as the setting for this study on the dynamic interplay between physical and psychosocial safety climates because of a recent call for attention to working conditions in this industry. Poor safety climates for healthcare workers spill over into adverse outcomes for worker health, and when workers are compromised, then so too is their provision of quality patient care. We developed an integrated model of the relationships between psychosocial and physical safety climates, working conditions, and health and safety outcomes. A multilevel model was tested (N = 463 workers nested within n = 60 teams), and lagged analysis was conducted across four time points, each 6 months apart. The combination of safety climates significantly predict objective outcomes from hospital safety system records on staff accidents, absence, and patient incidents (quality of care), suggesting a dynamic interplay in the prediction of impacts on the worker, organization, and end-user. Integrated physical and psychosocial safety climate measures can be incorporated into hospital occupational health and safety reporting and response systems as effective lead indicators and key performance metrics for work health and safety.
Publisher: CRC Press
Date: 20-03-2003
Publisher: CRC Press
Date: 20-03-2003
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 30-11-2010
DOI: 10.1111/J.1440-1584.2010.01161.X
Abstract: To identify key workplace demands and resources for nurses working in very remote Australia and measure levels of occupational stress in this population. The study used a cross-sectional design, utilising a structured questionnaire. Health centres in very remote Australia. Nurses working in very remote Australia experience significantly higher levels of psychological distress and emotional exhaustion, compared with other professional populations. Paradoxically, results also highlight higher than average levels of work engagement. Nurses working in very remote regions in Australia further report moderate levels of job satisfaction. Most significant job demands identified were emotional demands, staffing issues, workload, responsibilities and expectations, and social issues. Key job resources included supervision, opportunities for professional development, and skill development and application. In a context of high stress, high levels of work engagement and moderate levels of job satisfaction do not obviate high workforce turnover for this population. There is a need to reduce job demands and increase job resources in order to foster long-term work engagement and reduced emotional exhaustion. This might subsequently decrease remote area nursing workforce turnover.
Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
Date: 04-03-2020
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 16-05-2017
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 31-10-2017
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 02-11-2015
DOI: 10.1038/NCOMMS9718
Abstract: Roifman Syndrome is a rare congenital disorder characterized by growth retardation, cognitive delay, spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia and antibody deficiency. Here we utilize whole-genome sequencing of Roifman Syndrome patients to reveal compound heterozygous rare variants that disrupt highly conserved positions of the RNU4ATAC small nuclear RNA gene, a minor spliceosome component that is essential for minor intron splicing. Targeted sequencing confirms allele segregation in six cases from four unrelated families. RNU4ATAC rare variants have been recently reported to cause microcephalic osteodysplastic primordial dwarfism, type I (MOPD1), whose phenotype is distinct from Roifman Syndrome. Strikingly, all six of the Roifman Syndrome cases have one variant that overlaps MOPD1-implicated structural elements, while the other variant overlaps a highly conserved structural element not previously implicated in disease. RNA-seq analysis confirms extensive and specific defects of minor intron splicing. Available allele frequency data suggest that recessive genetic disorders caused by RNU4ATAC rare variants may be more prevalent than previously reported.
Publisher: World Scientific Pub Co Pte Lt
Date: 12-2017
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2018
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 2016
Publisher: National Institute of Industrial Health
Date: 2023
DOI: 10.2486/INDHEALTH.2022-0078
Abstract: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of employees in flexible work from home has increased markedly along with a reliance on information communication technologies. This study investigated the role of an organisational factor, psychosocial safety climate (PSC the climate for worker psychological health and safety), as an antecedent of these new kinds of demands (specifically work from home digital job demands) and their effect on work-life conflict. Data were gathered via an online survey of 2,191 employees from 37 Australian universities. Multilevel modelling showed that university level PSC to demands, y=-0.09, SE=0.03, p<0.01, and demands to work-life conflict, y=0.51, SE=0.19, p<0.05, relationships were significant. Supporting the antecedent theory, university level PSC was significantly indirectly related to work-life conflict via demands (LL -0.10 UL -0.01). Against expectations PSC did not moderate the demand to work-life conflict relationship. The results imply that targeting PSC could help prevent work from home digital job demands, and therefore, work-life conflict. Further research is needed on the role of digital job resources as flexible and hybrid work takes hold post COVID.
Publisher: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
Date: 04-2012
Publisher: AOSIS
Date: 23-05-2011
Abstract: Orientation: Job characteristics are well accepted as sources of burnout and engagement amongst employees psychosocial safety climate may precede work conditions.Research purpose: We expanded the Job Demands and Resources (JD-R) model by proposing psychosocial safety climate (PSC) as a precursor to job demands and job resources. As PSC theoretically influences the working environment, the study hypothesized that PSC has an impact on performance via both health erosion (i.e. burnout) and motivational pathways (i.e. work engagement).Motivation for the study: So far, integration of PSC in the JD-R model is only tested in a Western context (i.e. Australia). We tested the emerging construct of PSC in Malaysia, an Eastern developing country in the Asian region.Research design, approach and method: A random population based s le was derived using household maps provided by Department of Statistics, Malaysia 291 employees (response rate 50.52%) from the State of Selangor, Malaysia participated. Cross-sectional data were analysed using structural equation modelling.Main findings: We found that PSC was negatively related to job demands and positively related to job resources. Job demands, in turn, predicted burnout (i.e. exhaustion and cynicism), whereas job resources predicted engagement. Both burnout and engagement were associated with performance. Bootstrapping showed significant indirect effects of PSC on burnout via job demands, PSC on performance via burnout and PSC on performance via the resources-engagement pathway.Practical/managerial implications: Our findings are consistent with previous research that suggests that PSC should be a target to improve working conditions and in turn reduce burnout and improve engagement and productivity.Contribution/value-add: These findings suggest that JD-R theory may be expanded to include PSC as an antecedent and that the expanded JD-R model is largely valid in an Eastern, developing economy setting.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 03-04-2015
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 11-2015
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 07-2022
DOI: 10.1136/BMJOPEN-2022-063250
Abstract: Social media provide promising contemporary platforms for sharing public health information with a broad audience. Before implementation, testing social media c aigns that are intended to engage audiences and initiate behaviour change is necessary. This trial aims to investigate the effectiveness of a public health c aign to increase people’s confidence in becoming more active despite low back pain in comparison with no intervention. This is an online randomised controlled trial with two intervention groups and one control group in a 1:1:1 allocation. People over 18 years of age and fluent in English will be recruited via social media advertising. We developed a social media-based public health c aign to support recommendations for managing low back pain. The interventions are two videos. Participants in the control group will be asked questions about low back pain but will not view either video intervention. The primary outcome will be item 10 of the Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire, which asks participants to rate how confident they would feel to gradually become more active despite pain ranging from 0 (not at all confident) to 6 (completely confident). This outcome will be measured immediately in all participant groups. We will compare group mean of the three arms of the trial using univariate analyses of variance. This trial has been prospectively registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry. We obtained ethical approval from our institutions Human Research Ethics Committee before data collection. We will publish the results in a peer-reviewed medical journal and on institution websites. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12622000466741).
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Date: 2001
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Date: 2015
DOI: 10.1037/A0038166
Abstract: Despite decades of research from around the world now permeating occupational health and safety (OHS) legislation and guidelines, there remains a lack of tools to guide practice. Our main goal was to establish benchmark levels of psychosocial safety climate (PSC) that would signify risk of job strain (jobs with high demands and low control) and depression in organizations. First, to justify our focus on PSC, using interview data from Australian employees matched at 2 time points 12 months apart (n = 1081), we verified PSC as a significant leading predictor of job strain and in turn depression. Next, using 2 additional data sets (n = 2097 and n = 1043) we determined benchmarks of organizational PSC (range 12-60) for low-risk (PSC at 41 or above) and high-risk (PSC at 37 or below) of employee job strain and depressive symptoms. Finally, using the newly created benchmarks we estimated the population attributable risk (PAR) and found that improving PSC in organizations to above 37 could reduce 14% of job strain and 16% of depressive symptoms in the working population. The results provide national standards that organizations and regulatory agencies can utilize to promote safer working environments and lower the risk of harm to employee mental health.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 21-04-2022
Abstract: Organisations often engage Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) to assist employees experiencing psychological distress, yet EAPs primarily focus on in idual remedies rather than addressing the context of the problem (e.g., the corporate climate) which may render them limited in effectiveness. We investigated the effectiveness of EAPs and the role of organisation psychosocial safety climate (PSC) (the corporate climate for worker psychological health and safety) and client satisfaction in reducing client psychological distress. Client participants (Time 1, n = 100, Time 2, n = 28, Matched n = 25) from Australia and New Zealand entering an EAP took part in two online surveys, pre- and post-EAP, around five weeks apart. Multilevel analysis showed a significant reduction in psychological distress due to the EAP (in idual effect) but particularly at high levels of PSC (organisational effect). Thus, EAPs could engender a more significant impact by also assisting organisations to improve their PSC (i.e., through implementation of policies, practices and procedures for worker psychological health and safety), in combination with in idual interventions.
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 05-12-2013
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 2023
Publisher: Psychology Press
Date: 13-11-2015
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 14-03-2017
DOI: 10.1093/PM/PNX036
Abstract: Reorganization of the primary motor cortex (M1) may be a feature of persistent patellofemoral pain (PFP), but no studies have investigated M1 organization in this condition. Here we aimed to examine the organization of the M1 representation of the quadriceps muscles in people with PFP and healthy controls. Using a cross-sectional design, the M1 representation of the rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, and vastus medialis was mapped using transcranial magnetic stimulation in 11 in iduals with PFP and 11 controls. Measures of pain severity were also made. In iduals with PFP had reduced map volumes (P < 0.001) and an anterior shift in the M1 representation (P = 0.03) across all three quadriceps muscles compared with controls. Greater overlap of the M1 representation (P = 0.02) and a reduction in the number of discrete cortical peaks (P = 0.009) across all three quadriceps muscles were also observed in in iduals with PFP compared with controls. There was no relationship between altered M1 organization and pain in PFP. These findings provide evidence of altered M1 organization in in iduals with PFP compared with healthy controls. Notably, no difference in M1 organization was observed for the medial and lateral heads of the quadriceps in PFP. These data have relevance for our understanding of the pathophysiology of PFP and for the design of future treatments that aim to target M1 in this condition.
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 14-08-2023
DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.11.552723
Abstract: Recent research has linked in idual peak alpha frequency (PAF) to pain sensitivity, but whether PAF alterations can influence pain remains unclear. Our study investigated the effects of nicotine on pain sensitivity and whether pain changes are mediated by PAF changes. In a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled experiment, 62 healthy adults (18–44 years) received either 4 mg nicotine gum (n=29) or placebo (n=33). Resting state EEG and pain ratings during prolonged heat and pressure models were collected before and after nicotine intake. Nicotine reduced heat pain ratings and increased PAF speed across the scalp, driven by changes at centralparietal and right-frontal regions. However, mediation analysis did not support the notion that PAF changes mediate nicotine’s effects on pain sensitivity. While a growing body of literature supports a link between PAF and both acute and chronic pain, further work is needed to understand the mechanisms of this link.
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Date: 05-2004
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 09-2000
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 08-12-2021
Abstract: The 12-item psychosocial safety climate scale (PSC-12) has been used extensively in previous research, but its reliability and validity in a Japanese context are still unknown. We examined the psychometrics of the Japanese version of the PSC-12 (PSC-12J). The PSC-12J and scales on the relevant variables were administered to 2200 employees registered with an online survey company. A follow-up survey with 1400 of the respondents was conducted two weeks later. Internal consistency and test–retest reliability were examined via Cronbach’s alpha and Cohen’s weighted kappa coefficients, respectively. Structural, convergent, and known-group validities were examined using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and item response theory (IRT) analysis, correlation analysis, and Kruskal–Wallis test, respectively. Cronbach’s alpha and Cohen’s weighted kappa coefficients were 0.97 and 0.53, respectively. CFA based on the four-factor structure established in the previous literature showed an acceptable model fit. IRT analysis showed that each item was an adequate measure of the respondent’s latent trait. Correlations of the PSC-12J with the relevant variables and distribution of scores by demographic characteristics were also observed in the theoretically expected directions, supporting the construct validity of the PSC-12J. Our findings establish the PSC-12J as a reliable and valid measure of the psychosocial safety climate construct in the Japanese context.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 12-05-2020
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 08-09-2017
DOI: 10.1007/S40279-017-0781-4
Abstract: Many factors are thought to contribute to chronic ankle instability (CAI). Multiple systematic reviews have synthesised the available evidence to identify the primary contributing factors. However, readers are now faced with several systematic reviews that present conflicting findings. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to establish the statistical significance and effect size of primary factors contributing to CAI and to identify likely reasons for inconsistencies in the literature. Relevant health databases were searched: CINAHL, MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus and SPORTDiscus. Systematic reviews were included if they answered a focused research question, clearly defined the search strategy criteria and study selection/inclusion and completed a comprehensive search of the literature. Included reviews needed to be published in a peer-reviewed journal and needed to review observational studies of factors and/or characteristics of persons with CAI, with or without meta-analysis. There was no language restriction. Studies using a non-systematic review methodology (e.g. primary studies and narrative reviews) were excluded. Methodological quality of systematic reviews was assessed using the modified R-AMSTAR tool. Meta-analysis on included primary studies was performed. Only 17% of primary studies measured a clearly defined CAI population. There is strong evidence to support the contribution of dynamic balance, peroneal reaction time and eversion strength deficits and moderate evidence for proprioception and static balance deficits to non-specific ankle instability. Evidence from previous systematic reviews does not accurately reflect the CAI population. For treatment of non-specific ankle instability, clinicians should focus on dynamic balance, reaction time and strength deficits however, these findings may not be translated to the CAI population. Research should be updated with an adequately controlled CAI population. PROSPERO 2016, CRD42016032592.
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Date: 02-2014
DOI: 10.1037/A0035903
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2022
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 2008
DOI: 10.1177/097300520900400208
Abstract: The aim of this article is to introduce and discuss the notion of a comparative study between India and Australia in the area of rural work psychology. It has been argued that there is enormous scope for work psychology to be applied to and contribute to rural development (Dollard et al. 2004). This article explores an aspect of work psychology in the form of personal and economic empowerment of women in rural communities by engaging women in group enterprise. A large body of research taken from developing countries explores entrepreneurial activity using micro-credit to overcome poverty, increase income and enhance well-being. No such comparison study has been introduced amongst indigenous women in Australia. Through the process of case study analysis, the empowerment of rural Indian women engaging in group enterprise is examined. This article explores the scope for future research for the inclusion and examination of indigenous women in income-generating activities within a rural and remote setting.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2013
DOI: 10.1016/J.SOCSCIMED.2013.04.028
Abstract: Work stress is recognized globally as a social determinant of worker health. Therefore we explored whether work stress related factors explained national differences in health and productivity (gross domestic product (GDP)). We proposed a national worker health productivity model whereby macro market power factors (i.e. union density), influence national worker health and GDP via work psychosocial factors and income inequality. We combined five different data sets canvasing 31 wealthy European countries. Aggregated worker self-reported health accounted for 13 per cent of the variance in national life expectancy and in national gross domestic product (GDP). The most important factors explaining worker self-reported health and GDP between nations were two levels of labor protection, macro-level (union density), and organizational-level (psychosocial safety climate, PSC, i.e. the extent of management concern for worker psychological health). The majority of countries with the highest levels of union density and PSC (i.e., workplace protections) were Social Democratic in nature (i.e., Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway). Results support a type of society explanation that social and economic factors (e.g., welfare regimes, work related policies) in concert with political power agents at a national level explain in part national differences in workplace protection (PSC) that are important for worker health and productivity. Attention should be given across all countries, to national policies to improve worker health, by bolstering national and local democratic processes and representation to address and implement policies for psychosocial risk factors for work stress, bullying and violence. Results suggest worker health is good for the economy, and should be considered in national health and productivity accounting. Eroding unionism may not be good for worker health or the economy either.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 28-11-2018
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Date: 12-2021
DOI: 10.1037/OCP0000308
Abstract: Psychosocial safety climate (PSC) reflects the priority an organization sets for the psychological health and safety of its employees, important to predict future job design and worker health. PSC is assessed by aggregating employee perceptions to determine PSC level (mean scores) and strength (converging perceptions). Theoretically, the ideal climate is when PSC is high and strong, yet we do not know how to build these fundamentals. Since team leaders may transmit and shape PSC as set down by senior management, we explore their role (i.e., PSC and transformational leadership) in increasing and converging PSC perceptions in a team. We used three-wave longitudinal data (6-month lags) from 49 team leaders and 281 Australian health care workers nested in 49 teams. Multilevel analysis showed that team PSC levels increased over time. Using the consensus emergence model, PSC strength was moderated by PSC leadership. Considering PSC starting levels, when low, high PSC leaders were associated with increasing PSC, but if starting levels were high, low PSC leaders were associated with decreasing PSC levels and strength while high PSC leaders were associated with sustaining PSC strength. Transformational leaders had smaller effects than PSC leaders on PSC levels and no effect on strength. Mid-leaders' values and actions for employee psychological health are important to build PSC level and sustain strength. In this, they can reinforce PSC certainty and its safety signal effect which is shown to be important for reducing psychological problems. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 07-07-2017
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 04-2001
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2022
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2022
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2020
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.JPAIN.2019.01.006
Abstract: Sensorimotor cortical activity is altered in both the immediate acute and chronic stages of musculoskeletal pain. However, these changes are opposite, with decreased cortical activity reported in experimentally induced acute pain (lasting minutes to hours), and increased cortical activity in chronic, clinical pain (lasting >6 months). It is unknown whether sensorimotor cortical activity is altered in acute, clinical musculoskeletal pain (lasting <4 weeks). In 36 in iduals with acute, nonspecific, clinical low back pain (LBP) and 36 age- and sex-matched, pain-free controls, we investigated the processing of non-noxious afferent inputs using sensory evoked potentials (SEPs), as well as corticomotor excitability and organization of the primary motor cortex using transcranial magnetic stimulation. Processing of non-noxious sensory inputs was lower (smaller area of the N
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 13-02-2016
DOI: 10.1093/PM/PNV104
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 20-02-2020
DOI: 10.1101/2020.02.18.20024695
Abstract: Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is a common musculoskeletal pain condition with development of chronic symptoms in 49% of patients. Although a number of biological factors have shown an association with chronic TMD in cross-sectional and case control studies, there are currently no biomarkers that can predict the development of chronic symptoms. The PREDICT study aims to undertake analytical validation of a novel peak alpha frequency (PAF) and corticomotor excitability (CME) biomarker signature using a human model of the transition to sustained myofascial temporomandibular pain (masseter intramuscular injection of nerve growth factor [NGF]). This paper describes, a-priori , the methods and analysis plan. This study uses a multi-site longitudinal, experimental study to follow in iduals for a period of 30 days as they progressively develop and experience complete resolution of NGF-induced muscle pain. 150 healthy participants will be recruited. Participants will complete twice daily electronic pain dairies from Day 0 to Day 30 and undergo assessment of pressure pain thresholds, and recording of PAF and CME on Days 0, 2 and 5. Intramuscular injection of NGF will be given into the right masseter muscle on Days 0 and 2. The primary outcome is pain sensitivity. Ethical approval has been obtained from The University of New South Wales (HC190206) and the University of Maryland Baltimore (HP-00085371). Dissemination will occur through presentations at National and International conferences and publications in international peer-reviewed journals. ClinicalTrials.gov : NCT04241562 (prospective) PREDICT is the first study to undertake analytical validation of a peak alpha frequency and corticomotor excitability biomarker signature. The study will determine the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of this biomarker signature at predicting pain sensitivity. PREDICT will establish the reportable range of test results and determine automation and simplification of methods for biomarker detection in the clinic. The methods and statistical analysis plan are pre-specified to ensure reporting transparency. Future patient studies will be required for clinical validation.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2016
DOI: 10.1016/J.HUMOV.2016.01.007
Abstract: Impaired spinal-level neuromuscular control is suggested to contribute to instability and injury during dynamic landing tasks. Despite this suggestion, spinal-level neuromuscular control is yet to be examined during a horizontal jump-landing task. The aim of the current study was to assess changes in H-reflexes and its reliability at the short-latency response of landings from short and long distances. Eight healthy in iduals (five male, three female age, 22±1.2yrs height, 178±8.1cm weight, 72±15.7kg) participated in the study. H-reflexes were evoked at the SLR in the soleus and medial gastrocnemius muscles, during two landing conditions: 25% and 50% of maximal broad jump distance. H-reflexes were expressed relative to the background electromyography (EMG) and maximal M-wave responses (M-max). Soleus H-reflexes were inhibited when landing from shorter distance (25%, 13.9±7.6% 50%, 8.3±6.5% p<0.01). No change in H-reflex excitability was observed in medial gastrocnemius. Background EMG was unaltered across landing conditions. Inhibition of soleus H-reflex excitability from 25% to 50% landing condition indicates a reduced contribution of Ia-afferent feedback to the alpha-motor neuron during landings from greater distances, which may contribute to stiffness regulation at the ankle joint. Unaltered H-reflex excitability of medial gastrocnemius is most likely attributed to its functional role during the landing task.
Publisher: Asia Pacific Centre for Work Health and Safety
Date: 2015
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 22-11-2020
Abstract: The purpose of the present study was to validate the short version of The Psychosocial Safety Climate questionnaire (PSC-4, Dollard, 2019) and to establish benchmarks indicating risk levels for use in Sweden. Cross-sectional data from (1) a random s le of employees in Sweden aged 25–65 years (n = 2847) and (2) a convenience s le of non-managerial employees from 94 workplaces (n = 3066) were analyzed. Benchmarks for three PSC risk levels were developed using organizational compliance with Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) regulations as criterion. The results support the validity and usefulness of the Swedish PSC-4 as an instrument to indicate good, fair, and poor OSH practices. The recommended benchmark for indicating good OSH practices is an average score of .0, while the proposed cutoff for poor OSH practices is a score of ≤8.0 on the PSC-4. Scores between these benchmarks indicate fair OSH practices. Furthermore, aggregated data on PSC-4 supported its reliability as a workplace level construct and its association with quantitative demands, quality of leadership, commitment to the workplace, work engagement, job satisfaction, as well as stress and burnout. Thus, the Swedish version of PSC-4 can be regarded as a valid and reliable measure for both research and practical use for risk assessment at workplaces.
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 05-2017
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 03-2017
DOI: 10.1097/AJP.0000000000000535
Abstract: Primary motor cortex (M1) organization differs between in iduals with and without chronic low back pain (CLBP), in parallel with motor and sensory impairments. This study investigated whether movement behaviour and tactile ain sensation are related to M1 organisation in CLBP. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was used to map the M1 representation of the erector spinae and multifidus muscles in 20 participants with and without CLBP. Cortical organisation was quantified by: map volume center of gravity (CoG) number of peaks and primary and secondary peak location. Movement behaviour was assessed as the ability to dissociate lumbar from thorax motion and sensory function as two-point discrimination, pressure pain thresholds, and pain intensity (visual analogue scale). People with CLBP showed more anterior location of the CoG than controls. Map peaks were more numerous in CLBP participants who performed the movement task good than those with poor performance. In CLBP, smaller map volume correlated with greater pain during the movement task. Movement behaviour was not linearly correlated with M1 features. This study confirms that M1 maps differ between people with and without CLBP, but these changes are variable within the CLBP group and are not related to motor and sensory features in a simple manner.
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Date: 2001
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Date: 2001
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 10-2013
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Date: 2001
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Date: 06-03-2008
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Date: 2001
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 18-01-2011
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Date: 11-2010
DOI: 10.1037/A0021320
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Date: 2001
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 09-2000
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Date: 07-2008
DOI: 10.1037/0021-9010.93.4.901
Abstract: This study among 168 couples of dual-earner parents uses insights from previous work-family conflict and crossover research to propose an integrative model delineating how job demands experienced by men and women carry over to the home domain. The authors hypothesized that for both men and women, job demands foster their own work-family conflict (WFC), which in turn contributes to their partners' home demands, family-work conflict (FWC), and exhaustion. In addition, they hypothesized that social undermining mediates the relationship between in iduals' WFC and their partners' home demands. The results of structural equation modeling analyses provided strong support for the proposed model. The hypothesis that gender would moderate the model relationships was rejected. These findings integrate previous findings on work-family conflict and crossover theories and suggest fluid boundaries between the work and home domains.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 26-02-2021
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 27-01-2017
DOI: 10.1002/SMI.2740
Abstract: Preventing work injuries requires a clear understanding of how they occur, how they are recorded, and the accuracy of injury surveillance. Our innovation was to examine how psychosocial safety climate (PSC) influences the development of reported and unreported physical and psychological workplace injuries beyond (physical) safety climate, via the erosion of psychological health (emotional exhaustion). Self-report data (T2, 2013) from 214 hospital employees (18 teams) were linked at the team level to the hospital workplace injury register (T1, 2012 T2, 2013 and T3, 2014). Concordance between survey-reported and registered injury rates was low (36%), indicating that many injuries go unreported. Safety climate was the strongest predictor of T2 registered injury rates (controlling for T1) PSC and emotional exhaustion also played a role. Emotional exhaustion was the strongest predictor of survey-reported total injuries and underreporting. Multilevel analysis showed that low PSC, emanating from senior managers and transmitted through teams, was the origin of psychological health erosion (i.e., low emotional exhaustion), which culminated in greater self-reported work injuries and injury underreporting (both physical and psychological). These results underscore the need to consider, in theory and practice, a dual physical-psychosocial safety explanation of injury events and a psychosocial explanation of injury underreporting.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 22-07-2015
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 07-2013
DOI: 10.1080/10615806.2012.700477
Abstract: In a general population s le of 2343 Australian workers from a wide ranging employment demographic, we extended research testing the buffering role of psychosocial safety climate (PSC) as a macro-level resource within the health impairment process of the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model. Moderated structural equation modeling was used to test PSC as a moderator between emotional and psychological job demands and worker depression compared with control and social support as alternative moderators. We also tested PSC as a moderator between depression and positive organizational behaviors (POB engagement and job satisfaction) compared with control and social support as moderators. As expected we found PSC moderated the effects of job demands on depression and further moderated the effects of depression on POB with fit to the data that was as good as control and social support as moderators. This study has shown that PSC is a macro-level resource and safety signal for workers acting to reduce demand-induced depression. We conclude that organizations need to focus on the development of a robust PSC that will operate to buffer the effects of workplace psychosocial hazards and to build environments conducive to worker psychological health and positive organizational behaviors.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2022
DOI: 10.1016/J.JPAIN.2021.08.003
Abstract: Determining the mechanistic causes of complex biopsychosocial health conditions such as low back pain (LBP) is challenging, and research is scarce. Cross-sectional studies demonstrate altered excitability and organization of the somatosensory and motor cortex in people with acute and chronic LBP, however, no study has explored these mechanisms longitudinally or attempted to draw causal inferences. Using sensory evoked potential area measurements and transcranial magnetic stimulation derived map volume we analyzed somatosensory and motor cortex excitability in 120 adults experiencing acute LBP. Following multivariable regression modelling with adjustment for confounding, we identified lower primary (OR = 2.08, 95% CI = 1.22-3.57) and secondary (OR = 2.56, 95% CI = 1.37-4.76) somatosensory cortex excitability significantly increased the odds of developing chronic pain at 6-month follow-up. Corticomotor excitability in the acute stage of LBP was associated with higher pain intensity at 6-month follow-up (B = -0.15, 95% CI: -0.28 to -0.02) but this association did not remain after confounder adjustment. These data provide evidence that low somatosensory cortex excitability in the acute stage of LBP is a cause of chronic pain. PERSPECTIVE: This prospective longitudinal cohort study design identified low sensorimotor cortex excitability during the acute stage of LBP in people who developed chronic pain. Interventions that target this proposed mechanism may be relevant to the prevention of chronic pain.
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 30-06-2017
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 18-07-2021
DOI: 10.1101/2021.07.14.21260552
Abstract: Predicting the development of chronic low back pain (LBP) at the time of an acute episode remains challenging. The Understanding persistent Pain Where it ResiDes (UPWaRD) study aimed to identify neurobiological and psychological risk factors for chronic LBP. In iduals with acute LBP (N=120) participated in a prospective cohort study with six-month follow-up. Candidate predictors were selected from the neurobiological (e.g. sensorimotor cortical excitability assessed by sensory and motor evoked potentials, Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor genotype), psychological (e.g. depression and anxiety), symptom-related (e.g. LBP history) and demographic domains. Analyses involved multivariable linear regression models with pain intensity or disability degree as continuous variables. Secondary analyses involved a multivariable logistic model with presence of low back pain at six months (thresholding pain intensity and disability degree) as a dichotomous variable. Lower sensory cortex and corticomotor excitability, higher baseline pain intensity, higher depression, stress and pain catastrophizing were the strongest predictors (R 2 =0.47) of pain intensity at six months. Older age and higher pain catastrophizing were the strongest predictors (R 2 =0.30) of disability at six months. When LBP outcome was dichotomised, sensory cortex and corticomotor excitability, BDNF genotype, depression and anxiety, LBP history and baseline pain intensity, accurately discriminated those who did and did not report LBP at six months (c-statistic 0.91). This study identifies novel risk factors for future LBP after an acute episode that can predict an in idual’s pain intensity and level of disability at six-month follow-up, and accurately discriminate between those who will and will not report LBP at six months.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2015
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Date: 2001
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 08-2017
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2022
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 10-2006
DOI: 10.1177/097300520600200207
Abstract: The present study examined the empowerment of women by addressing two dimensions: economic empowerment and personal empowerment. One hundred women, aged between 16 and 65 years, participating in self-help groups from two rural Indian villages in North-West India took part in the study. Both quantitative and qualitative data were gathered through self-report surveys and interviews, with the analysis yielding contradictory findings. The quantitative data found that working women reported moderate to high levels on collective efficacy, proactive attitude, self-esteem and self-efficacy with no significant reporting of psychological distress. In contrast, examination of the qualitative data revealed positive appraisals of self-worth, purpose and independence and negative appraisals of pressure, challenge and stress. The implications of these findings and the importance of this study are discussed.
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Date: 2002
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2015
DOI: 10.1016/J.JHT.2015.10.004
Abstract: Systematic review with meta-analysis. Although corticosteroid injections are often cited as best practice in the treatment of de Quervain's disease, no reviews have compared their effectiveness to a multimodal definition of hand therapy. To compare the effectiveness of corticosteroid injections with that of i) hand therapy alone and ii) combined hand therapy/corticosteroid injection approaches in the treatment of de Quervain's disease. Searches of key databases were performed to identify experimental studies published between January 1950 and November 2014. Outcome measures included treatment success, pain, quality of life, and function. Both corticosteroid injections and hand therapy improved pain and function from baseline, but between-group differences were not significant (across 6 studies). However, significantly more participants were treated successfully when combined orthosis/corticosteroid injection approaches were compared to i) orthoses (RR 0.53, 95% CI 0.35-0.80) and ii) injections alone (RR 0.76, 95% CI 0.64-0.89). Combined orthosis/corticosteroid injection approaches are more effective than either intervention alone in the treatment of de Quervain's disease. 1a.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 06-08-2021
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 31-07-2019
DOI: 10.2196/12632
Abstract: Young people with refugee experiences are widely acknowledged as encountering multiple disadvantages that affect their school completion and retention, university entry, and subsequent employment. This paper discusses the rationale for and protocol of a mixed methods investigation focusing on improving education and employment outcomes among refugee background youth aged 15 to 24 years from three focus regions: the Middle East (Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Syria), South Asia (Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar/Burma, Pakistan) and Africa (Sudan, South Sudan, Liberia, Ethiopia, Somalia, DR Congo). The rationale of the project is to identify the facilitators and barriers to successful transition from school to further education and employment investigate participant awareness of support systems available when faced with education and employment difficulties redress the disadvantages encountered by refugee background youth and bridge the gap between research, policy, and practice in relation to social inclusion and participation. The study involves collecting survey data from 600 youth followed by in idual interviews with a subset of 60 youth, their parents rimary caregivers, and their teachers. A cross-sectional survey will assess facilitators and barriers to successful transition from school to further education and employment. In idual interviews will provide context-rich data on key issues relevant to education and employment outcomes. The study began in 2016 and is due for completion by the end of 2019. The quantitative survey has been conducted with 635 participants and was closed in March 2019. The qualitative interview stage is ongoing, and the current total in April 2019 is 93 participants including educators, youth, and family members of the youth. Analysis and presentation of results will be available in 2020. Some preliminary findings will be available during the late half of 2019. This project will contribute new and unique insights to knowledge in relation to key factors influencing education and employment outcomes among refugee youth. This research will enable effective planning for the needs of some of Australia’s most disadvantaged and marginalized young people, leading to a sustainable improvement in the education and employability of young refugees. DERR1-10.2196/12632
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 28-08-2013
DOI: 10.1002/JOB.1821
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 2016
Publisher: University of South Australia
Date: 2019
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 2019
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 2019
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 04-03-2021
Publisher: Emerald
Date: 04-05-2010
DOI: 10.1108/13527601011038714
Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to examine the causes and consequences of job stress in Malaysia and make a comparison between Western and Eastern perspectives. A grounded theory approach was used to develop a lay representation of Malay people's descriptions of their experiences at work, including job stress. Interviews were conducted with 48 employees in Malaysia, using six semi‐structured interview questions adopted from Kinman and Jones and translated into the Malay language, as a guide. Although most respondents perceived that in idual factors play an important role in work stress, organizational factors seemed to be the dominant factor identified that contributes to work stress. Respondents also perceived the in idual as key to stress reduction rather than management interventions. A new concept emerged in this study that was related to external factors impinging on work (such as globalization). Organizations should formulate strategies to prevent job stress among employees. They must also be alert to the impact of external factors that are now common in the Malay workplace. Research of job stress in employees in Eastern cultures is rare. The paper provides in‐depth preliminary research which will lead to further investigations of job stress in Eastern workplace settings.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 21-05-2009
DOI: 10.1111/J.1440-1584.2009.01059.X
Abstract: 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. Thematic analysis of in-depth interviews. The Riverland of South Australia. Sixteen citrus growers (12 male, 4 female) from eight Riverland towns. 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. 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. 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.
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 2019
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 2019
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 2019
Publisher: University of South Australia
Date: 2019
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Date: 11-2007
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 2019
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 15-07-2019
DOI: 10.1002/CPT.1544
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 03-2001
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 18-02-2022
DOI: 10.3389/FPSYG.2021.759226
Abstract: The future of work is forcing the world to adjust to a new paradigm of working. New skills will be required to create and adopt new technology and working methods. Additionally, cognitive skills, particularly creative problem-solving , will be highly sought after. The future of work paradigm has threatened many occupations but bolstered others such as engineering. Engineers must keep up to date with the technological and cognitive demands brought on by the future of work. Using an exploratory mixed-methods approach, our study sought to make sense of how engineers understand and use creative problem solving. We found significant associations between engineers’ implicit knowledge of creativity, exemplified creative problem solving, and the perceived value of creativity. We considered that the work environment is a potential facilitator of creative problem-solving. We used an innovative exceptional cases analysis and found that the highest functioning engineers in terms of knowledge, skills, and perceived value of creativity, also reported working in places that facilitate psychosocially safe environments to support creativity. We propose a new theoretical framework for a creative environment by integrating the Four Ps (Person, Process, Product, and Press) and psychosocial safety climate theory that management could apply to facilitate creative problem solving. Through the acquisition of knowledge to engage in creative problem solving as in iduals or a team, a perception of value must be present to enforce the benefit of creativity to the engineering role. The future of work paradigm requires that organisations provide an environment, a psychosocially safe climate, for engineers to grow and hone their sought-after skills that artificial technologies cannot currently replace.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2016
DOI: 10.1016/J.JPSYCHORES.2016.09.008
Abstract: Epidemiological evidence suggests that work stress is associated with suicidal ideation (SI). However, only few studies in this area have drawn on well-established theoretical work stress models (i.e., the job-demand-control [JDC] model, the effort-reward-imbalance [ERI] model, and the model of organizational injustice [OJ]). Utilization of such models allows though for theory-based assessments and workplace interventions. Since evidence on those models' relationship with suicide-related outcomes is currently inconclusive (with regard to JDC), markedly sparse (OJ) or lacking (ERI), we aimed to provide additional or initial evidence. We drew on original data from six cross-sectional studies, which were conducted in four countries (i.e., South Korea, China, Australia, and Germany). Work stress was measured by established questionnaires and was categorized into tertiles. In each study, SI was assessed by either one or two items taken from validated scales. Associations of work stress with SI were estimated for each study and were pooled across studies using multivariate random-effects logistic modeling. In the pooled analyses (n=12,422) all three work stress models were significantly associated with SI with odds ratios fluctuating around 2. For instance, the pooled odds ratios for highest versus lowest work stress exposure in terms of job strain, OJ, and ERI equalled 1.91 (95% confidence interval [CI]=1.52, 2.41), 1.98 (95% CI=1.48, 2.65), and 2.77 (95% CI=1.57, 4.88), respectively. Patterns of associations were largely consistent across the in idual studies. Our study provides robust evidence of a positive association between work stress and SI.
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 2019
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Date: 2000
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 2019
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 2019
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 2019
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 2019
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Date: 2014
DOI: 10.1037/A0036599
Abstract: This multilevel longitudinal study investigates a newly identified climate construct, psychosocial safety climate (PSC), as a precursor to job characteristics (e.g., emotional demands), and psychological outcomes (i.e., emotional exhaustion and depression). We argued that PSC, as an organizational climate construct, has cross-level effects on in idually perceived job design and psychological outcomes. We hypothesized a mediation process between PSC and emotional exhaustion particularly through emotional demands. In sequence, we predicted that emotional exhaustion would predict depression. At Time 1, data were collected from employees in 36 Malaysian private sector organizations (80% responses rate), n = 253 (56%), and at Time 2 from 27 organizations (60%) and n = 117 (46%). Using hierarchical linear modeling (HLM), we found that there were cross-level effects of PSC Time 1 on emotional demands Time 2 and emotional exhaustion Time 2, but not on depression Time 2, across a 3-month time lag. We found evidence for a lagged mediated effect emotional demands mediated the relationship between PSC and emotional exhaustion. Emotional exhaustion did not predict depression. Finally, our results suggest that PSC is an important organizational climate construct, and acts to reduce employee psychological problems in the workplace, via working conditions.
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 2019
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 2019
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 2019
Publisher: Emerald
Date: 30-11-2010
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 23-03-2018
DOI: 10.1111/JOOP.12211
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 10-08-2015
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 29-06-2023
DOI: 10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0287192
Abstract: Pro-inflammatory molecules are thought to underpin the development of chronic low back pain (LBP). Although research has begun to explore the association between pro-inflammatory molecules in acute LBP and long-term outcome, no study has explored the role of anti-inflammatory molecules. We aimed to explore whether levels of systemic pro- and anti-inflammatory molecules 1) changed over a period of six months from the onset of acute LBP 2) differed between people who were recovered (N = 11) and unrecovered (N = 24) from their episode of LBP at six months 3) baseline psychological factors were related to inflammatory molecule serum concentrations at baseline, three and six months. We retrospectively included participants with acute LBP included from a larger prospective trial and examined blood s les for the measurement of pro- and anti-inflammatory molecules and measures of pain, disability, and psychological factors at baseline, three and six months. The serum concentrations of pro- and anti-inflammatory molecules did not differ over time when compared between participants who recovered and those who did not recover at six-month follow-up. At three months, the unrecovered group had higher interleukin (IL)-8 and IL-10 serum concentrations than the recovered group. Baseline psychological factors were not related to inflammatory molecules at any time point. This exploratory study showed that levels of systemic inflammatory molecules did not change over the course of LBP, irrespective of whether people were recovered or unrecovered at six months. There was no relationship between acute-stage psychological factors and systemic inflammatory molecules. Further investigation is needed to elucidate the contribution of pro- and anti-inflammatory molecules to long-term LBP outcome.
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 12-2019
DOI: 10.1136/BMJOPEN-2019-035792
Abstract: Why some people develop chronic pain following an acute episode of low back pain is unknown. Recent cross-sectional studies have suggested a relationship between aberrant sensorimotor cortex activity and pain persistence. The UPWaRD (Understanding persistent Pain Where it ResiDes) cohort study is the first prospective, longitudinal investigation of sensorimotor cortex activity in low back pain. This paper describes the development of a causal model and statistical analysis plan for investigating the causal effect of sensorimotor cortex activity on the development of chronic low back pain. Sensorimotor cortex activity was assessed within 6 weeks of low back pain onset using somatosensory evoked potentials and transcranial magnetic stimulation mapping techniques. Chronic low back pain is defined as ongoing pain (Numerical Rating score ≥1) or disability (Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire score ≥3) at 6 months follow-up. Variables that could confound the relationship between sensorimotor cortex activity and chronic low back pain were identified using a directed acyclic graph and content expertise was used to specify known causal paths. The statistical model was developed ‘a priori’ to control for confounding variables identified in the directed acyclic graph, allowing an unbiased estimate of the causal effect of sensorimotor activity in acute low back pain on the development of chronic pain. The statistical analysis plan was finalised prior to follow-up of all participants and initiation of analysis. Ethical approval has been obtained from Western Sydney University Human Research Ethics Committee (H10465) and from Neuroscience Research Australia (SSA: 16/002). Dissemination will occur through presentations at national and international conferences and publications in international peer-reviewed journals. ACTRN12619000002189 (retrospectively registered)
Start Date: 2010
End Date: 2012
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityStart Date: 2015
End Date: 2018
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityStart Date: 2008
End Date: 2011
Funder: Australian Research Council
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