Drawing upon the Job Demand-Control (JDC) model, this study investigates differences in work-related stress between the self-employed and wage workers. The JDC model postulates that job demand ...increases work-related stress, whereas job control reduces it (also by weakening the effect of job demand on work-related stress). Based on this model, we predict that the self-employed experience less work-related stress than wage workers. Empirical analysis of a longitudinal sample from Australia (2005–2013) confirms our expectations and demonstrates that job control fully mediates the negative relationship between self-employment and work-related stress. Further analyses show that self-employed individuals with employees experience more work-related stress than those without employees because of higher job demand.
•The Job Demand-Control model is used to understand origins of work-related stress.•A longitudinal Australian sample (HILDA; 2005–2013) is analyzed.•The self-employed report significantly less work-related stress than wage workers.•Job control fully mediates the relationship between self-employment and stress.•The self-employed with employees report more stress than those without employees.
Neurosurgeons demonstrate some of the highest levels of burnout among surgeons, yet little research has been done to understand the underlying stressors that neurosurgeons and trainees experience and ...the emotional responses to them. Our goal was to conduct a feasibility study identifying job stressors and emotional responses among neurosurgeons rather than generalize findings across the profession.
Emphasizing a qualitative approach in this feasibility and descriptive study, we strategically selected a small sample of neurosurgical attendings, residents, and fellows at 2 United States academic neurosurgical departments to ensure an in-depth analysis laying the groundwork for future extensive research. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire regarding work-related stressors and high- and low-arousal emotional responses to these stressors, as well as a standardized Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale. Both quantitative and qualitative analyses evaluating types of stressors and emotional responses reported were assessed based on participant training level.
Participants identified 3 main stressors: 1) administrative deficiencies; 2) delivering bad news/saving lives; and 3) work-life balance. A low frequency of negative emotional responses was reported, but those reported were mainly high-arousal emotions. Limited prior training in coping strategies was also reported. We also found that residents, fellows, and faculty surgeons reported about work stressors and coping strategies differently.
The results of our study provide an understanding of neurosurgical professionals' unique emotional landscape, emphasizing the need for reforms in administrative practices, enhanced, healthy coping strategies, and career stage-specific mental health support.
A systematic review of the available evidence examining the cost of work-related stress (WRS) would yield important insights into the magnitude of this social phenomenon. The objective of this review ...was to collate, extract, and synthesize economic evaluations of the cost of WRS to society. A research protocol was developed. Included cost-of-illness (COI) studies estimated the cost of WRS at a societal level, and were published in English, French or German. Searches were carried out in ingentaconnect, EBSCO, JSTOR, Science Direct, Web of Knowledge, Google, and Google scholar. Included studies were assessed against 10 COI quality assessment criteria. Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed. These originated from Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the EU-15. The total estimated cost of WRS was observed to be considerable and ranged substantially from US$221.13 million to $187 billion. Productivity related losses were observed to proportionally contribute the majority of the total cost of WRS (between 70 to 90%), with health care and medical costs constituting the remaining 10 to 30%. The evidence reviewed here suggests a sizable financial burden imposed by WRS on society. The observed range of cost estimates was understood to be attributable to variations in definitions of WRS; the number and type of costs estimated; and, in how production loss was estimated. It is postulated that the cost estimates identified by this review are likely conservative because of narrow definitions of WRS and the exclusion of diverse range of cost components.
Aim
To describe experiences of work‐related stress, stress reactions and coping strategies among registered nurses (RNs) in the ambulance service (AS).
Design
A descriptive and qualitative design.
...Methods
Participants were recruited from eight different ambulance stations from different geographical locations in central Sweden. Data were collected from 14 RNs during the period from January 2022 to May 2022 using a semi‐structured interview guide. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyse data using an abductive approach.
Results
Three categories describe the RNs' experiences; (1) Situations that cause work‐related stress, (2) Reactions and feelings that occur and (3) Management of work‐related stress. These three main categories included a total of 12 subcategories. Work‐related stress was experienced when participants were a part of traumatic events or experienced insufficient cooperation or a disturbing event in the work environment. The different causes lead to different kinds of reactions with feelings of frustration, fear and loneliness being prominent. To manage the work‐related stress, RNs used different kinds of strategies and support from colleagues or lack thereof seemed to have a major impact.
Conclusions
Findings revealed the importance of having competent colleagues in the AS. Working with a competent colleague can reduce experiences of stress and prevent feelings of loneliness. It is important for the AS to provide stress‐reduction support, to promote cooperation and to maintain and develop RNs' professional competence to ensure quality care and patient safety in the AS.
Nursing is a stressful occupation, and consequently, nurses are at risk for work-related burnout. This is highly problematic, as numerous negative consequences are associated with burnout. Most ...notably, burnout may result in nurses leaving the profession, thereby exacerbating the nursing shortage. The purpose of the present study was to advance the understanding of burnout in the nursing profession. Specifically, three types of work engagement (i.e., vigor, dedication, and absorption) and resiliency were hypothesized to mediate the relationship between work-related stress and burnout. Nurses and nursing students were recruited through a college and a state nursing association, and participants (N = 76) completed a series of online surveys. Mediation models were assessed using multiple regression analyses and the bootstrapping method of testing indirect effects. Results indicated that vigor, dedication, absorption, and resiliency partially mediated the relationship between work-related stress and burnout, although the exact pattern of results varied depending on the specific type of burnout (Emotional Exhaustion, Depersonalization, and Reduced Personal Accomplishment). These results could be useful in helping to prevent burnout in the nursing profession and should be taken into consideration when designing employee training and support programs.
To investigate the associations between midlife work-related stress and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), dementia, and Alzheimer's disease later in life, in a large representative population.
...Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging and Dementia (CAIDE) study participants were randomly selected from independent population-based surveys (mean age 50 years). A random sample of 2,000 individuals was invited for two reexaminations including cognitive tests (at mean age 71 and mean age 78), and 1,511 subjects participated in at least one reexamination (mean follow-up 28.5 years). Work-related stress was measured using two questions on work demands that were administered in midlife. Analyses adjusted for important confounders.
Higher levels of midlife work-related stress were associated with higher risk of MCI (odds ratio OR, 1.38; 95% confidence interval CI, 1.08-1.76), dementia (OR, 1.53; CI, 1.13-2.07), and Alzheimer's disease (OR, 1.55; CI, 1.19-2.36) at the first follow-up among the CAIDE participants. Results remained significant after adjusting for several possible confounders. Work-related stress was not associated with MCI and dementia during the extended follow-up.
Midlife work-related stress increases the risk for MCI, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease in later life. The association was not seen after the extended follow-up possibly reflecting selective survival/participation, heterogeneity in dementia among the oldest old, and a critical time window for the effects of midlife stress.
Organizations, employees, and individuals suffer from adverse outcomes due to a lack of occupational health, impacting everything from organizational performance to psychological and physical health, ...and they are a prevalent phenomenon for various jobs, including teaching. The aims of the current study are two‐fold: to determine the state of occupational health (i) and its structure among 470 Turkish teachers at all school levels, including 338 female teachers (71.9%) and 132 male teachers (28.1%), specifically in terms of stress, the depressed mood at work, and organizational commitment variables (ii). A structural model for occupational health is developed and examined through the AMOS 22 program. The findings of this study indicate that stress predicts a negative impact on organizational commitment (−0.42), whereas it has a positive effect on depressed mood at work (0.74). Additionally, organizational commitment is shown to have a negative impact on depressed mood at work (−0.15). Overall, policymakers, school administrators, and leaders should prioritize strategies to reduce stress, create a healthier work environment, and address the need for proactive efforts to promote a positive emotional climate that improves teacher occupational health. Additionally, further research should explore the other factors that enable to prevent and reduce depression mood at work.
Practitioner Points
The depression mood of Turkish teachers is at low level while they experience medium stress and organizational commitment.
The higher work‐related stress leads to an increase in the depressed mood of teachers.
Organizational commitment of teachers affects significantly and negatively their depression mood in the workplace.
Sole employed mothers and their families face numerous challenges. Yet, the unprecedented circumstances of the COVID‐19 pandemic may be adding additional risk to the already precarious day‐to‐day ...reality of this population. Thus, we examine the implications of this crisis for the mental health and job‐related well‐being of both sole and partnered working mothers. Participants were 206 mothers who continued to work during the pandemic. A moderated mediation model was analyzed. Work‐family conflict (WFC) during the pandemic differentially related to mothers’ parenting stress, based on romantic partnership status; when mothers were sole parents, the relationship between WFC and parenting stress was exacerbated. Moreover, this stress mediated the relationship between WFC and both poor mental health and decreased work engagement for sole employed mothers. Findings broaden our understanding of the implications of the COVID‐19 pandemic for sole and partnered employed mothers, and how this crisis may be increasing disparities between working sole‐parent and dual‐partner families.
Purpose
Recent intervention research for burnout amongst those working in health and social care contexts has found acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) interventions to be of use but has provided ...less clarity on the role of psychological flexibility (a key ACT construct). This study further evaluated the usefulness of ACT for burnout and work‐engagement and assessed the role of psychological flexibility in contributing to therapeutic change.
Procedure
A nonconcurrent multiple‐baseline across‐participants single‐case experimental design was used. Four participants were recruited from a homelessness organization in the East Midlands, England. The ACT‐intervention was split into three modules to reflect the three aspects of the ACT triflex, and the sequence of delivery was randomized for each participant in order to test the relationship between these aspects.
Findings
Support was found for the ACT intervention reducing exhaustion and increasing work‐engagement. Psychological Flexibility increased in all participants and was temporally related to increases in other outcome variables in some instances. Delivery of the intervention focussed on any given aspect of the ACT triflex could increase different domains of psychological flexibility.
Implications
This study adds to the growing body of research in favour of ACT interventions for burnout and adds to the understanding of psychological flexibility as a mediating variable.
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