A pilot-study of a worksite based participatory intervention program: Its acceptability and short-term effects on work climate and attitudes in human service employees

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Nylén, Eva Charlotta^{a; *} | Lindfors, Petra^a | Ishäll, Lars^a | Göransson, Sara^a | Aronsson, Gunnar^a | Kylin, Camilla^b | Sverke, Magnus^{a; c}

Affiliations: [a] Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Sweden | [b] Department of Psychology, Karlstad University, Sweden | [c] Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, North-West University, South Africa

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Eva Charlotta Nylén, BSc, Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, SE 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden. Tel.: +46 8 16 37 97; Fax: +46 8 15 93 42; E-mail: [email protected].

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Psychosocial factors, including job demands and poor resources, have been linked to stress, health problems, and negative job attitudes. However, worksite based interventions and programs targeting psychosocial factors may change employees’ perceptions of their work climate and work attitudes. OBJECTIVE: This pilot study describes a newly developed worksite based participatory organizational intervention program that was tested in the social service sector. It is evaluated using participants’ perceptions of the intervention to investigate its acceptability as a feature of feasibility and its short-term effects on work climate factors (job demands and resources) and work-related attitudes. METHODS: Forty employees of a Swedish social service unit provided self-reports before, during, and after the intervention. RESULTS: As for effects, quantitative role overload and social support decreased while turnover intention increased. Responses to an open-ended question showed that participants considered the intervention program valuable for addressing issues relating to the psychosocial work climate. CONCLUSIONS: Although the findings are preliminary, it was possible to carry out this worksite based participatory organizational program in this particular setting. Also, the preliminary findings underscore the challenges associated with designing and implementing this type of intervention program, thus adding to the methodological discussion on implementation and evaluation.

Keywords: Job demands, job resources, psychosocial factors, prevention

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-172522

Journal: Work, vol. 56, no. 4, pp. 625-636, 2017