Work - Volume 75, issue 4

Authors: Jacobs, Karen

Article Type: Editorial

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-236007

Citation: Work, vol. 75, no. 4, pp. 1099-1099, 2023

Authors: Gyllensten, Kristina | Holm, Alexander | Sandén, Helena

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Long COVID is defined by the persistence of physical and/or psychological and cognitive symptoms debuting after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Individuals affected describe impairing and debilitating symptoms sometimes making it difficult to take part in work and social life. Long COVID is likely to have an impact on the work force. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to explore workplace factors that promote and hinder work ability and return to work among individuals with long-term effects of COVID-19. METHODS: A qualitative design was used. Data were collected by semi-structured focus group interviews and analysed using inductive …thematic analysis. To increase trustworthiness, several researchers were involved in the data collection and analysis. Five focus group interviews were conducted with individuals suffering from long-term effects from COVID-19 affecting their work ability. In total, 19 individuals participated in the study, and all were working at least 50 per cent at the time of recruitment. RESULTS: Five main themes emerged from the analysis: Communication and support, Possibilities to adjust work, Acceptance of new limitations, Increased need for recovery from work and Lack of knowledge and understanding of the effects of Covid. CONCLUSION: The results suggested that it is useful to facilitate communication, support and work adjustments for individuals suffering from Long COVID. It is also important to accept limitations and fluctuations in work ability and encourage recovery during and after work. Show more

Keywords: Long COVID, work conditions, need for recovery, qualitative research

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-220541

Citation: Work, vol. 75, no. 4, pp. 1101-1112, 2023

Authors: Meyer, Samantha B. | Rotolo, Bobbi | Majowicz, Shannon | Amoako, Joyceline | Crouch, Meghan | Hopwood, Pamela | Jahangir, Yamin T. | MacEachen, Ellen

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic increased demand for app-based platform-based couriers, creating job opportunities for individuals who have lost income because of COVID-19. Through various stages of lockdown, courier workers (e.g., delivering for Uber Eats, Amazon Flex, and Lyft) provide an essential service. At the same time, this form of work poses risks for exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 virus as these workers are highly mobile and in contact with many individuals. OBJECTIVE: To explore how platform-based couriers discuss risks associated with their work during periods of high (first wave, second wave, third wave/rise in concerns regarding variants) and low …risk during the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020–2021. METHODS: We provide a narrative analysis of user posts (n  = 2,866) on Reddit during periods of interest. RESULTS: Our analysis resulted in three central findings. First, we identified changing patterns in discourse as the pandemic went on. Second, we found that the theme of risk prevailed largely in the first wave, with dialogue dominated by tips and asking for advice about how to manage risk. Third, our findings reveal a growing polarization among users during the latter phases of the study. CONCLUSION: Polarization largely focused on acceptance (or not) of public health measures and the nature of their work as independent contractors and the role/responsibility of courier companies to offer protection. Our study is the first to document risks, from the perspectives of anonymous couriers who may be unwilling to share their honest opinions and thoughts through primary data collection where anonymity is not guaranteed. Show more

Keywords: Canada, social media, occupational health, public health, qualitative research

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-220244

Citation: Work, vol. 75, no. 4, pp. 1113-1125, 2023

Authors: Göktaş, Ayşe | Varlı, Murat

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has become a major cause of stress at work. OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of self-management and self-control skills on perceived stress of employees in the COVID-19 period. METHODS: The study’s self-administered survey included demographics and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Self-Control and Self-Management Scale (SCMS). Associations with PSS were determined using a multiple variable linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Scores for stress (28.45±7.82) and self-management (55.73±12.15) were moderate for employees. Of the 181 employees, 41.43% had a mild, 52.48% had moderate, and 6.07% had severe stress levels. Stress was …significantly associated with lower self-management level. A negative relation was found between SCMS and PSS (p  = 0.000, r  = –0.320). Employees with high self-management skills had low stress levels. Employees also reported negative changes to physical activity, income and sleep. Gender, occupation, income category, compliance with COVID-related rules and self-management were associated with levels of stress (p  < 0.05). The regression model explained 24.8% of the variance in stress perception (R 2  = 0.248, F  = 11.452, p  = 0.000). Multiple linear regression analysis showed gender (β  = 5.089, 95% CI: 2.820 to 7.358, p  = 0.000) compliance with COVID-related rules (β  = 2.274, CI: 0.066 to 4.483, p  = 0.044), a decrease in income (β  = 2.051, CI: –0.64 to 4.166, p  = 0.057) and self-management (β  = -0.173, CI: –0.258 to –0.087, p  = 0.000) were significantly associated with lower scores in the stress perception. CONCLUSION: Self-control and self-management were associated with a decline in mental health. Health-promotion strategies directed at adopting or maintaining positive self-control and self-management-related behaviors should be utilized to address increases in psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Show more

Keywords: COVID-19, distress, regression model, self-control

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-220007

Citation: Work, vol. 75, no. 4, pp. 1127-1138, 2023

Authors: Salmani, Roghayeh | Kazemi, Hasan | Sarbakhsh, Parvin | Mousazadeh, Yalda

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Increased fear and anxiety among the general public following the emergence of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) can lead to hypochondriasis as well as indiscriminate use of drugs, versus the disease. OBJECTIVE: The present study was conducted to identify the frequency and causes of self-medication and hypochondriasis among students. METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 241 students of different disciplines of Khalkhal University of Medical Sciences in northwestern Iran over a period of six months. SPSS 26 software, Chi-square and Fisher tests were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: The rate of self-medication …was calculated 51%. The highest rate of self-medication was in the form of tablets (75.6%) and capsules (28.5%) and the highest type of medication was herbal medicine (59.3%) and multivitamins and complementary drugs (54.5%). The most common cause of self-medication was previous use and the effectiveness of the drug in the past (79.7%). The mean score of hypochondriasis was calculated at 21.52 (11.02) and the majority of students (49.8%) were in the healthy group. There was a statistically significant association between hypochondriasis and self-medication (p  = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Based on the findings, more than half of the participants in the study had self-medication. About 20% of students also experienced mild to moderate hypochondriasis. Therefore, it is suggested that the necessary training and support be provided to deal with the side effects of these two phenomena. Show more

Keywords: Coronavirus, drug prescription, feeling sick, side effects

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-220368

Citation: Work, vol. 75, no. 4, pp. 1139-1151, 2023

Authors: Mang, Zachary A. | Vigil, Eric D. | Beam, Jason R.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Firefighters typically undergo a 16–24-week training academy during which they perform a variety of traditional exercise programs such as cardiovascular, resistance, and concurrent training. Because of limited facility access, some fire departments seek alternative exercise programs, such as multimodal high-intensity interval training (MM-HIIT), which essentially combines resistance and interval training. OBJECTIVE: The primary purpose of this study was to assess the effect of MM-HIIT on body composition and physical fitness in firefighter recruits who completed a training academy during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. A secondary purpose was to compare the effects of MM-HIIT to previous training academies …that implemented traditional exercise programs. METHODS: Healthy and recreationally-trained recruits (n  = 12) participated in 2-3 days/week of MM-HIIT for 12 weeks and had several components of body composition and physical fitness measured before and after the program. Because of COVID-19-related gym closures, all MM-HIIT sessions were performed outdoors at a fire station with minimal equipment. These data were retroactively compared to a control group (CG) that previously completed training academies with traditional exercise programs. RESULTS: Subjects in the MM-HIIT group significantly improved several components of body composition and fitness, including fat mass, fat-free mass, body fat percentage, aerobic capacity, and muscular endurance. Moreover, there were no significant differences for any dependent variable when MM-HIIT was compared to the CG. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that MM-HIIT may serve as an effective substitute for traditional concurrent training paradigms that are typically used for firefighter academies. Show more

Keywords: Tactical strength and conditioning, time-efficient training, minimum equipment training, circuit training

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-220612

Citation: Work, vol. 75, no. 4, pp. 1153-1163, 2023

Authors: Senthanar, Sonja | Dali, Nada | Khan, Tauhid Hossain

Article Type: Review Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Refugees involuntarily arrive to Canada to escape unfavourable conditions in their home country. Employment is an important marker of integration and a foundational determinant of health yet; little is known about the employment integration experiences of refugees as a distinct group of workers in Canada. OBJECTIVE: This scoping review was completed to explore the employment experience and outcomes of refugees in Canada and to identify gaps in the literature. METHODS: Three databases were searched for peer-reviewed articles published in English over a 25-year period, 1993 to 2018, for research on refugees and employment in the …Canadian context. The research team reviewed all articles, including abstract screening, full text review and data extraction; consensus on inclusion was reached for all articles. Relevant articles were synthesized for overarching themes. RESULTS: The search strategy identified 2,723 unique articles of which 16 were included in the final sample. There was a mix of quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods studies which reported on employment rates of refugees, the quality of jobs secured, gendered differences in employment experience and differential impacts of under/unemployment on health and well-being. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that refugees in Canada do not secure jobs that are in line with their previous skills and experience leading to downward occupational mobility and poorer health with refugee women experiencing these outcomes more acutely. Research in this area with long-term outcomes and contextualized experiences is needed, as well as studies that include equity considerations such as racialization and gender. Show more

Keywords: Underemployment, occupational health, gender equity

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-220221

Citation: Work, vol. 75, no. 4, pp. 1165-1178, 2023

Authors: Willeke, Kristina | Janson, Patrick | Zink, Katharina | Tischer, Christina | Heuschmann, Peter U. | Zapf, Andreas | Wildner, Manfred | Stupp, Carolin | Keil, Thomas

Article Type: Review Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: A stringent systematic review of population-based observational studies focusing on the physical health of self-employed individuals as a basis for the development of targeted prevention strategies is lacking. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to systematically evaluate all the studies of good quality that compared the occurrence of chronic physical disorders in self-employed individuals with that of employees. METHODS: We searched three major medical databases (MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase) following the Cochrane guidelines. The quality of the studies was rated based on the slightly modified validated assessment tool that was developed by Hoy et al. …RESULTS: We included 16 population-based studies of good quality, with data from 15,369,964 participants in total. The two longitudinal evaluations of Swedish national registers with the longest follow-up periods showed increased cardiovascular mortality and incidence estimates of cardiovascular disease in self-employed individuals compared with those of white-collar (i.e., nonmanual) employees but decreased risk estimates compared with those of blue-collar (i.e., manual) workers. The results of the shorter cohort studies were heterogeneous. In cross-sectional studies, prevalence estimates for musculoskeletal, respiratory and malignant diseases were higher among self-employed individuals than among employees. CONCLUSION: The long-term cardiovascular disease risk and mortality of self-employed individuals seemed to be higher than those of white-collar employees but lower than those of blue-collar employees. As a basis for targeted prevention strategies, further longitudinal studies in different settings are required to better understand the development of physical health disorders for specific self-employment categories such as sole proprietors, small entrepreneurs, family businesses and others. Show more

Keywords: Incidence, occupational health, multiple chronic conditions, physical functional performance, physical examination

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-220145

Citation: Work, vol. 75, no. 4, pp. 1179-1198, 2023

Authors: Zeuge, Anna | Lemmer, Kristina | Klesel, Michael | Kordyaka, Bastian | Jahn, Katharina | Niehaves, Bjoern

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Many organizations are undertaking efforts to reduce the stress of (oftentimes overworked) employees. Information Technology (IT) (e.g., smartphones) has the potential to be a key instrument for reducing stress. One design-relevant factor considered to reduce stress is the concept of autonomy. Unfortunately, little research exists using autonomy as a characteristic of technology design. OBJECTIVE: Against this background, this study aimed to investigate specific autonomy-related design options with the potential to prevent stress. METHODS: In a factorial survey, this experimental study tested three design options in an overwork scenario: 1) autonomy (no intervention by design), 2) …nudge (“nudging” by design), and 3) enforcement (hard stop by design). 51 participants (mean age 38 years, 50% women, mean work experience 18 years) from the Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States of America, and Germany participated in the experiment for 330 seconds on average. To test our hypothesis, we used a two-step approach. First, a multiple linear regression was applied. Second, we carried out a one-way ANCOVA comparing the effects of our design options. RESULTS: Our results indicate that autonomy can be manipulated through technology design and is negatively correlated with stress. Additionally, the design options autonomy and nudge were associated with lower levels of perceived stress than was enforcement . CONCLUSION: The study proposes a careful use of IT and policies that limit the perceived autonomy of employees. Overall, this study offers a set of design recommendations arguing that organizations should implement technology that helps employees prevent overwork and maintain their autonomy. Show more

Keywords: Technology-induced stress, stress prevention, work autonomy, experimental study, design options, occupational stress, professional autonomy, employee workload, work-life balance, leadership

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-220177

Citation: Work, vol. 75, no. 4, pp. 1199-1213, 2023

Authors: Asplund, Sofia | Lindgren, Britt-Marie | Åström, Sture | Hedlund, Mattias | Åhlin, Johan

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Research indicates that good organizational and psychosocial environments are vital to well-functioning workplaces and employee health. Working in the municipal sector and in the rural context may contribute to more health problems, poorer organizational and psychosocial work environments, and higher sick-leave rates. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore organizational and psychosocial environmental work factors among municipal employees with or without self-rated exhaustion disorder (s-ED) in rural northern Sweden. METHODS: The Modern Work Life Questionnaire and the Self-Rated Exhaustion Disorder Scale were used among 1093 municipal employees. RESULTS: The results showed …that there were significant differences between the s-ED and the non–s-ED group in all but one of the organizational and psychosocial environmental work factors. Various demands, i.e. quantitative, emotional, intellectual, and IT demands were some factors associated with the s-ED group. Social support, resources, and time for work and reflection were some factors associated with the non–s-ED group. Both the s-ED and the non–s-ED groups assessed significantly higher emotional demands and less resources compared to national reference values. CONCLUSION: Findings from this study are relevant to a better understanding what organizational and psychosocial work environmental work factor the employer need to pay extra attention to. Addressing risk and protective factors in the work environment could tribute to promote occupational well-being, preventing exhaustion disorder and long-term sick leave among municipal employees in rural northern Sweden. Show more

Keywords: Occupational health, occupational stress, public sector, social support, workload

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-220225

Citation: Work, vol. 75, no. 4, pp. 1215-1229, 2023