Search Results (41)

Background: Burnout, defined by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment, is a major occupational health concern among healthcare professionals. Burnout has been linked to depression, anxiety, and medical errors, but its association with suicidality in healthcare settings remains insufficiently explored. Objective: To investigate the association between burnout dimensions and suicidality among healthcare professionals, and to identify occupational and demographic factors influencing this relationship. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 195 healthcare professionals in Romania, recruited through voluntary participation in an anonymized online survey. Burnout was assessed using an adapted tool inspired by the Maslach Burnout Inventory, while suicidality outcomes included suicidal ideation, self-harm, and suicide attempts. Descriptive statistics were calculated for demographic and professional variables. Pearson correlations and multivariable linear regression analyses, adjusted for age, professional experience, and shift work, were performed to evaluate associations between burnout dimensions and suicidality. Results: Emotional exhaustion (r = 0.42, p < 0.001) and depersonalization (r = 0.37, p < 0.001) were positively correlated with suicidality, while reduced personal accomplishment was negatively correlated (r = −0.29, p = 0.002). In multivariable regression, emotional exhaustion remained the only statistically significant independent predictor of suicidality after adjustment for demographic and occupational characteristics. Younger age and rotating/night-shift work were associated with higher suicidality in unadjusted analyses but were not independent predictors after multivariable adjustment. Strong correlations between burnout dimensions and physical symptoms highlighted the interplay between psychosocial strain and somatic health. Conclusions: Burnout, particularly emotional exhaustion, was independently associated with suicidality among healthcare professionals, while depersonalization demonstrated a significant unadjusted association that did not remain statistically significant after multivariable adjustment. Younger clinicians, shift workers, and those with less experience appear especially vulnerable. These findings emphasize that burnout is a multifactorial construct with both psychological and somatic dimensions, shaped by systemic workplace stressors. These findings support further evaluation of systematic screening, organizational reforms, mentorship programs, and confidential mental health support as potential components of suicide-prevention strategies for healthcare professionals. Full article

Psychosocial stressors are increasingly recognized as critical determinants of workplace safety, yet their mechanisms in construction settings remain poorly understood. This study examines how family–work conflict (FWC) is associated with safety behavior among construction workers, with mental and physical fatigue as parallel mediators and perceived supervisor support (PSS) as a moderator. Drawing on Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, cross-sectional data were gathered from 527 construction workers across three regions of Jordan and analyzed using Hayes’ PROCESS macro. The findings indicate that FWC is negatively associated with safety behavior both directly and through its positive associations with elevated fatigue levels. Supervisor support was found to attenuate the FWC-to-physical-fatigue pathway and buffer safety behavior under high-conflict conditions. These associations should be interpreted as statistical patterns consistent with the proposed theoretical model rather than evidence of causal relationships, given the cross-sectional design. Theoretically, the study extends COR theory into occupational safety by distinguishing two fatigue dimensions and demonstrating a boundary condition for resource loss. Practically, the findings support supervisor-led safety programs and organizational fatigue management as complementary strategies for addressing psychosocial risk factors in high-risk construction environments. Full article

Retail service workers face complex occupational demands across psychosocial, environmental, and physical domains; however, integrated multidomain workload assessments remain limited. A cross-sectional study among 253 retail workers used the Find My Stress Progressive Web Application (PWA)—a digital tool assessing subjective workload (Subjective Workload Index; SWI), psychosocial factors, environmental discomfort, musculoskeletal symptoms, and handgrip strength. Hierarchical multiple regression identified four significant SWI predictors: postural difficulty (β = 0.176, p = 0.012), workplace bullying (β = 0.175, p = 0.008), task duration (β = −0.179, p = 0.004), and air quality (β = 0.171, p = 0.011; Adjusted R² = 0.199, ΔR² = 0.227, p < 0.001; VIF: 1.03–1.57). Grip strength was retained as a functional capacity indicator. Sex-stratified analyses revealed distinct risk profiles: postural difficulty and task duration predicted SWI in men (Adjusted R² = 0.224); workplace bullying was the sole predictor in women (Adjusted R² = 0.170). The PWA demonstrated excellent reliability (α = 0.97) and usability (87%; n = 359). The Find My Stress PWA provides a scalable platform for multidomain stress screening. Integrated ergonomic, organisational, and environmental interventions guided by digital screening offer targeted strategies for reducing occupational workload burden in retail settings. Full article

The objective of this research was to examine the effects of sexual and generalized harassment in the workplace on risk for all-cause mortality in a sample (n = 1745) originally drawn from a university workplace and followed over a 24-year period after baseline. Eleven timepoints of data on self-reported workplace harassment were collected between October 1996 and February 2021, at time intervals ranging from one year to 13 years, and linked to mortality data (n = 249 deaths) from the National Death Index through December 2021. We used proportional hazards modeling to examine the risk for all-cause mortality associated with workplace harassment (as measured by a modified version of the Sexual Experiences Questionnaire and the Generalized Workplace Harassment Questionnaire) occurring in the previous time period. We also examined differential risk by gender for White and Black study participants. In fully adjusted models, experiencing generalized harassment (GH) was associated with significantly increased hazard of mortality at the next time point for White women (HR = 1.03, p < 0.01). Experiencing sexual harassment (SH) was associated with a trend-level increase in the hazard of next-time-point mortality for Black women (HR = 1.05, p = 0.09). Neither SH nor GH was associated with increased hazard of mortality for men. Workplace interventions to address harassment, stronger enforcement of sexual harassment policy and law, and enactment of policy and law to prevent generalized harassment and bullying may contribute to the reduction of all-cause mortality among working women. Full article

Background and Objectives: Emergency physicians practice in high-pressure environments and face occupational stressors that may affect their mental health. This study was designed to evaluate the prevalence of depression among emergency physicians in South Korea and examined environmental, sociolegal, and individual factors associated with depressive symptoms in the post-pandemic period. Materials and Methods: This nationwide cross-sectional study analyzed data from the 2025 Korean Emergency Physician Survey. Screening positive for depressive symptoms was defined as a Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) score ≥ 10, indicating moderate-to-severe depressive symptom severity. Measures included the PHQ-9, the Korean Epworth Sleepiness Scale (KESS), and the Adult APGAR, a brief self-administered instrument assessing overall wellness. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with depression after adjusting for demographic, clinical, and work-related variables. Results: Of the 1050 physicians who responded (response rate: 37.5%), 743 emergency physicians completed the PHQ-9 section (completion rate: 70.8%; mean age, 43.2 ± 7.78 years; 86.5% male), and 111 (14.9%) screened positive for depressive symptoms. Objective workload indicators, including total work hours and number of night shifts, did not differ between physicians with and without depression. However, emergency physicians screening positive for depression reported higher perceived burdens related to staffing shortages and patient-related stressors. Protective factors included being married (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.22; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.08–0.58), longer sleep duration (AOR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.50–0.86), better sleep quality (AOR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.27–0.74), fixed mealtimes (AOR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.39–0.93), and higher Adult APGAR scores (AOR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.60–0.86). Factors associated with increased odds of depression included a history of cancer (AOR, 14.63, 95% CI, 2.53–84.61), current alcohol consumption (AOR, 2.54, 95% CI, 1.14–5.68), daytime sleepiness (AOR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.04–1.31), and more frequent verbal abuse during the previous 12 months (AOR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.08–1.44). Conclusions: Depression was prevalent and was associated with perceived work burden, sleep health, lifestyle regularity, and psychosocial factors. Interventions should address sleep quality, workplace safety, and social support. Full article

Background: Healthcare professionals experience continuous biological and psychosocial stressors that may disturb oral and systemic homeostasis. Alterations in salivary secretion, mucosal immunity, and microbiome composition reflect adaptive cellular responses to chronic occupational stress. Understanding these mechanisms may provide a biological framework for resilience and wellbeing in everyday clinical practice. Objective: To narratively review the evidence linking oral cellular and molecular mechanisms—salivary biomarkers, epithelial and immune cell activity, and microbiome dynamics—with stress, fatigue, burnout, and wellbeing outcomes among healthcare professionals. Methods: This narrative review employed a PRISMA-guided literature search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Oral Health to enhance transparency and coverage across databases. Given the heterogeneity of study designs and outcomes, data were synthesized thematically without quantitative pooling or formal meta-analysis. Methodological strength was evaluated qualitatively, focusing on biomarker validity, sampling conditions, and conceptual relevance. Eligible designs included observational, experimental, and interventional studies. Results: Evidence from 99 studies suggests that chronic occupational stress elevates salivary cortisol, oxidative stress markers, and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α), while reducing protective salivary immunoglobulin A and microbiome diversity. Balanced oral immune and microbial profiles were associated with better psychological adaptation and lower fatigue indices. Conclusions: Oral cellular homeostasis offers a promising window into the biological underpinnings of occupational stress and resilience in healthcare professionals. Systematic integration of salivary and mucosal biomarkers into workplace wellbeing programs could enhance early detection of dysregulated stress physiology. Future interdisciplinary research should bridge oral biology, occupational medicine, and mental health to strengthen sustainable wellbeing strategies across the health workforce. Full article

Background/Objectives: We conducted a scoping review to map peer-reviewed evidence on occupational stress, burnout, and quality of life among radiographers and radiologic technologists and to identify measurement tools and reported consequences. Methods: Searches were conducted in Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed. Eligible studies enrolled radiographers/radiologic technologists who were healthy adults; assessed at least one target construct (occupational stress, burnout, or quality of life) using validated instruments; and used cross-sectional, experimental, quasi-experimental, longitudinal, or mixed-methods designs. Articles published from 1995 onward in English, French, Spanish, or Portuguese were considered. Two reviewers independently screened, extracted data, and appraised methodological quality using Quality Assessment with Diverse Studies (QuADS). The synthesis was narrative only. Results: Of 2701 records, 10 studies from nine countries met inclusion. Most were cross-sectional, and two used mixed methods. Sample sizes ranged from 38 to 864. Frequently used instruments included MBI-HSS, OSI-R, HSE Indicator Tool, and SOC-13. Across studies, radiographers reported high stress and burnout—particularly emotional exhaustion and depersonalization—alongside reduced quality of life in multiple domains. Recurrent stressors involved workload and staffing pressures, role demands, anxiety about radiation exposure, and limited recognition. These factors were associated with intention to leave and a lower sense of coherence. Conclusions: The evidence base is largely cross-sectional, uses heterogeneous measures, and often relies on modest samples, with overall methodological quality mostly moderate. Findings indicate a persistent psychosocial risk profile in radiography and underscore the need for organizational and managerial actions—such as workplace physical activity programs—to reduce stress and burnout and protect the quality of life in this workforce. Full article

Background: Leptin is a peptide hormone produced by white adipose tissue and is essential for the regulation of appetite and energy homeostasis. Evidence suggests that leptin concentrations may vary according to emotional and psychosocial conditions, such as occupational stress, particularly in vulnerable populations, including female workers. Accordingly, this study aimed to examine the association between occupational stress and altered serum leptin levels among female workers. Methods: A cross-sectional design was applied to a sample of 302 female workers employed in plastic manufacturing plants in southern Brazil. Serum leptin concentrations were quantified, and values exceeding 15.2 ng/mL were considered elevated. Occupational stress was measured using the short version of the Job Stress Scale. Associations between occupational stress and elevated leptin levels were estimated using Poisson regression models with robust variance adjustment. Results: The mean age of the participants was 35.4 years (SD [standard deviation] = 10.1). Elevated serum leptin levels were observed in 78.1% of the sample (95% CI: 73.5–82.8), whereas 21.9% (95% CI: 17.2–26.5) were classified as experiencing occupational stress. After controlling for relevant confounding variables, including obesity, women experiencing occupational stress showed a 15% higher probability of elevated leptin levels compared with those without occupational stress (prevalence ratio [PR] = 1.15; 95% CI: 1.02–1.30; p = 0.022). Conclusions: Occupational stress was independently linked to increased serum leptin concentrations among female workers, suggesting that psychosocial stressors in the workplace may play a role in the disruption of leptin regulation in this population. Full article

Background/Objectives: Despite extensive research on the outcomes faced by parents in contexts of political violence, as well as the protective factors that enhance their well-being, the experiences of single parents by choice (SPCs) in such circumstances have largely been neglected. This study sought to address this gap by examining the experiences of SPCs during the current phase of the Israel–Hamas war that began on 7 October 2023. Method: This qualitative study used a context-informed approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 Israeli SPCs (5 fathers and 6 mothers), including 2 displaced due to the destruction of their homes. All participants were secular Jews, predominantly middle- to upper-middle-class, aged 40–58, and had at least one child aged 15 months to 17 years. A thematic analysis method was utilized. Results: Two overarching themes emerged from the interviews, shaping participants’ wartime experiences: (1) the intensified challenges associated with parenting alone in the context of armed conflict and (2) the factors that mediated the impact of these challenges. Three key challenges identified by participants included: (1) persistent perceptions of danger and threat to life; (2) heightened financial insecurity; and (3) significant disruptions to daily routines. Three systemic-level protective factors were identified as instrumental in mitigating these challenges: (1) engagement in joint familial activities; (2) the presence of a supportive work environment; and (3) social and political engagement. These factors appeared to foster resilience and enhance participants’ psychological coping capacities amidst ongoing conflict. Conclusions: By highlighting the distinct stressors faced by SPCs in wartime and the factors mediating their impact on well-being, our findings extend the Stress Process Model to conflict settings, enhancing understanding of how single parenting is contextually shaped during major community crises. The findings may encourage clinicians and social workers to adopt a more nuanced approach when working with parents in conflict zones, enabling them to tailor interventions to the specific needs of different family structures. For SPCs, such interventions may include tele-counseling to provide psychosocial support and guidance for parents in supporting their children, without the need for childcare or travel, as well as advocacy for workplace policies that reduce financial and emotional vulnerabilities. Full article

Background/Purpose: Reproductive health and fertility outcomes are essential but often overlooked aspects of occupational well-being. Organizational dysfunction, demanding workloads, and limited workplace accommodations may negatively affect fertility, while supportive policies and inclusive cultures can mitigate risks. This review aimed to map current evidence on these relationships and their economic consequences. Methodology/Approach: A scoping review was conducted using the PCC (Population–Concept–Context) framework. Systematic searches across multiple databases identified 30 eligible studies, including quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method designs, spanning different sectors and international contexts. Findings: Four main domains emerged: shift work and circadian disruption, organizational stress and burnout, workplace flexibility and accommodations, and fertility-related policies and organizational support. Hazardous working conditions, long hours, and psychosocial stressors were consistently associated with impaired fertility, reduced fecundability, and pregnancy complications. Conversely, flexible scheduling, fertility benefits, and supportive organizational cultures were linked to improved well-being, retention, and productivity. Originality/Value: This review integrates evidence across occupational health, organizational psychology, and labor economics, offering a comprehensive overview of workplace influences on reproductive health. It highlights gaps in equity and representation—particularly for men, LGBTQ+ employees, and workers in precarious jobs—and calls for longitudinal, interdisciplinary, and intervention-based studies to inform effective workplace policies. Full article

The World Health Organization defines burnout as a syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. Similarly, workplace bullying is widely recognized as a significant psychosocial stressor and a potentially traumatic experience, frequently associated with various adverse psychological outcomes. Based on the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) Model, we conceptualized bullying at work as a demand whose detrimental impacts may be intensified by the actions of bullying bystanders who remain silent. This study investigates the relationship between workplace bullying and burnout, with a specific focus on the mediating roles of bystander silence and perceived stress. Data collected from 239 professionals working in the financial sector indicate that the effect of workplace bullying on burnout is significantly mediated by both bystander silence and perceived stress. The proposed serial mediation model underscores the importance of social and individual-level mechanisms in the development of burnout. These findings suggest that effective interventions aimed at preventing workplace bullying must be grounded in a nuanced understanding of organizational context and social dynamics. Full article

The rapid advancement in information and communication technologies (ICT) has improved workplace productivity but also introduced new psychosocial stressors. Workplace telepressure, the urge to respond quickly to work-related messages sent via digital communication tools, often erodes employees’ psychological well-being and blurs work–life boundaries. This study, grounded in the Job Demands–Resources (JD-R) model, investigates the influence mechanism between workplace telepressure and job burnout. Using data collected from 323 middle school teachers in China, results revealed that workplace telepressure significantly predicted job burnout. In addition, work-related rumination partially mediated this relationship, indicating a cognitive mechanism linking telepressure and burnout. Furthermore, perceived organizational support moderated the relationship between work-related rumination and job burnout. Specifically, when perceived support was high, the impact of rumination on burnout was weakened. These findings provide theoretical insights and practical implications for fostering healthy work environments and promoting psychological well-being in the digital era. Full article

Workplace health and safety issues have long plagued the construction industry. While safety efforts have traditionally focused on physical risks, increasing attention is being paid to mental health and work-related stressors, which can negatively affect both productivity and safety. In Saudi Arabia, the construction sector presents a unique context because of its highly diverse, multinational workforce. Workers of different nationalities often operate on the same job site, leading to potential communication barriers, cultural misunderstandings, and inconsistent safety practices, all of which may amplify stress and safety risks. This research aims to investigate the influence of work-related stressors on construction workers’ safety in Saudi Arabia and identify which stressors most significantly contribute to the risk of injury. A structured questionnaire was distributed to 349 construction workers across 16 job sites in Saudi Arabia. The survey measures ten key stressors identified in the literature, including job site demand, job control, job certainty, skill demand, social support, harassment and discrimination, conflict with supervisors, interpersonal conflict, and job satisfaction. Data were analyzed using logistic regression and Pearson correlation to examine relationships between stressors and self-reported injuries. The findings indicated that work-related stressors significantly predict workplace injury. While the first regression model showed a modest effect size, it was statistically significant. The second model identified job site demand and job satisfaction as the most influential predictors of injury risk. Work-related stressors, particularly high job demands and low job satisfaction, substantially increase the likelihood of injury among construction workers. These findings emphasize the importance of incorporating psychosocial risk management into construction safety practices in Saudi Arabia. Future studies should adopt longitudinal designs to explore causal relationships over time and include qualitative methods such as interviews to gain a deeper understanding. Additionally, factors such as nationality, organizational policies, and management style should be investigated to better understand their moderating effects on the stress–injury relationship. Full article

This sought seeks to find and examine the main stress factors and psychosocial settings that affect ambulance staff, looking at the larger problem of how these stressors impact their mental well-being and work satisfaction. The research collected data from a field survey that identified and assessed stress factors, as well as qualitative insights from interviews that examined staff perceptions of complex work conditions in emergency services. Important findings show that high-stress situations, like dealing with traumatic events, long hours, and insufficient support, are linked to higher anxiety and burnout in ambulance workers. Moreover, the study points out important features of the work environment, such as workplace relationships and organizational culture, that can either reduce or increase stress. These findings are important, as they could guide healthcare policies that seek to improve the well-being of emergency service workers, which is crucial for maintaining a strong and effective workforce in pre-hospital care. By stressing the urgent need for effective approaches and supportive work structures, this research can have wider implications for healthcare, indicating that tackling the psychosocial issues faced by ambulance staff is crucial not just for their own well-being but also for the overall quality of emergency medical services. Full article

Workplace psychosocial hazards pose significant risks to the well-being of health workers (HWs). This study aimed to explore the levels of psychosocial factors experienced by Chinese and international workers and examine associations between psychosocial factors, health-related outcomes (mental problems and general health), and turnover intention across various occupational stages. A cross-sectional study was conducted using stratified cluster sampling methods at four hospitals in southern China. Psychosocial factors, mental health, general health, and turnover intention were assessed using the Chinese version of the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire III. Multivariate linear and logistic regression analyses were conducted. A total of 1054 HWs participated in this study (response rate: 80.21%). Compared to international samples, Chinese HWs showed significant differences in nine psychosocial dimensions, particularly interpersonal relations, leadership, and the work–individual interface. Senior hospital managers reported significantly higher stress (51.09 ± 23.88, p < 0.001), sleep troubles (53.26 ± 24.92, p = 0.003), and poorer general health (57.61 ± 37.26, p = 0.035) than other occupational stages. Work–life conflict (β = 0.172), emotional demands (β = 0.132), and role clarity (β = −0.132) were the strongest predictors of mental health issues. Hiding emotions demands (β = −0.141) and leadership quality (β = 0.130) most strongly predicted general health. The turnover intention rate was 11.01%, with job satisfaction (OR = 0.964) being the strongest negative predictor. Reducing psychosocial stressors, particularly in work–life balance, role clarity, emotional demand, and leadership quality, could improve HWs’ well-being and reduce turnover intention. Full article