A Comparison of the Self-Perceived Organisational and Social Work Environment among Swedish Occupational Therapists in Different Job Sectors: An Observational Study
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Participants
2.2. Data Collection
- -
- Somatic specialist health care (n = 572)
- -
- Elderly care (n = 1070)
- -
- Habilitation (n = 265)
- -
- Psychiatric health care (n = 278)
- -
- Primary health care (n = 387)
- -
- University (n = 76)
2.3. Statistical Analysis
3. Results
3.1. Workload
3.2. Control
3.3. Reward
3.4. Community in the Workplace
3.5. Justice
3.6. Values
4. Discussion
Strengths and Limitations
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
- Försäkringskassan. Sjukfrånvaro i psykiatriska diagnoser. En registerstudie av Sveriges Arbetande Befolkning i Åldern 20-69 år [Sick Leave in Psychiatric Diagnoses. A Register-Based Study of the Swedish Working Population between 20–69 Years old]. Socialförsäkringsrapport [Social Insurance Report]. 2020. Available online: https://www.forsakringskassan.se/statistik-och-analys/sjuk/statistik-om-sjukpenning-och-rehabiliteringspenning (accessed on 10 May 2021).
- Försäkringskassan. Socialförsäkringen i Siffror 2021 [Social Insurance in Numbers 2021]. 2021. Available online: https://www.forsakringskassan.se/nyhetsarkiv/nyheter-press/2021-06-29-socialforsakringen-i-siffror-2021 (accessed on 10 May 2021).
- Peterson, U.; Demerouti, E.; Bergström, G.; Samuelsson, M.; Åsberg, M.; Nygren, Å. Burnout and physical and mental health among Swedish healthcare workers. J. Adv. Nurs. 2008, 68, 84–95. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Afa Försäkring. Allvarliga Arbetsskador och Långvarig Sjukfrånvaro [Serious Work Injury and Long-Term Sick Leave]. Afa Insurance. 2021. Available online: https://www.afaforsakring.se/nyhetsrum/seminarier/seminarier-2021/ny-rapport-allvarliga-arbetsskador-och-langvarig-sjukfranvaro--2021/ (accessed on 10 May 2021).
- Håkansson, C.; Lexén, A. The combination of psychosocial working conditions, occupational balance and sociodemographic characteristics and their associations with no or negligible stress symptoms among Swedish occupational therapists—A cross-sectional study. BMC Health Serv. Res. 2021, 21, 471. [Google Scholar]
- Duchaine, C.S.; Aubé, K.; Gilbert-Ouimet, M.; Vézina, M.; Ndjaboué, R.; Massamba, V.; Talbot, D.; Lavigne-Robichaud, M.; Trudel, X.; Pena-Gralle, A.B. Psychosocial stressors at work and the risk of sickness absence due to a diagnosed mental disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Psychiatry 2020, 77, 842–851. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Dahlfors, Å.; Jonsson, C. (Eds.) Den Organisatoriska och Sociala Arbetsmiljön—Viktiga Pusselbitar i en God Arbetsmiljö. In Vägledning Till Arbetsmiljöverkets Föreskrifter om Organisatorisk och Social Arbetsmiljö; AFS 2014:4 [The Organisational and Social Work Environment—Important Pieces of the Puzzle in a Good Work Environment—Guidance to the Work Environment Authority’s Regulations on Organisational and Social Work Environment, AFS 2015:4]; Arbetsmiljöverket: Solna, Sweden, 2016. [Google Scholar]
- Lexén, A.; Kåhlin, I.; Erlandsson, L.K.; Håkansson, C. Occupational health among Swedish occupational therapists: A cross-sectional study. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 10. [Google Scholar]
- Porter, S.; Lexén, A. Swedish occupational therapists’ considerations for leaving their profession: Outcomes from a national survey. Scand. J. Occup. 2021, 29, 79–88. [Google Scholar]
- Lexén, A.; Kalsås, K.; Liiri, J.; Håkansson, C. Perceived job strain among Swedish occupational therapists with less than 10 years of work experience. Scand. J. Occup. 2021, 28, 304–312. [Google Scholar]
- Gupta, S.; Paterson, M.L.; Lysaght, R.M.; Von Zweck, C.M. Experiences of burnout and coping strategies utilized by occupational therapists. Can. J. Occup. 2012, 79, 86–95. [Google Scholar]
- Scanlan, J.N.; Meredith, P.; Poulsen, A.A. Enhancing retention of occupational therapists working in mental health: Relationships between wellbeing at work and turnover intention. Aust. Occup. J. 2013, 60, 395–403. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Scanlan, J.N.; Still, M. Job satisfaction, burnout and turnover intention in occupational therapists working in mental health. Aust. Occup. J. 2013, 60, 310–318. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Abaoglu, H.; Demirok, T.; Kayıhan, H. Burnout and its relationship with work-related factors among occupational therapists working in public sector in Turkey. Scand. J. Occup. 2021, 28, 294–303. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Kim, J.H.; Kim, A.R.; Kim, M.G.; Kim, C.H.; Lee, K.H.; Park, D.; Hwang, J.M. Burnout syndrome and work-related stress in physical and occupational therapists working in different types of hospitals: Which group is the most vulnerable? Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 5001. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Wannstrom, I.; Peterson, U.; Åsberg, M.; Nygren, Å.; Gustavsson, J.P. Psychometric properties of scales in the General Nordic Questionnaire for Psychological and Social Factors at Work (QPS): Confirmatory factor analysis and prediction of certified long-term sickness absence. Scand. J. Psychol. 2009, 50, 231–244. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Dallner, M.; Lindström, K.; Elo, A.-L.; Skogstad, A.; Gamberale, F.; Hottinen, V.; Hottinen, S.; ∅rhede, E. Användarmanual för QPS Nordic. Frågeformulär om Psykologiska och Sociala Faktorer i Arbetslivet Utprovat i Danmark, Finland, Norge och Sverige [User manual for the QPS Nordic. Questionnaire about Psychological and Social Work Environmental Factors Tried in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden]; Arbetslivsinstitutet: Stockholm, Sweden, 2000. [Google Scholar]
- Scanlan, J.N.; Hazelton, T. Relationships between job satisfaction, burnout, professional identity and meaningfulness of work activities for occupational therapists working in mental health. Aust. Occup. J. 2019, 66, 581–590. [Google Scholar]
- Urbina-Garcia, A. What do we know about university academics’ mental health? A systematic literature review. Stress Health 2020, 36, 563–585. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Petrie, K.; Joyce, S.; Tan, L.; Henderson, M.; Johnson, A.; Nguyen, H.; Modini, M.; Growth, M.; Glozier, N.; Harvey, S.B. A framework to create more mentally healthy workplaces: A viewpoint. Aust. N. Z. J. Psychiatry 2018, 52, 15–23. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Joyce, K.; Pabayo, R.; Critchley, J.A.; Bambra, C. Flexible working conditions and their effects on employee health and wellbeing. Cochrane Database Syst. Rev. 2010, 2, CD008009. [Google Scholar]
- Kelloway, E.K.; Turner, N.; Barling, J.; Loughlin, C. Transformational leadership and employee psychological well-being: The mediating role of employee trust in leadership. Work. Stress 2012, 26, 39–55. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Wessley, S.; Bryant, R.A.; Greenberg, N.; Earnshaw, M.; Sharpley, J.; Hughes, J.H. Does psychoeducation help prevent post traumatic psychological distress? Psychiatry 2008, 71, 287–302. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Tan, L.; Wang, M.J.; Modini, M.; Joyce, S.; Mykletun, A.; Christensen, H.; Harvey, S.B. Preventing the development of depression at work: A systematic review and meta-analysis of universal interventions in the workplace. BMC Med. 2014, 1, 74. [Google Scholar]
- Grant, A.M.; Curtayne, L.; Burton, G. Executive coaching enhances goal attainment, resilience and workplace well-being: A randomised controlled study. J. Posit. Psychol. 2009, 4, 396–407. [Google Scholar]
- Rosvall, M.; Grahn, M.; Modén, B.; Merlo, J. Hälsoförhållanden i Skåne. Folkhälsoenkät Skåne 2008 [Health conditions in Skåne. Public Health Survey Skåne 2008]; Sweden Prinfo Grafiskt Center: Malmö, Sweden, 2009. [Google Scholar]
- Persson, R.; Cleal, B.; Jakobsen, M.O.; Viladsen, E.; Andersen, L.L. Reasons for using workplace wellness services: Cross-sectional study among 6000 employees. Scand. J. Public Health 2018, 46, 347–357. [Google Scholar] [PubMed]
- Persson, R.; Leo, U.; Arvidsson, I.; Håkansson, C.; Nilsson, K.; Österberg, K. Prevalence of exhaustion symptoms and associations with school level, length of work experience and gender: A nationwide cross-sectional study of Swedish principals. BMC Public Health 2021, 21, 331. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Workload | Distribution of work tasks over time Degree of distracting disturbances Degree of work obligations distressing personal life Complaint handling |
Control | Goals and areas of responsibility The ability of the occupational therapists to impact their workload The ability of occupational therapists to impact their work rate The ability of occupational therapists to impact resource allocation The ability of occupational therapists to impact their decisions |
Community in the workplace | Support from colleagues and managers Occurrence of conflicts at the workplace Environment concerning communication |
Reward | Appreciation from managers Salary Encouragement |
Justice | Impartiality from managers Managers’ willingness to prioritise the handling of obstacles |
Values | Working tasks in conflict with personal values Would recommend my workplace to a friend My personal values are comparable to the values of the workplace Trust in the management’s ability to handle the future of the workplace |
n | (%) | |
---|---|---|
Gender 1 | ||
Female | 2509 | 95.1 |
Male | 124 | 4.7 |
Other | 5 | 0.2 |
Age groups (years) 2 | ||
≤29 | 315 | 12.0 |
30–39 | 613 | 23.4 |
40–49 | 704 | 26.9 |
50–59 | 695 | 26.6 |
≥60 | 288 | 11.0 |
Experience as an occupational therapist (years) 3 | ||
≤10 | 864 | 33.1 |
11–19 | 705 | 27.0 |
20–29 | 614 | 23.5 |
30–39 | 373 | 14.3 |
≥40 | 58 | 2.2 |
Percentage of hours worked full-time 4 | ||
≤75% | 276 | 11.0 |
≥76% | 2228 | 89.0 |
Work Characteristics | M (SD) |
---|---|
Favourable workload | |
Somatic specialist health care | 3.32 (0.68) |
Elderly care | 3.17 (0.68) |
Habilitation | 2.97 (0.76) |
Psychiatric health care | 3.27 (0.74) |
Primary health care | 3.08 (0.71) |
University | 2.84 (0.77) |
Control | |
Somatic specialist health care | 3.50 (0.58) |
Elderly care | 3.37 (0.60) |
Habilitation | 3.39 (0.57) |
Psychiatric health care | 3.46 (0.60) |
Primary health care | 3.39 (0.58) |
University | 3.49 (0.58) |
Reward | |
Somatic specialist health care | 2.67 (1.01) |
Elderly care | 2.46 (1.00) |
Habilitation | 2.49 (0.93) |
Psychiatric health care | 2.47 (1.04) |
Primary health care | 2.63 (1.02) |
University | 2.78 (1.06) |
Community in the workplace | |
Somatic specialist health care | 3.82 (0.63) |
Elderly care | 3.86 (0.68) |
Habilitation | 3.88 (0.59) |
Psychiatric health care | 3.66 (0.67) |
Primary health care | 3.97 (0.64) |
University | 3.68 (0.72) |
Justice | |
Somatic specialist health care | 3.34 (0.83) |
Elderly care | 3.20 (0.84) |
Habilitation | 3.27 (0.78) |
Psychiatric health care | 3.05 (0.86) |
Primary health care | 3.30 (0.80) |
University | 3.37 (0.80) |
Values | |
Somatic specialist health care | 3.46 (0.74) |
Elderly care | 3.40 (0.76) |
Habilitation | 3.40 (0.73) |
Psychiatric health care | 3.17 (0.84) |
Primary health care | 3.45 (0.76) |
University | 3.84 (0.70) |
Disclaimer/Publisher’s Note: The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s). MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content. |
© 2023 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Share and Cite
Dahlbäck, E.; Håkansson, C. A Comparison of the Self-Perceived Organisational and Social Work Environment among Swedish Occupational Therapists in Different Job Sectors: An Observational Study. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20, 3009. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043009
Dahlbäck E, Håkansson C. A Comparison of the Self-Perceived Organisational and Social Work Environment among Swedish Occupational Therapists in Different Job Sectors: An Observational Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2023; 20(4):3009. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043009
Chicago/Turabian StyleDahlbäck, Elisabeth, and Carita Håkansson. 2023. "A Comparison of the Self-Perceived Organisational and Social Work Environment among Swedish Occupational Therapists in Different Job Sectors: An Observational Study" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 20, no. 4: 3009. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043009