Research

21 pages, 2233 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Influence of Work Resources, Demands, and Organizational Culture on Job Satisfaction, Organizational Commitment, and Citizenship Behaviors of Spanish Police Officers

by Alexandra Marcos, Cristina García-Ael and Gabriela Topa

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(20), 7607; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17207607 - 19 Oct 2020

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3777

Abstract

The present study aims to analyze the influence of work demands and resources (support and control) on the attitudes and behaviors (satisfaction, organizational commitment, and organizational citizenship behaviors toward the organization, OCBO) of Spanish police officers, and to examine the potential mediating role [...] Read more.

The present study aims to analyze the influence of work demands and resources (support and control) on the attitudes and behaviors (satisfaction, organizational commitment, and organizational citizenship behaviors toward the organization, OCBO) of Spanish police officers, and to examine the potential mediating role of the flexibility-oriented organizational culture. Participants were 182 Spanish police officers. The analysis was carried out using the Smart PLS (Partial Least Squares) program. Firstly, reliability and convergent and discriminant validity were analyzed. Secondly, the structural model was evaluated. Overall, findings support the hypothesized model, except there was not a significant effect of demands and support on OCBO (Organizational Citizenship Behavior Organization-oriented). Results of the importance-performance map analysis also show that, in terms of predicted job satisfaction and organizational commitment, control and support are not so important, but both of them perform relatively well compared to the remaining constructs (demands and flexibility-oriented culture). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

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11 pages, 1407 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Indoors Artificial Lighting Conditions on Computer-Based Learning Performance

by Rui Zhang, Yalong Yang, Qiansheng Fang, Yufu Liu, Xulai Zhu, Mingyue Wang and Liangliang Su

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(7), 2537; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17072537 - 08 Apr 2020

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3231

Abstract

Lighting condition is essential to human performance. With the widespread use of computer-based learning, the performance measurements become difficult, and the effects of artificial lighting conditions towards the new learning forms are not investigated extensively. The current study conducts a subject-within experiment with [...] Read more.

Lighting condition is essential to human performance. With the widespread use of computer-based learning, the performance measurements become difficult, and the effects of artificial lighting conditions towards the new learning forms are not investigated extensively. The current study conducts a subject-within experiment with a 45-min-long online learning along with electroencephalogram (EEG)-based measurements, and a post-interview under five lighting setups respectively (300 lx, 3000 K; 300 lx, 4000 K; 300 lx, 6500 K; 500 lx, 4000 K; 1000 lx, 4000 K). Attention is chosen as the key factor to represent the learning performance. The results show that the attention of people aged in the 20s is not affected by the experimental lighting conditions. The results also demonstrate that people in high illumination at 1000 lx are more inclined to sustain attention despite the discomfort and dissatisfaction. Taking the EEG-based attention measurements and post-interview answers into consideration, lighting conditions at 300 lx, 4000 K are the recommended set points for university architectures among the investigated conditions, providing a practical basis when adjusting the lighting standard for its advantage in energy saving. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

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16 pages, 846 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Promoting Elementary Pupils’ Learning Motivation in Environmental Education with Mobile Inquiry-Oriented Ambience-Aware Fieldwork

by Morris Siu-yung Jong

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(7), 2504; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17072504 - 06 Apr 2020

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3703

Abstract

Mobile learning (M-learning) has been in high regard for motivating today’s children to learn in schools. The present initiative, which harnesses M-learning in environmental education, aims to promote elementary pupils’ learning motivation through engaging them in conducting mobile inquiry-oriented ambience-aware fieldwork (MIAF) in [...] Read more.

Mobile learning (M-learning) has been in high regard for motivating today’s children to learn in schools. The present initiative, which harnesses M-learning in environmental education, aims to promote elementary pupils’ learning motivation through engaging them in conducting mobile inquiry-oriented ambience-aware fieldwork (MIAF) in outdoor landscapes. Besides presenting the rationale and pedagogic design of the initiative, this paper reports and discusses the findings of a quasi-experiment which examined the motivational effectiveness of MIAF in comparison with the conventional inquiry-oriented fieldtrip-based learning approach’s. The experiment was grounded upon the instructional motivation theory of ARCS (Attention, Relevance, Confidence and Satisfaction), involving a total of 145 elementary pupils. Results showed that, compared to the conventional approach, MIAF had significantly positive effects on the experimental group (versus the control group) upon the constructs of “A”, “C”, and “S”, but not “R”. This study offers researchers and practitioners in the domains of environmental education and M-learning new insights into adopting mobile devices in outdoor contexts, in particular, shedding light on designing and implementing inquiry-oriented fieldtrip-based learning in the natural environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

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15 pages, 994 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Humor Styles as New Resources in a Primary Preventive Perspective: Reducing Resistance to Change for Negotiation

by Annamaria Di Fabio and Mirko Duradoni

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(7), 2485; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17072485 - 05 Apr 2020

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3719

Abstract

Reducing resistance to change is fundamental to dealing with the rapid and continuous changes of the 21st century labor market. Personality traits have been widely studied in relation to resistance to change. However, personality is not completely suitable for primary prevention intervention, since [...] Read more.

Reducing resistance to change is fundamental to dealing with the rapid and continuous changes of the 21st century labor market. Personality traits have been widely studied in relation to resistance to change. However, personality is not completely suitable for primary prevention intervention, since it does not change over time. Instead, humor styles appear to be a promising preventive resource to facilitate the negotiation process by enabling individuals to cope with the current work environment. Using a sample of 149 university students, this study analyzed the relationship between personality traits, such as extraversion and emotionality, humor styles, and resistance to change. The mediation analysis highlighted that both affiliative and self-enhancing humor styles could promote integrative negotiations within organizations in relation to change, due to their negative relationships with resistance to change. Thus, implementing dedicated interventions to increase the usage of affiliative and self-enhancing humor styles could help in lowering the failure risk in negotiation processes, supporting changes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

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21 pages, 2107 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigating the Influence of Interaction on Learning Persistence in Online Settings: Moderation or Mediation of Academic Emotions?

by Jianhui Yu, Changqin Huang, Zhongmei Han, Tao He and Ming Li

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(7), 2320; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17072320 - 30 Mar 2020

Cited by 60 | Viewed by 5946

Abstract

Learning persistence is a critical element for successful online learning. The evidence provided by psychologists and educators has shown that students’ interaction (student-student (SS) interaction, student-instructor (SI) interaction, and student-content (SC) interaction) significantly affects their learning persistence, which is also related to their [...] Read more.

Learning persistence is a critical element for successful online learning. The evidence provided by psychologists and educators has shown that students’ interaction (student-student (SS) interaction, student-instructor (SI) interaction, and student-content (SC) interaction) significantly affects their learning persistence, which is also related to their academic emotions. However, few studies explore the relations among students’ interaction, academic emotions and learning persistence in online learning environments. Furthermore, no research has focused on multi-dimensional students’ interaction and specific academic emotions. Based on person-environment interaction model and transactional distance theory, this study investigates the relationship between students’ interaction and learning persistence from the perspective of moderation and mediation of academic emotions including enjoyment, boredom, and anxiety. Data were collected from 339 students who had online learning experience in China. AMOS 22.0 (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA) and SPSS 22.0 (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA) were employed to analyze the mediating and moderating effects of academic emotions, respectively. The results revealed that students’ interaction and academic emotions directly related to learning persistence. Specifically, enjoyment, anxiety and boredom had significant mediating and moderating effects on the relationship between students’ interaction and learning persistence. Based on these findings, we further discussed the theoretical and practical implications on how to facilitate students’ learning persistence in online learning environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

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20 pages, 1136 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Gig Workers’ Psychological Contract Fulfillment on Their Task Performance in a Sharing Economy—A Perspective from the Mediation of Organizational Identification and the Moderation of Length of Service

by Wenlong Liu, Changqing He, Yi Jiang, Rongrong Ji and Xuesong Zhai

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(7), 2208; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17072208 - 25 Mar 2020

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 9513

Abstract

Workers’ isolation may occur in gig employment in the sharing economy, which generates a weak perception of the organization and unpredictable work performance. Drawing on social exchange theory, this paper proposes a framework to explore the effect of psychological contract fulfillment on gig [...] Read more.

Workers’ isolation may occur in gig employment in the sharing economy, which generates a weak perception of the organization and unpredictable work performance. Drawing on social exchange theory, this paper proposes a framework to explore the effect of psychological contract fulfillment on gig workers’ task performance from the perspective of the mediation of organizational identification and the moderation of the length of service. A total of 223 samples were recruited from Didi (a ride-hailing company in China) drivers. The results show that both transactional and relational psychological contract fulfillment can directly affect gig workers’ task performance and also indirectly affect it via organizational identification. When the length of service for the current company is taken into consideration, transactional contract fulfillment, as the representation of a company’s recognition of gig workers’ effort, has a stronger effect on the organizational identification of gig workers who have been working for the company for less than a year compared with those who have been working for a longer period. The results show no difference in the relationship between relational psychological contract and organizational identification between the two groups. Transactional psychological contract fulfillment exhibits the same significant effect on gig workers’ task performance in both groups. By contrast, relational psychological contract fulfillment has a stronger effect on long-serving Didi drivers than on those who joined the company within the year. These findings generate certain theoretical and practical implications for gig employment management in the sharing economy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

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16 pages, 1404 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Predisposition to Change Is Linked to Job Satisfaction: Assessing the Mediation Roles of Workplace Relation Civility and Insight

by Alessio Gori and Eleonora Topino

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(6), 2141; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17062141 - 23 Mar 2020

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4658

Abstract

The globalization processes typical of liquid modern society require organizations to have high levels of flexibility, dynamism, and rapidity of change, testing the adaptability of workers with possible repercussions on well-being and productivity. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the role of several [...] Read more.

The globalization processes typical of liquid modern society require organizations to have high levels of flexibility, dynamism, and rapidity of change, testing the adaptability of workers with possible repercussions on well-being and productivity. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the role of several psychological factors in favoring job satisfaction in a group of organizational workers (mean age = 46.24; SD = 9.99; 40.9% males and 59.1% females). Firstly, the impact of predisposition to change on job satisfaction through workplace relational civility (others with me) or insight orientation as independent mediating variables was analyzed. After that, this relationship was also studied by testing the effect that the simultaneous interaction of both mediators could have. Results show that workplace relational civility (others with me) significantly mediated the relationship between predisposition to change and job satisfaction, while no significance was found in the effect of insight when considered individually. However, the latter acquires greater relevance if placed in interaction with the other mediator, that is found to be the most proximal factor linking job satisfaction to the other more distal variables. Such findings might have a relevant role in strengthening preventive intervening, favoring positive results for greater well-being of both subjects and organizations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

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16 pages, 4849 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Academic Emotion Classification and Recognition Method for Large-scale Online Learning Environment—Based on A-CNN and LSTM-ATT Deep Learning Pipeline Method

by Xiang Feng, Yaojia Wei, Xianglin Pan, Longhui Qiu and Yongmei Ma

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(6), 1941; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17061941 - 16 Mar 2020

Cited by 33 | Viewed by 4543

Abstract

Subjective well-being is a comprehensive psychological indicator for measuring quality of life. Studies have found that emotional measurement methods and measurement accuracy are important for well-being-related research. Academic emotion is an emotion description in the field of education. The subjective well-being of learners [...] Read more.

Subjective well-being is a comprehensive psychological indicator for measuring quality of life. Studies have found that emotional measurement methods and measurement accuracy are important for well-being-related research. Academic emotion is an emotion description in the field of education. The subjective well-being of learners in an online learning environment can be studied by analyzing academic emotions. However, in a large-scale online learning environment, it is extremely challenging to classify learners’ academic emotions quickly and accurately for specific comment aspects. This study used literature analysis and data pre-analysis to build a dimensional classification system of academic emotion aspects for students’ comments in an online learning environment, as well as to develop an aspect-oriented academic emotion automatic recognition method, including an aspect-oriented convolutional neural network (A-CNN) and an academic emotion classification algorithm based on the long short-term memory with attention mechanism (LSTM-ATT) and the attention mechanism. The experiments showed that this model can provide quick and effective identification. The A-CNN model accuracy on the test set was 89%, and the LSTM-ATT model accuracy on the test set was 71%. This research provides a new method for the measurement of large-scale online academic emotions, as well as support for research related to students’ well-being in online learning environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

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17 pages, 722 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Team Efficiency in Organizations: A Group Perspective on Initiative

by Ana Lisbona, Abel Las-Hayas, Francisco J. Palací, Miguel Bernabé, Francisco J. Morales and Alexander Haslam

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(6), 1926; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17061926 - 16 Mar 2020

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4647

Abstract

Organizational research has shown that personal initiative is related to both climate for initiative and work engagement. Yet little is known about what happens to this relationship once the focus shifts to the team level. When organizational and team goals are involved this [...] Read more.

Organizational research has shown that personal initiative is related to both climate for initiative and work engagement. Yet little is known about what happens to this relationship once the focus shifts to the team level. When organizational and team goals are involved this renders the relationship more complex, and team identification and organizational identification are likely to be key to understanding it. In this paper we develop a model to deal with these complexities. This predicts (a) that team identification will impact on team initiative through team work engagement while (b) organizational identification will impact on team initiative through climate for initiative. It is also expected that team initiative will, in turn, impact on team productivity, and on radical innovation as evaluated by the team leader. This model was tested in a field study with 327 participants of 76 workteams belonging to 50 organizations. Results of SEM and regression analysis supported our main hypotheses. Findings showed that initiative is related to performance and also underline the importance of initiative at a team level. At the same time they suggest that to develop teams with high levels of initiative it is important to promote both organizational and team identification. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

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11 pages, 332 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Relationship between Self-Employed Workers’ Entrepreneurial Attitude and Health Status

by José Antonio Climent-Rodríguez, Yolanda Navarro-Abal, Celia Sánchez-López, Agustín Galán-García and Juan Gómez-Salgado

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(6), 1892; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17061892 - 14 Mar 2020

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2967

Abstract

In the new work environment, self-employment as a formula and entrepreneurship as an attitude have gained prominence as a means to foster a more competitive economy and increase employment opportunities. Having an entrepreneurial attitude, in addition to being positive on a work level, [...] Read more.

In the new work environment, self-employment as a formula and entrepreneurship as an attitude have gained prominence as a means to foster a more competitive economy and increase employment opportunities. Having an entrepreneurial attitude, in addition to being positive on a work level, can also have positive effects on the health of the entrepreneur. The objective of this study is to analyze the relationship between an entrepreneurial attitude and its influence on the general health of Spanish self-employed workers who possess these skills, compared to those who lack them. A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out through random sampling of 1148 self-employed professionals throughout Spain from 21 different economic sectors. The results show the existence of a negative relationship between entrepreneurial attitude and age, that is to say, an entrepreneurial attitude decreases with age. With the sex variable, women show less entrepreneurial attitude and with mental health, decreased mental health was shown in those with a greater entrepreneurial attitude. On the other hand, there is a positive linearity between a positive attitude and the social function of the state of health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

14 pages, 379 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Volatile Fragility: New Employment Forms and Disrupted Employment Protection in the New Economy

by Bin Chen, Tao Liu and Yingqi Wang

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(5), 1531; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17051531 - 27 Feb 2020

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3743

Abstract

This research is based on empirical surveys conducted in two Chinese cities, Beijing and Chengdu, which examine employment relationships, labor protection and social protection in the new digital economy. Through these theoretically informed surveys on various forms of employment via online platforms, we [...] Read more.

This research is based on empirical surveys conducted in two Chinese cities, Beijing and Chengdu, which examine employment relationships, labor protection and social protection in the new digital economy. Through these theoretically informed surveys on various forms of employment via online platforms, we have found that the organizational principles and functional patterns of employment have profoundly transformed in the epoch of digitalization. The traditional employment relationship characterized by written contracts with clearly defined entitlements and obligations for employers and employees have been increasingly substituted by new volatile, fluid and fragile employment forms, softening the labor rights and social rights of “digital employees” and strengthening social control over them through online evaluation systems supported by smart phones and apps. The employees engaged in the online sharing economy have become more individualized and atomized than ever before, resulting in the emergence of an unorganized and disenfranchised “digital working class”. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

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21 pages, 802 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Entrepreneurs and Environmental Sustainability in the Digital Era: Regional and Institutional Perspectives

by Qing Ye, Rongting Zhou, Muhammad Azfar Anwar, Ahmad Nabeel Siddiquei and Fahad Asmi

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(4), 1355; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17041355 - 20 Feb 2020

Cited by 44 | Viewed by 6136

Abstract

Climate change and environmental degradation have negatively affected the sustainable development of mankind. The “green” concept has been gradually accepted by the public, thereby strongly promoting “green” business forms and social innovation. This study adopts related information and technology knowledge and experience and [...] Read more.

Climate change and environmental degradation have negatively affected the sustainable development of mankind. The “green” concept has been gradually accepted by the public, thereby strongly promoting “green” business forms and social innovation. This study adopts related information and technology knowledge and experience and warm glow (altruistic value) for business initiatives as push factors, market opportunity (MO) and personal innovativeness (PI) in technology as pull factors, and institutional theory (regulatory support and normative support) as mooring factors. These factors are employed to analyze the switching intentions of individuals toward green entrepreneurship, which is a new persuasive psychological model based on Push–Pull–Mooring model (PPM). The survey questionnaires are collected from a total of 1562 respondents through WeChat in mainland China. The study findings present all variables that significantly affect individuals’ switching intentions toward green entrepreneurs. PI exhibits the most significant impact on intention of individuals toward green entrepreneurship, while the interaction between the mooring factor and MO on switching intentions to green entrepreneurship is relatively weak. Finally, the study contributes theoretical and practical implications for increasing intentions toward green entrepreneurship. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

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16 pages, 836 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Tit for Tat: Abusive Supervision and Knowledge Hiding-The Role of Psychological Contract Breach and Psychological Ownership

by Usman Ghani, Timothy Teo, Yan Li, Muhammad Usman, Zia Ul Islam, Habib Gul, Rana Muhammad Naeem, Humera Bahadar, Jing Yuan and Xuesong Zhai

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(4), 1240; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17041240 - 14 Feb 2020

Cited by 52 | Viewed by 5481

Abstract

The extant literature has focused on individuals’ knowledge-sharing behavior and its driving factors, which stimulate the knowledge transmission and exchange in organizations. However, little research has focused on factors that inhibit knowledge sharing and encourage individuals to hide their knowledge. Therefore, based on [...] Read more.

The extant literature has focused on individuals’ knowledge-sharing behavior and its driving factors, which stimulate the knowledge transmission and exchange in organizations. However, little research has focused on factors that inhibit knowledge sharing and encourage individuals to hide their knowledge. Therefore, based on social exchange and displaced aggression theories, the study proposed and checked a model that examined the effect of abusive supervision on knowledge hiding (KH) via a psychological contract breach (PCB). The Psychological ownership was regarded as a boundary condition on abusive supervision and KH relationship. Using a time-lagged method, we recruited 344 full-time employees enrolled in an executive development program in a large university in China. The findings show that PCB mediates the association between abusive supervision and KH. Similarly, psychological ownership moderates the association between abusive supervision and KH. Employees with high psychological ownership minimized the effect of abusive supervision on KH. Based on study findings, contributions to theory and practice, limitations, and future directions are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

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24 pages, 1016 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How Does Paradoxical Leadership Affect Employees’ Voice Behaviors in Workplace? A Leader-Member Exchange Perspective

by Ying Xue, Xiyuan Li, Hao Liang and Yuan Li

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(4), 1162; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17041162 - 12 Feb 2020

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 5979

Abstract

We theorized and tested a leader-member perspective beyond the existing studies in paradoxical leadership and employee voice behavior. We proposed that paradoxical leadership influences employees’ voice behavior through psychological safety and self-efficacy. We also theorized that team size influences an extent to which [...] Read more.

We theorized and tested a leader-member perspective beyond the existing studies in paradoxical leadership and employee voice behavior. We proposed that paradoxical leadership influences employees’ voice behavior through psychological safety and self-efficacy. We also theorized that team size influences an extent to which the subordinates internalize their self-efficacy and psychological safety to exhibit proactive behavior. In a longitudinal study conducted on 155 subordinates and 96 supervisors in China, we found that when leaders adopt paradoxical behavior, employees are more likely to engage into promotive voice behavior; however, employees’ prohibitive voice behavior is reduced when their leaders adopt paradoxes in leadership behavior. Additionally, psychological safety mediates the relationship between paradoxical leadership and promotive voice behavior. Further, team size has significant interaction effects with psychological safety on promotive voice behavior. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

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12 pages, 342 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Stressful Factors in the Working Environment, Lack of Adequate Sleep, and Musculoskeletal Pain among Nursing Unit Managers

by Hjördís Sigursteinsdóttir, Hafdís Skúladóttir, Thórey Agnarsdóttir and Sigrídur Halldórsdóttir

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(2), 673; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17020673 - 20 Jan 2020

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4676

Abstract

Background: Middle managers have not received enough attention within the healthcare field, and little is known how stressful factors in their work environment coupled with a lack of adequate sleep are related to musculoskeletal pain. The aim of this study was to examine [...] Read more.

Background: Middle managers have not received enough attention within the healthcare field, and little is known how stressful factors in their work environment coupled with a lack of adequate sleep are related to musculoskeletal pain. The aim of this study was to examine the correlation between stressful factors in the work environment, lack of adequate sleep, and pain/discomfort in three body areas. Methods: Questionnaire was sent electronically to all female nursing unit managers (NUM) in Iceland through the outcome-survey system. The response rate was 80.9%. Results: NUM who had high pain/discomfort in the neck area also had very high pain/discomfort in the shoulder area and pain in the lower back. The results also revealed positive a medium-strong correlation between mental and physical exhaustion at the end of the workday and musculoskeletal pain. Stress in daily work, mental strain at work, and being under time-pressures had hardly any correlation with pain/discomfort in the three body parts. Adequate sleep had a significant negative correlation with all stressful factors in the work environment and all three body parts under review. Conclusion: The results will hopefully lead to a better consideration of stressful factors in the work environment, sleep, and musculoskeletal pain in middle managers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

11 pages, 276 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Perfectionism and a Healthy Attitude toward Oneself: Could Humor Be a Resource?

by Annamaria Di Fabio, Martin M. Smith and Donald H. Saklofske

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(1), 201; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17010201 - 27 Dec 2019

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3348

Abstract

In the framework of the psychology of harmonization, the present study analyzes the relationships of humor styles with perfectionism, controlling for the effects of personality traits. One hundred and forty-eight Italian university students were administered the Italian versions of the HEXACO-60, the Humor [...] Read more.

In the framework of the psychology of harmonization, the present study analyzes the relationships of humor styles with perfectionism, controlling for the effects of personality traits. One hundred and forty-eight Italian university students were administered the Italian versions of the HEXACO-60, the Humor Styles Questionnaire, and the short-form version of the Big Three Perfectionism Scale. Based on hierarchical regression analyses, humor styles accounted for a significant percentage of incremental variance beyond personality traits in relation to three major perfectionism factors. Humor styles may be a promising area for further research and intervention in relation to managing issues related to perfectionism in strengths-based preventative perspectives. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

10 pages, 621 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quality of Leadership and Organizational Climate in a Sample of Spanish Workers. The Moderation and Mediation Effect of Recognition and Teamwork

by Carlos Pérez-Vallejo and Juan José Fernández-Muñoz

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(1), 32; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17010032 - 18 Dec 2019

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3783

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationships between the quality of leadership, achievement recognition, and teamwork with the organizational climate and quality of life at work. A questionnaire was prepared that included all items of the variables in this study [...] Read more.

The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationships between the quality of leadership, achievement recognition, and teamwork with the organizational climate and quality of life at work. A questionnaire was prepared that included all items of the variables in this study of the scales ECO IV and ISTAS21. The sample selected was composed by 1179 workers of a multinational company; mediation and moderation analysis was applied with Process v3.4. The results of this study suggest that teamwork exerts significantly the expected mediating effect in the relationship between the quality of leadership and the organizational climate. However, recognition of achievement does not produce moderation in the relationship between leadership quality with the organizational climate. To sum up, leadership quality, teamwork, and recognition of achievements improve the perception of the organizational climate and quality of life at work. Therefore, the organization must establish its own leadership style that allows it to achieve its objectives and improve the quality of life of workers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

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15 pages, 328 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A PISA-2015 Comparative Meta-Analysis between Singapore and Finland: Relations of Students’ Interest in Science, Perceived ICT Competence, and Environmental Awareness and Optimism

by Pei-Yi Lin, Ching Sing Chai and Morris Siu-Yung Jong

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(24), 5157; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16245157 - 17 Dec 2019

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3191

Abstract

The aim of the present study is twofold: (1) to identify a factor structure between variables-interest in broad science topics, perceived information and communications technology (ICT) competence, environmental awareness and optimism; and (2) to explore the relations between these variables at the country [...] Read more.

The aim of the present study is twofold: (1) to identify a factor structure between variables-interest in broad science topics, perceived information and communications technology (ICT) competence, environmental awareness and optimism; and (2) to explore the relations between these variables at the country level. The first part of the aim is addressed using exploratory factor analysis with data from the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) for 15-year-old students from Singapore and Finland. The results show that a comparable structure with four factors was verified in both countries. Correlation analyses and linear regression were used to address the second part of the aim. The results show that adolescents’ interest in broad science topics can predict perceived ICT competence. Their interest in broad science topics and perceived ICT competence can predict environmental awareness in both countries. However, there is difference in predicting environmental optimism. Singaporean students’ interest in broad science topics and their perceived ICT competences are positive predictors, whereas environmental awareness is a negative predictor. Finnish students’ environmental awareness negatively predicted environmental optimism. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

13 pages, 378 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Contribution of Emotional Intelligence to Career Success: Beyond Personality Traits

by Itziar Urquijo, Natalio Extremera and Garazi Azanza

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(23), 4809; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16234809 - 29 Nov 2019

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 10119

Abstract

This study sought to investigate the role of emotional intelligence in both extrinsic and intrinsic career success in early and later career stages. Specifically, we examined the predictive and incremental validity of emotional intelligence in career success after controlling for personality factors in [...] Read more.

This study sought to investigate the role of emotional intelligence in both extrinsic and intrinsic career success in early and later career stages. Specifically, we examined the predictive and incremental validity of emotional intelligence in career success after controlling for personality factors in a sample of 271 graduates. When analyzing extrinsic career success, regression analyses revealed that demographic variables, such as gender, age, area of study and career stage, and the variable of proactive personality, were related to salary. When the dependent variable was job satisfaction, emotional intelligence acted as a strong predictor, even when personality traits and proactive personality were controlled. These findings provide preliminary evidence that emotional intelligence is a relevant addition to guide the achievement of career success. Finally, limitations of the results and implications of these findings are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

11 pages, 552 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Intrapreneurial Self-Capital Mediates the Connectedness to Nature Effect on Well-Being at Work

by Annamaria Di Fabio, Letizia Palazzeschi and Mirko Duradoni

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(22), 4359; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16224359 - 08 Nov 2019

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3148

Abstract

Researchers are being called upon to find and explore viable solutions to protect the environment and promote health in the new digital era of the 21st century, since the rapid changes transpiring within our technological societies may be detrimental to workers but also [...] Read more.

Researchers are being called upon to find and explore viable solutions to protect the environment and promote health in the new digital era of the 21st century, since the rapid changes transpiring within our technological societies may be detrimental to workers but also offer opportunities for growth. The concept of connectedness to nature, on the one hand, is a proxy for important environmentally protective and responsible behaviors; on the other, it has been studied in relation to people’s well-being. To promote health, it is crucial to act from a primary prevention perspective, which is focused on finding variables that can be increased through specific training. In this framework, intrapreneurial self-capital (ISC) appears to be related both to people’s connectedness to nature and their well-being. This study analyzes exploratively the relationship between connectedness to nature, ISC, and well-being at work, since these variables have never been studied together. A mediation model is tested to assess whether ISC could mediate the relationship between connectedness to nature and workers’ well-being. The mediation analysis highlights that ISC, as a core of preventive resources, potentially sustains the effect of feeling connected to nature on well-being at work. Thus, interventions aimed at increasing and acquiring preventive resources, such as ISC, could be beneficial in protecting the environment and in promoting health among workers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

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11 pages, 303 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Smartphone Application in Postgraduate Clinical Psychology Training: Trainees’ Perspectives

by Carol C. Choo, Bhavani Devakaran, Peter K. H. Chew and Melvyn W. B. Zhang

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(21), 4206; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16214206 - 30 Oct 2019

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3007

Abstract

M-learning refers to the learning that takes advantage of mobile technologies. Although research shows enhanced educational outcomes from m-learning in some Asian countries, the generalizability to postgraduate clinical psychology training in Singapore remains unclear. Current professional standards in clinical psychology training emphasize the [...] Read more.

M-learning refers to the learning that takes advantage of mobile technologies. Although research shows enhanced educational outcomes from m-learning in some Asian countries, the generalizability to postgraduate clinical psychology training in Singapore remains unclear. Current professional standards in clinical psychology training emphasize the importance of attainment of clinical competencies in trainees. Although learning theories indicated potential for m-learning to be incorporated into the local clinical psychology curriculum, trainees’ perspectives have not been adequately explored on m-learning. The study aimed to address this gap by exploring the use of m-learning via a novel smartphone application in clinical psychology training using mixed-methods design. Eight clinical psychology trainees between the ages of 26 to 43 years old (mean age of 31.75, SD = 5.49) enrolled in a relevant coursework subject were recruited. Participants were randomly allocated to the experimental and control groups. The experimental group accessed the novel application weekly, from week 1 to week 6, and participants in the control group accessed the application after week 6. Participants from both groups completed a brief demographic questionnaire, and the following scales New General Self-Efficacy Scale adapted for Education (NGSES-E) and self-reported scale of learning outcomes (SLO). The qualitative study explored how participants perceived and experienced the novel application. Participants from the experimental group were invited to provide open-ended responses about the novel application. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results from the qualitative analysis yielded four themes of: Convenience, preferred learning style, building confidence, and putting theory into practice. Findings from the qualitative study were consistent with previous studies about advantages of m-learning: That the e-platform was convenient, the learning style was engaging, which helped to build confidence, and facilitate practical learning of skills. The qualitative results were helpful in understanding the users’ perspectives and experience of the novel application, indicating that future research in this innovative area is necessary. However, the quantitative outcomes were not significant, limitations would be discussed, and recommendations made for future research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

17 pages, 533 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Authentic Leadership and Employees’ Innovative Behaviour: A Multilevel Investigation in Three Countries

by Mariola Laguna, Karolina Walachowska, Marjan J. Gorgievski-Duijvesteijn and Juan A. Moriano

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(21), 4201; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16214201 - 30 Oct 2019

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 7764

Abstract

The innovativeness of individual employees is a vital source of competitive advantage of firms, contributing to societal development. Therefore, the aim of this multilevel study was to examine how entrepreneurial firm owners’ authentic leadership relates to their employees’ innovative behaviour. Our conceptual model [...] Read more.

The innovativeness of individual employees is a vital source of competitive advantage of firms, contributing to societal development. Therefore, the aim of this multilevel study was to examine how entrepreneurial firm owners’ authentic leadership relates to their employees’ innovative behaviour. Our conceptual model postulates that the relationship between business owners’ authentic leadership (as perceived by their employees) and their employees’ innovative behaviour is mediated by employees’ personal initiative and their work engagement. Hypotheses derived from this model were tested on data collected from 711 employees working in 85 small firms from three European countries: the Netherlands, Poland, and Spain. The results of the multilevel modelling confirmed our model, showing that when business owners are perceived as more authentic leaders, their employees show higher personal initiative and are more engaged at work and, in turn, identify more innovative solutions to be implemented in the organization. A cross-national difference was observed: employees from Spain (in comparison to Dutch and Polish employees) reported engaging less frequently in innovative behaviour. These research findings suggest that the innovative behaviour of employees can be boosted through leadership training, improving the quality of relationships between leaders and subordinates, and strengthening employees’ personal initiative and work engagement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

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14 pages, 577 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Association of Workplace Bullying and Workplace Vulnerability in the Psychological Distress of Chilean Workers

by Elisa Ansoleaga, Magdalena Ahumada and Andrés González-Santa Cruz

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(20), 4039; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16204039 - 22 Oct 2019

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 5175

Abstract

Workplace bullying has been identified as a global problem because of its growing magnitude and the harmful effects in victims and organizations. Workplace vulnerability is a component of job precarious1ness that reflects insecurity, fear, and labor uncertainty. This paper aims to analyze the [...] Read more.

Workplace bullying has been identified as a global problem because of its growing magnitude and the harmful effects in victims and organizations. Workplace vulnerability is a component of job precarious1ness that reflects insecurity, fear, and labor uncertainty. This paper aims to analyze the associations between the exposure to workplace vulnerability and psychological distress, and to explore the associations between exposure to workplace bullying and psychological distress, by sex. A cross-sectional and probabilistic survey was applied to a randomly-selected valid sample of 1995 salaried workers in three main metropolitan areas of Chile. Chi-square test and logistic regression models controlling for confounders were tested. Female workers were more exposed to workplace vulnerability and presented a higher prevalence of psychological distress. Among women who were vulnerable, one of three reported psychological distress (30.8%), which is higher than men (16.5%). Workers exposed to workplace vulnerability had a greater chance of workplace bullying, workers who perceived high workplace vulnerability had a greater chance of psychological distress, and workers exposed to workplace violence had a greater likelihood of psychological distress in comparison to those who were not exposed. Increasing employment security can reduce the perception of job vulnerability and help prevent the existence of workplace bullying. Additionally, occupational health protection policies should prevent, protect from, and intervene in workplace bullying as a precursor to mental health problems in Chile. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

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13 pages, 818 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Workaholism, Intensive Smartphone Use, and the Sleep-Wake Cycle: A Multiple Mediation Analysis

by Paola Spagnoli, Cristian Balducci, Marco Fabbri, Danila Molinaro and Giuseppe Barbato

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(19), 3517; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16193517 - 20 Sep 2019

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 4764

Abstract

Recent contributions have reported sleep disorders as one of the health impairment outcomes of workaholism. A possible factor affecting the sleep-wake cycle might be the intensive use of smartphones. The current study aimed to explore the role of intensive smartphone use in the [...] Read more.

Recent contributions have reported sleep disorders as one of the health impairment outcomes of workaholism. A possible factor affecting the sleep-wake cycle might be the intensive use of smartphones. The current study aimed to explore the role of intensive smartphone use in the relationship between workaholism and the sleep-wake cycle. Two serial multiple mediation models were tested on a sample of 418 employees, who filled self-report questionnaires measuring workaholism, use of smartphones, sleep quality and daytime sleepiness, using conditional process analysis for testing direct and indirect effects. Results supported our hypotheses regarding two serial multiple mediation models—that intensive smartphone use and poor sleep quality mediated the relationship between workaholism and daytime sleepiness, and that smartphone use and daytime sleepiness mediated the relationship between workaholism and poor quality of sleep. Although the use of a cross-sectional design and the snowball technique for collecting data can be considered as possible limitations, the current study is one of the first to document the potential detrimental role of the intensive smartphone use on the workaholism-sleep disorders relationship. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

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13 pages, 2117 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Emotional Effects of the Duration, Efficiency, and Subjective Quality of Sleep in Healthcare Personnel

by María del Carmen Pérez-Fuentes, María del Mar Molero Jurado, María del Mar Simón Márquez, Ana Belén Barragán Martín and José Jesús Gázquez Linares

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(19), 3512; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16193512 - 20 Sep 2019

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4158

Abstract

Considering that both sleep quality and duration are linked to psychological variables, this study analyzed the relationships between sleep components and emotional intelligence and the effects that sleep duration has on stress management and mood in a sample of nurses. The sample was [...] Read more.

Considering that both sleep quality and duration are linked to psychological variables, this study analyzed the relationships between sleep components and emotional intelligence and the effects that sleep duration has on stress management and mood in a sample of nurses. The sample was made up of 1073 professionals. Data were collected by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Brief Emotional Intelligence Inventory for Senior Citizens. The results showed that the components of sleep quality were negatively related to stress management and mood. Furthermore, nurses who had short sleep patterns also had low moods and high stress levels. This study emphasizes the importance of subjective sleep quality as a necessary resource for professionals to manage stressful situations and mood and improve their relations with their patients and with each other. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

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16 pages, 571 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The JDCS Model and Blue-Collar Bullying: Decent Working Conditions for a Healthy Environment

by Georgia Libera Finstad, Antonio Ariza-Montes, Gabriele Giorgi, Luigi Isaia Lecca, Giulio Arcangeli and Nicola Mucci

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(18), 3411; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16183411 - 14 Sep 2019

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 5548

Abstract

Violence in the workplace and its health consequences still represent one of the main obstacles to obtaining decent working conditions. In particular, blue-collar workers run a greater risk of experiencing episodes of violence, also because of a lack of autonomy and fewer social [...] Read more.

Violence in the workplace and its health consequences still represent one of the main obstacles to obtaining decent working conditions. In particular, blue-collar workers run a greater risk of experiencing episodes of violence, also because of a lack of autonomy and fewer social interactions. According to the work environment hypothesis, factors such as high workload, lack of social support and lack of job control represent the antecedents of workplace bullying. Following the job demand-control-support model (JDCS), violence can be the symptom of a high-strain environment. Moreover, it is still unclear if workplace bullying can mediate the effects of work-related stress on workers’ health outcomes. The aim of the present study is to analyse the relationship between the components of the JDCS and the health of the workers considering workplace bullying as a mediating variable. By a cross sectional study design, we tested the following theoretical hypotheses: first, JDCS components (conceptualized as stress) are supposed to significantly predict the level of workers’ health. Second, workplace bullying is supposed to mediate the relationship between the JDCS components and the level of health. The sample consists of 400 blue-collars from three different Italian companies. Work-related stress, health outcomes and workplace bullying were measured by specific self-administered questionnaires and the relationships between the variables of interest were tested through a structural equation model (SEM) analysis. The results showed that while the direct relationship between the components of the JDCS and the level of psychological health is weaker (standardized path coefficients SPC = 0.21), the partial mediation hypothesis shows that workplace bullying mediate the relationship between JDCS components and health outcomes (χ²/df ratio = 2.70; path from stress to workplace bullying SPC = 0.78; path from workplace bullying to general health SPC = 0.51; p = 0.01). The JDCS components (workload, lack of control, lack of support) are useful predictors for workplace bullying. On the other hand, bullying plays a mediating role between the stress experienced and the health consequences. The present study adds new insights into the relationship between violence seen as a form of social behavioural strain and the psychological health of workers. The theoretical and practical implications are discussed. Future research on blue-collars could use longitudinal designs in order to analyse the relationship between social environment, job design and strain reactions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

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17 pages, 712 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Influence of Transactive Memory System on Individual Career Resilience: The Role of Taking Charge and Self-Promotion

by Yuhao Liu, Xingchi Zhou, Shudi Liao, Jianqiao Liao and Zhiwen Guo

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(18), 3390; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16183390 - 12 Sep 2019

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3425

Abstract

The transactive memory system is known as an effective group cognitive system as well as a knowledge-sharing structure for organizations to keep competitive advantages in today’s dynamic and knowledge-based business environment. However, its influence at the individual level remains vague. The purpose of [...] Read more.

The transactive memory system is known as an effective group cognitive system as well as a knowledge-sharing structure for organizations to keep competitive advantages in today’s dynamic and knowledge-based business environment. However, its influence at the individual level remains vague. The purpose of this study is to explore the influence of a transactive memory system (TMS) on individual career resilience through the theoretical perspective of conservation of resources theory (COR). This research proposes and examines a moderated mediation model that elaborates how a transactive memory system affects individual career resilience. A two-stage empirical study was conducted among 328 employees from companies in China. The findings suggest that a transactive memory system significantly influences individual career resilience positively, and employee taking-charge behavior plays a mediating role in that relationship. Furthermore, the results supported our moderated mediation model, which indicates that individuals with high self-promotion motives are more likely to engage in taking-charge behavior than those with low self-promotion motives, and the former reported higher career resilience than the latter eventually. Theoretical and practical implications are also provided in the discussion section. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

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17 pages, 702 KiB

Open AccessArticle

When Employees are Emotionally Exhausted Due to Abusive Supervision. A Conservation-of-Resources Perspective

by Zubair Akram, Yan Li and Umair Akram

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(18), 3300; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16183300 - 08 Sep 2019

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 6251

Abstract

This study represents an important step towards understanding why supervisors behave abusively towards their subordinates. Building on the conservation of resources theory, this study investigates the impact of abusive supervision on counterproductive work behaviors (CWBs) from a stress perspective. Furthermore, job demands play [...] Read more.

This study represents an important step towards understanding why supervisors behave abusively towards their subordinates. Building on the conservation of resources theory, this study investigates the impact of abusive supervision on counterproductive work behaviors (CWBs) from a stress perspective. Furthermore, job demands play a significant moderating effect, and emotional exhaustion has a mediating effect on the relationship between abusive supervision and CWBs. A time-lagged design was utilized to collect the data and a total of 350 supervisors-subordinates’ dyads are collected from Chinese manufacturing firms. The findings indicate that subordinates’ emotional exhaustion mediates the relationship between abusive supervision and CWBs only when subordinates are involved in a high frequency of job demands. Additionally, emotional exhaustion and abusive supervision were significantly moderated by job demands. However, the extant literature has provided that abusive supervision has detrimental effects on employees work behavior. The findings of this study provide new empirical and theoretical insights into the stress perspectives. Finally, implications for managers and related theories are discussed, along with the boundaries and future opportunities of this study. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

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18 pages, 1009 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Safeguarding Health at the Workplace: A Study of Work Engagement, Authenticity and Subjective Wellbeing among Religious Workers

by Antonio Ariza-Montes, Antonio L. Leal-Rodríguez, Jesús Ramírez-Sobrino and Horacio Molina-Sánchez

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(17), 3016; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16173016 - 21 Aug 2019

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3983

Abstract

Research in work and organizational psychology has paid little attention to religious workers, something certainly surprising as faith-based organizations play a key role in the welfare state of many countries. This research shows that religious workers in a Catholic order present a high [...] Read more.

Research in work and organizational psychology has paid little attention to religious workers, something certainly surprising as faith-based organizations play a key role in the welfare state of many countries. This research shows that religious workers in a Catholic order present a high degree of subjective wellbeing, both in terms of flourishing and satisfaction with life in general, and a positive balance of positive and negative feelings. More specifically, this study examines the relationship between authenticity and wellbeing amongst religious workers. Survey responses from 142 religious workers in Spain were analyzed using partial least squares path modelling. The results reveal that subjective wellbeing at work is positively related to authenticity. In addition, this relationship is mediated by their level of work engagement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

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27 pages, 1668 KiB

Open AccessArticle

My Mind is Working Overtime—Towards an Integrative Perspective of Psychological Detachment, Work-Related Rumination, and Work Reflection

by Oliver Weigelt, Petra Gierer and Christine J. Syrek

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(16), 2987; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16162987 - 20 Aug 2019

Cited by 48 | Viewed by 8588

Abstract

In the literature on occupational stress and recovery from work, several facets of thinking about work during off-job time have been conceptualized. However, research on the focal concepts is currently rather diffuse. In this study we take a closer look at the five [...] Read more.

In the literature on occupational stress and recovery from work, several facets of thinking about work during off-job time have been conceptualized. However, research on the focal concepts is currently rather diffuse. In this study we take a closer look at the five most well-established concepts: (1) psychological detachment, (2) affective rumination, (3) problem-solving pondering, (4) positive work reflection, and (5) negative work reflection. More specifically, we scrutinized (1) whether the five facets of work-related rumination are empirically distinct, (2) whether they yield differential associations with different facets of employee well-being (burnout, work engagement, thriving, satisfaction with life, and flourishing), and (3) to what extent the five facets can be distinguished from and relate to conceptually similar constructs, such as irritation, worry, and neuroticism. We applied structural equation modeling techniques to cross-sectional survey data from 474 employees. Our results provide evidence for (1) five correlated, yet empirically distinct facets of work-related rumination. (2) Each facet yields a unique pattern of association with the eight aspects of employee well-being. For instance, detachment is strongly linked to satisfaction with life and flourishing. Affective rumination is linked particularly to burnout. Problem-solving pondering and positive work reflection yield the strongest links to work engagement. (3) The five facets of work-related rumination are distinct from related concepts, although there is a high overlap between (lower levels of) psychological detachment and cognitive irritation. Our study contributes to clarifying the structure of work-related rumination and extends the nomological network around different types of thinking about work during off-job time and employee well-being. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

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17 pages, 536 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development and Validation of an Interdisciplinary Worker’s Health Approach Instrument (IWHAI)

by Lilian Monteiro Ferrari Viterbo, Maria Alzira Pimenta Dinis, André Santana Costa and Diogo Guedes Vidal

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(15), 2803; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16152803 - 06 Aug 2019

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3525

Abstract

The present study aimed to develop and validate an Interdisciplinary Worker’s Health Approach Instrument (IWHAI). The development stage comprised a group of 10 professionals, including physicians, nurses, nutritionists, dentists and physical educators, as well as a judges’ committee, composed by 19 recognized experts [...] Read more.

The present study aimed to develop and validate an Interdisciplinary Worker’s Health Approach Instrument (IWHAI). The development stage comprised a group of 10 professionals, including physicians, nurses, nutritionists, dentists and physical educators, as well as a judges’ committee, composed by 19 recognized experts in the area of worker’s health (WH). For the validation of the IWHAI, the Spearman’s correlation coefficient (r_s) was calculated, the factor analysis to the instrument was applied, and the Cronbach’s alpha (α) and the Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were calculated. The IWHAI was structured in five dimensions, integrating 43 health indicators, on a scale of 0–4, totalling 215 sub-indices with closed response coding. The instrument was validated with a Kappa coefficient (KAPPA) (k), with excellent agreement for all attributes, i.e., k = 0.88 for applicability, k = 0.80 for clarity and k = 0.82 for relevance. p > 0.05 results reveal moderate to strong positive correlations between some variables, i.e., pests, vectors and air quality/drinking water quality (r_s = 0.69). A total of 14 components of the factor analysis, explaining 62.6% of the data variance, were extracted. α value is considered moderate to high, α = 0.61, the ICC value also being considered moderate to high, with ICC = 0.61. The IWHAI is considered validated, constituting a technological innovation for an interdisciplinary approach in the field of WH, enabling the prevention and integral promotion of health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

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13 pages, 538 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Negative Influences of the 4th Industrial Revolution on the Workplace: Towards a Theoretical Model of Entropic Citizen Behavior in Toxic Organizations

by David. A. L. Coldwell

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(15), 2670; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16152670 - 25 Jul 2019

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 7996

Abstract

The 4th industrial revolution, referred to as a ‘second coming’ of the ‘digital era,’ has introduced both positive and negative effects on the workplace. While digitalization and automation have taken the drudgery out of work for some and released them to enjoy qualitative [...] Read more.

The 4th industrial revolution, referred to as a ‘second coming’ of the ‘digital era,’ has introduced both positive and negative effects on the workplace. While digitalization and automation have taken the drudgery out of work for some and released them to enjoy qualitative improvements at work and higher salaries, others have been thrust into low-paying work and unemployment with negative effects on their well-being and mental health. In many cases stress and threats of job loss created by digital era automation have generated negative workplace behavior and workplace outcomes. The 4th industrial revolution and its burgeoning information technology have presented widespread access to information to stakeholders and the general public about organizational business and environmental performance. This open access to information has driven toxic business leaders to maintain company profitability and environmental sustainability by pressuring employees to find solutions to difficult organizational problems with short timelines attached. Employees often are required to ‘go the extra mile’ to achieve organizational goals through forms of organizational citizenship behavior. Additionally, although organizational citizenship behavior can generate significant benefits for a company, toxic and entropic workplace outcomes can also occur from its more extreme manifestations arising from the stressful circumstances digitalization and automation of work have created. The methodological approach adopted in this paper is a secondary data analysis which uses reliable and valid sources of report documentation to corroborate a theoretical model of organizational citizenship behavior entropy. The theoretical model suggests that extreme forms of organizational citizenship behavior associated with the digital era can create toxic leaders and business organizations that lead to organizational entropy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

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17 pages, 645 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Entrepreneurial Leadership and Turnover Intention of Employees: The Role of Affective Commitment and Person-job Fit

by Juan Yang, Bo Pu and Zhenzhong Guan

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(13), 2380; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16132380 - 04 Jul 2019

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 6663

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore the causal system between entrepreneurial leadership and turnover intention of employees by examining the mediating effect of affective commitment and the moderating effect of person-job fit in start-ups. A quantitative approach was used to test [...] Read more.

The purpose of this study is to explore the causal system between entrepreneurial leadership and turnover intention of employees by examining the mediating effect of affective commitment and the moderating effect of person-job fit in start-ups. A quantitative approach was used to test the hypotheses and data were collected through the internet questionnaire tool. The authors selected employees from ventures newly established within the past five years and finally collected 427 questionnaires. The authors then used the hierarchical regression analysis method of Baron and Kenny for test mediating effect and the Hayes bootstrapping method for the test moderating effect by using Hayes’ SPSS PROCESS macro. The results demonstrated that affective commitment functions as a mediator and person-job fit functions as a moderator. This paper provides implications for start-up leaders that entrepreneurial leadership is an effective style of leadership and plays a crucial role which accompanies the development of venture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

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18 pages, 1725 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Environmental Performance on Employment: Evidence from China’s Manufacturing Industries

by Wei Shan and Jingyi Wang

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(12), 2232; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16122232 - 25 Jun 2019

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 3676

Abstract

This research aims to explore the interaction between environmental performance and employment China’s manufacturing industries. Based on the environmental performance of 32 industries in China’s manufacturing industry during 2006–2015, a panel vector autoregressive model was constructed to study the interaction between industry output [...] Read more.

This research aims to explore the interaction between environmental performance and employment China’s manufacturing industries. Based on the environmental performance of 32 industries in China’s manufacturing industry during 2006–2015, a panel vector autoregressive model was constructed to study the interaction between industry output and employment in clean industries and dirty industries. The dynamic impact and internal transmission mechanism between environmental performance is analyzed. The study found that in the early stage, due to the reduction of production scale, there was a weak and short-term negative correlation effect on employment, and the mutual promotion relationship between economic benefits and employment was unsustainable. In return, employment affects environmental performance, but the effect differs due to the different forms of environmental performance. For dirty industries, the impact of environmental performance on employment through technical effects is more significant and, thus, a win–win situation of ecological environment and employment stability will be achieved. This research has practical significance regarding how to scientifically and effectively carry out environmental regulation and green management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

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15 pages, 483 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Supervision for Certification in the Field of Applied Behaviour Analysis: Characteristics and Relationship with Job Satisfaction, Burnout, Work Demands, and Support

by Katerina Dounavi, Brian Fennell and Erin Early

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(12), 2098; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16122098 - 13 Jun 2019

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 7455

Abstract

Background: Supervision of behavior analysts seeking certification and supervision of service delivery are key processes in the provision of quality behaviour analytic services to individuals with developmental disabilities. Our study is the first to examine international supervisory practices within the field of [...] Read more.

Background: Supervision of behavior analysts seeking certification and supervision of service delivery are key processes in the provision of quality behaviour analytic services to individuals with developmental disabilities. Our study is the first to examine international supervisory practices within the field of applied behaviour analysis. Method: An online survey was distributed to 92 professionals internationally, assessing supervisory practice, supervisor support, work demands, job satisfaction, and burnout. Results: Findings indicate high satisfaction with the supervisor and supervisory experience. Excessive work demands positively correlate with high burnout and low job satisfaction. Half of all professionals only worked with one or two clients before certification. Supervisor and collegial support seem to decrease the likelihood of suffering burnout and increase job satisfaction, although relationships were not statistically significant. Conclusions: Supervisor and collegial support warrant further research as protective factors. Implications for an evidence-based supervisory practice that produces ethical and competent supervisees are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

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14 pages, 558 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How Does Leader Narcissism Influence Employee Voice: The Attribution of Leader Impression Management and Leader-Member Exchange

by Shudi Liao, Xingchi Zhou, Zhiwen Guo and Zhifei Li

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(10), 1819; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16101819 - 22 May 2019

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 7022

Abstract

Recently, the influence of leader’s personality traits on employee behavior has become an emerging research area. Leaders play a crucial role in any organization because team members look up to them for policy and behavioral guidelines. Based on the social exchange theory, this [...] Read more.

Recently, the influence of leader’s personality traits on employee behavior has become an emerging research area. Leaders play a crucial role in any organization because team members look up to them for policy and behavioral guidelines. Based on the social exchange theory, this study is focused on the relationship of employee-perceived leader narcissism and employee voice behavior. Through the analysis of 239 questionnaires, we find that leader narcissism has a significant influence on the motivation of leadership impression management. The narcissistic leader uses impression management that is more likely to have self- serving purpose rather than pro-social motivation. This motivation impacts leader-member exchange (LMX) quality which influences employee voice behavior. This study has significant theoretical and practical implications as it is the first study that empirically verifies the stated relationship in this under-researched area. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

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18 pages, 379 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Perceptions of Job Insecurity in Switzerland: Evidence Using Verbal and Numerical Descriptors

by Moreno Baruffini

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(10), 1785; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16101785 - 20 May 2019

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2960

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to examine perceptions of job insecurity among employees, applying a panel model that allows us to account for the business cycle. In addition, the data will enable the comparison of two measures of job insecurity, one with [...] Read more.

The purpose of this paper is to examine perceptions of job insecurity among employees, applying a panel model that allows us to account for the business cycle. In addition, the data will enable the comparison of two measures of job insecurity, one with a cardinal scale, and one with an ordinal scale. First of all, this paper carries out a descriptive analysis of job insecurity, taking into consideration two empirical measures, and using a panel data set from the longitudinal Swiss Household Panel (SHP). Second, an ordered probability unit (probit) model is applied, analyzing both workers’ concerns about job loss, and their subjective job security. Controlling for differences in socio-demographic and job characteristics, estimations show that perceptions of job security affect workers heterogeneously. This study contributes to the literature by revising variables that help to explain the formation of job insecurity perceptions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

15 pages, 704 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Managers’ Well-Being in the Digital Era: Is it Associated with Perceived Choice Overload and Pressure from Digitalization? An Exploratory Study

by Sabrina Zeike, Kyung-Eun Choi, Lara Lindert and Holger Pfaff

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(10), 1746; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16101746 - 17 May 2019

Cited by 40 | Viewed by 6683

Abstract

Due to the current digital transition, companies are under pressure to pursue digitalization and often initiate far-reaching transformation processes. As a result, managers must drive change within a company and are involved in important decision-making processes. In the present study, we focused on [...] Read more.

Due to the current digital transition, companies are under pressure to pursue digitalization and often initiate far-reaching transformation processes. As a result, managers must drive change within a company and are involved in important decision-making processes. In the present study, we focused on two cognitive job demands in managers related to change due to digital transformation: perceived choice overload and pressure from digitalization. We assumed that the extent of challenging cognitive demands at work is rising and negatively influencing managers’ psychological well-being. We conducted an online survey with a sample of 368 upper-level managers from a large ICT-company, where, at the time of the study, extensive transformation processes were taking place. Using multivariate regression analysis, potential prognostic effects on well-being were tested. Results showed that lower well-being was significantly associated with higher choice overload, but not with perceived pressure from digitalization. In our explorative study, we investigated two potential job demands in managers that, to our knowledge, have not yet been scientifically tested. Given the unsettled state of the field, it is important to try to further understand when choice overload and pressure from digitalization occur and when these may trigger negative health consequences. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

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24 pages, 863 KiB

Open AccessArticle

High-Performance Work System, Work Well-Being, and Employee Creativity: Cross-Level Moderating Role of Transformational Leadership

by Rentao Miao and Yi Cao

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(9), 1640; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16091640 - 10 May 2019

Cited by 74 | Viewed by 13704

Abstract

Under the new normal, the economic development mode and growth momentum of China has brought about fundamental changes, which means that the development of enterprises has gradually shifted from being factor-and investment-driven to being innovation-and talent-driven. As the foundation of corporate innovation, employee [...] Read more.

Under the new normal, the economic development mode and growth momentum of China has brought about fundamental changes, which means that the development of enterprises has gradually shifted from being factor-and investment-driven to being innovation-and talent-driven. As the foundation of corporate innovation, employee creativity plays an important role in this process. In the field of strategic human resource management, high-performance work system is the embodiment of its core competence. Although some research has begun to try to explore the impact of high-performance work system on employee creativity, the underlying mechanism and the boundary condition is not yet fully understood. According to the Job demands-resources (JD-R) model, this study theorized and examined whether and when high-performance work system stimulate employee creativity. Using a sample of large and medium-sized enterprises in China, we collected data, which are time-lagged and multilevel, from 266 employees in 61 departments. Results of the hierarchical linear model found that (1) High-performance work system is positively related to employee creativity; (2) High-performance work system positively affects employee work well-being; (3) Work well-being positively affects employee creativity; (4) Employee work well-being partially mediates the relationship between high-performance work system and creativity; (5) Transformational leadership, which represents an important contextual variable in the workplace, moderates the relationship between work well-being and employee creativity; (6) Moreover, we have also revealed that transformational leadership can moderate the indirect effect of high-performance work system on employee creativity. We discussed the theoretical and practical implications of these findings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

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28 pages, 4888 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quality of Life and Health: Influence of Preparation for Retirement Behaviors through the Serial Mediation of Losses and Gains

by María Dolores Hurtado and Gabriela Topa

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(9), 1539; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16091539 - 30 Apr 2019

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3985

Abstract

The dynamic theory of resources is a recent approach that provides a theoretical framework for understanding, forecasting, and examining the relationships between people’s resources and their adaptation to retirement. This article focuses on the transition to retirement in order to better understand how [...] Read more.

The dynamic theory of resources is a recent approach that provides a theoretical framework for understanding, forecasting, and examining the relationships between people’s resources and their adaptation to retirement. This article focuses on the transition to retirement in order to better understand how retirees’ perceptions of their gains and losses when they approach retirement significantly explain their well-being after retirement. Moreover, we explore the relationship between people’s preparation behaviors before retirement (T1) and their quality of life and health after retirement (T3), taking into consideration the mediating role of perceived gains and losses in retirement (T2). This study was carried out with a sample of Spanish workers (N = 244) who were employed at T1 and had retired at T2 and T3. The results support the assertion that losses explain well-being better than gains. In addition, some specific losses showed a greater explanatory power for quality of life and health than others. The implications are discussed with a view to understanding retirement and the design of interventions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

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11 pages, 974 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Future Work and Disability: Promoting Job Motivation in Special Employment Centers in Spain

by Marina Romeo and Montserrat Yepes-Baldó

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(8), 1447; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16081447 - 24 Apr 2019

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3788

Abstract

The technological transition currently taking place in the labor market is having severe implications for people. One vulnerable group at risk of marketplace exclusion are employees with disabilities. This research explores their job motivation, including the moderated effect of self-efficacy. A 187 employees [...] Read more.

The technological transition currently taking place in the labor market is having severe implications for people. One vulnerable group at risk of marketplace exclusion are employees with disabilities. This research explores their job motivation, including the moderated effect of self-efficacy. A 187 employees from Special Employment Centers (SECs) in Spain with intellectual and physical disabilities completed the Internal Motivation Scale, the Psychological Critical States (PCS) and the self-efficacy sub-scale of the Psychological Processes Scale (PPS) tests. Following the International Tests Commission guidelines, the instruments were adapted to the special needs of the participants. We found differences depending on the kind of disability of employees. In employees with intellectual disabilities, their levels of self-efficacy moderated the effect of responsibility for outcomes and meaningfulness of work on motivation. In the case of employees with physical disabilities, the knowledge of results is a predictor of motivation when they had medium or high levels of self-efficacy. Additionally, in this group, responsibility for outcomes and meaningfulness of work had a direct effect on motivation, independently of their levels of self-efficacy. Employees with disabilities should be empowered to make choices and exercise control in their working lives. To do so, human resources managers should promote their wellbeing, taking into consideration the workforce diversity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

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14 pages, 1569 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Measuring Age Discrimination at Work: Spanish Adaptation and Preliminary Validation of the Nordic Age Discrimination Scale (NADS)

by Patricia Carral and Carlos-María Alcover

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(8), 1431; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16081431 - 22 Apr 2019

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 6342

Abstract

Negative stereotypes about older workers can result in ageism and age discrimination in the workplace. The aim of this study is to carry out an adaptation to Spanish and a preliminary validation of the Nordic Age Discrimination Scale (NADS) in a sample of [...] Read more.

Negative stereotypes about older workers can result in ageism and age discrimination in the workplace. The aim of this study is to carry out an adaptation to Spanish and a preliminary validation of the Nordic Age Discrimination Scale (NADS) in a sample of Spanish workers over 55 years of age. The study involved 209 employees aged between 55 and 67 years old (155 women (74.2%) and 54 men (25.8%)) working in the health sector with different professional categories (nurses, doctors, nursing assistants, ancillaries and health technicians). The reliability index of the six dimensions of the NADS (promotion, training, development, development appraisals, wage increase and change processes) measured by Cronbach’s alpha was α = 0.83. The exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, with the goodness-of-fit indexes used, reflect an acceptable adjustment of the single-factor structure of the NADS. Regarding criterion and construct validity, the NADS correlated positively and negatively with the respective variables in the expected directions, except in one case. These results indicate that the Spanish version of the NADS shows adequate levels of internal consistency and criterion validity, and this instrument meets standard psychometric properties in its Spanish version. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

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20 pages, 1110 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Can Work Engagement Be a Resource for Reducing Workaholism’s Undesirable Outcomes? A Multiple Mediating Model Including Moderated Mediation Analysis

by Liliya Scafuri Kovalchuk, Carmela Buono, Emanuela Ingusci, Francesco Maiorano, Elisa De Carlo, Andreina Madaro and Paola Spagnoli

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(8), 1402; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16081402 - 18 Apr 2019

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 5238

Abstract

This study aimed to explore a possible process explaining the relationship between workaholism and sleep disorders, including two mediators: work–family conflict and emotional exhaustion. Moreover, since a possible buffering role of work engagement was recently proposed against the detrimental effects of workaholism, the [...] Read more.

This study aimed to explore a possible process explaining the relationship between workaholism and sleep disorders, including two mediators: work–family conflict and emotional exhaustion. Moreover, since a possible buffering role of work engagement was recently proposed against the detrimental effects of workaholism, the aim was to examine the moderating role of work engagement in the relationship between workaholism and several outcomes such as work–family conflict, emotional exhaustion, and sleep disorders. Two models were tested using conditional process analysis for testing direct and indirect effects on a sample of 395 employees: (1) a serial multiple mediation model, and (2) the same serial multiple mediation model including the moderating role of work engagement. Results showed a significant mediating effect of both work–family conflict and emotional exhaustion. Moreover, work engagement moderated the relationship between workaholism and work–family conflict and the relationship between workaholism and emotional exhaustion. This work contributes to the understanding of the process underlying the relationship between workaholism and sleep disorders and to the literature reporting the possible protective role of work engagement on the negative outcomes of workaholism. Practical implications are also discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

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15 pages, 1325 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preventable Mortality in Regions of Slovakia—Quantification of Regional Disparities and Investigation of the Impact of Environmental Factors

by Beata Gavurova and Peter Toth

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(8), 1382; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16081382 - 17 Apr 2019

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2696

Abstract

Environmental health is among the priority areas of public health, and the current professional communities are intensively engaged with it. The main objective of the study is to quantify regional disparities of preventable mortality in Slovakia and to study the extent of the [...] Read more.

Environmental health is among the priority areas of public health, and the current professional communities are intensively engaged with it. The main objective of the study is to quantify regional disparities of preventable mortality in Slovakia and to study the extent of the influence of selected environmental factors on changes in the development of its values. A cross-sectional linear regression model is used to quantify effects of environmental factors on the preventable mortality. Also, cluster analysis is used to identify regions with similar levels of air pollution. Environmental factors were selected based on the study of the World Health Organization. From the point of view of the influence of environmental factors on preventable mortality in the case of men, statistically significant connection to sewerage, SO₂ production, and production of particulate matter was demonstrated. In the case of women, equally important factors showed connection to sewerage and SO₂. The results of this study point to significant regional disparities in preventable mortality and a different degree of impact of environmental factors. Preventable mortality is above the Slovak average in most of the least-developed districts. Even in this group, there are significant differences. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

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15 pages, 653 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Job Crafting as a Mediator between Work Engagement and Wellbeing Outcomes: A Time-Lagged Study

by Enrique Robledo, Salvatore Zappalà and Gabriela Topa

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(8), 1376; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16081376 - 17 Apr 2019

Cited by 50 | Viewed by 7779

Abstract

This time-lagged study, using the framework of the JD-R model, tested the mediating role of job crafting measuring: at T1, work engagement, workaholism and emotional exhaustion; at T2, job crafting; and, at T3, flourishing, job performance and job satisfaction. Respondents were 443 Spanish [...] Read more.

This time-lagged study, using the framework of the JD-R model, tested the mediating role of job crafting measuring: at T1, work engagement, workaholism and emotional exhaustion; at T2, job crafting; and, at T3, flourishing, job performance and job satisfaction. Respondents were 443 Spanish employees working in different companies. Results show that job crafting mediates the relationship between work engagement and some of its outcomes (job performance and flourishing). In particular, the job crafting component ‘increasing structural job resources’ mediates the positive effect of work engagement on flourishing and job performance, and the job crafting component ‘increasing challenging demands’ mediates the positive effect of work engagement on job performance. No job crafting mediation is found between work engagement and job satisfaction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

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11 pages, 700 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quality of Life and Health among People Living in an Industrial Area of Poland

by Szymon Szemik, Małgorzata Kowalska and Halina Kulik

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(7), 1221; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16071221 - 05 Apr 2019

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2776

Abstract

Background: The quality of life and health status of the population significantly depends on socio-economic factors, including working and employment conditions. Methods: This epidemiological cross-sectional study was carried out among young inhabitants aged 25–44 years living in the Silesian voivodeship in Poland. The [...] Read more.

Background: The quality of life and health status of the population significantly depends on socio-economic factors, including working and employment conditions. Methods: This epidemiological cross-sectional study was carried out among young inhabitants aged 25–44 years living in the Silesian voivodeship in Poland. The quality of life was evaluated using the short version of the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. Results: A total of 905 respondents were examined. It was shown that the poor quality of life in all assessed domains was associated with a low job satisfaction level, low physical activity, and higher self-assessed health status. Furthermore, the worse self-assessed health status in the study group was mainly related to such factors as earlier diagnosed chronic disease, lower job satisfaction, and low physical activity. Additionally, diagnosed chronic disease among occupationally active respondents was correlated with health deterioration due to excessive stress, living in the vicinity of heavy road traffic, and was declared by women more frequently. Conclusions: The results of the presented study confirmed that the quality of life and health status in young inhabitants of the Silesian voivodeship significantly depends on the work characteristics, employment conditions and lifestyle factors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

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16 pages, 903 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Organizational Cynicism and Its Impact on Organizational Pride in Industrial Organizations

by Omar Durrah, Monica Chaudhary and Moaz Gharib

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(7), 1203; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16071203 - 03 Apr 2019

Cited by 29 | Viewed by 6876

Abstract

Organizational cynicism has been a topic of discussion and debate among employees and top management. The purpose of this study is to find out the relationship between organizational cynicism and organizational pride. Precisely, the objectives are to identify and measure organizational cynicism among [...] Read more.

Organizational cynicism has been a topic of discussion and debate among employees and top management. The purpose of this study is to find out the relationship between organizational cynicism and organizational pride. Precisely, the objectives are to identify and measure organizational cynicism among employees in industrial organizations; to determine and measure the degree of organizational pride among employees in industrial organizations and to study the effect of organizational cynicism on the organizational pride of employees in industrial organizations. In this empirical research, the study population was employees of industrial organizations of Oman. Using a purposive sampling technique, nine industrial organizations from Oman were picked. With the help of structured questionnaire, data from 350 respondents was obtained. Structural equation modeling was used through Amos version 25.0 for data analysis. The results reveal that the two dimensions of organizational cynicism (affective cynicism and behavioral cynicism) have a significant and negative impact on emotional pride, while cognitive cynicism does not significantly effect emotional pride. The study results indicate that the one dimension of organizational cynicism (affective cynicism) has a significant impact on attitudinal pride, while the rest of the other dimensions (cognitive cynicism, behavioral cynicism) do not have a significant effect on attitudinal pride. The limitations and implications of the research are also discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

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Review

Jump to: Research, Other

19 pages, 764 KiB

Open AccessReview

Optimizing Employee Creativity in the Digital Era: Uncovering the Interactional Effects of Abilities, Motivations, and Opportunities

by Wenjing Cai, Svetlana Khapova, Bart Bossink, Evgenia Lysova and Jing Yuan

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(3), 1038; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17031038 - 06 Feb 2020

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 9522

Abstract

An increasing digitalization in all aspects of life and work reshapes traditional assumptions about human creativity. Both scholars and practitioners raise many questions with regards to how to stimulate employee creativity in the digital work context. While there are many studies that examine [...] Read more.

An increasing digitalization in all aspects of life and work reshapes traditional assumptions about human creativity. Both scholars and practitioners raise many questions with regards to how to stimulate employee creativity in the digital work context. While there are many studies that examine predictors of employee creativity, little effort has been made thus far to synthesize these findings in way that would provide meaningful guidance to organizations and to provide bases for future research. With this paper we aim to contribute to filling this gap. We systematically review empirical studies on predictors of employee creativity published in the past 30 years and organize findings following an established human resources management framework: Ability–Motivation–Opportunity (AMO) theory. This organizing framework enables us to clearly depict how contextual factors (a) separately and (b) jointly influence individual employee creativity. Specifically, it enables us to depict two possible models—combination and multiplicative models—through which contextual factors interact with individual factors in predicting employee creativity. Through synthesizing evidence for each of the models, we demonstrate to scholars and practitioners what is known about the interactional effects of contextual and personal factors on employee creativity, and what still needs to be studied if we are to take the field of research on creativity in the digital era forward. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

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29 pages, 750 KiB

Open AccessReview

“Why Can’t I Become a Manager?”—A Systematic Review of Gender Stereotypes and Organizational Discrimination

by Ana M. Castaño, Yolanda Fontanil and Antonio L. García-Izquierdo

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(10), 1813; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16101813 - 22 May 2019

Cited by 41 | Viewed by 16736

Abstract

Women continue to lag behind for accessing managerial positions, partially due to discrimination at work. One of the main roots of such discrimination is gender stereotyping, so we aim to comprehend those biased procedures. First, we have analyzed those highlighted gender lawsuit cases [...] Read more.

Women continue to lag behind for accessing managerial positions, partially due to discrimination at work. One of the main roots of such discrimination is gender stereotyping, so we aim to comprehend those biased procedures. First, we have analyzed those highlighted gender lawsuit cases in the scientific literature that have dealt with stereotypes both in the American and the European work contexts. Second, meta-analytic studies regarding organizational consequences of gender stereotypes have been synthetized. Third, gender stereotypes have been grouped by means of a content analysis of the existing literature after processing 61 articles systematically retrieved from WOS, SCOPUS, and PsycINFO databases. As a result, a taxonomy of gender stereotypes has been achieved evidencing that descriptive and prescriptive stereotypes have an impact on decision-making procedures through the apparently perception of women as less suitable for managerial positions. Moreover, we offer a deep explanation of the gender discrimination phenomenon under the umbrella of psychosocial theories, and some measures for successfully overcoming management stereotyping, showing that organizational culture can be improved from both the perspective of equal employment opportunities and the organizational justice frameworks for reaching a balanced and healthier workplace. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

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Other

Jump to: Research, Review

3 pages, 272 KiB

Open AccessComment

Can an Abusive Supervision Be a Predictor of Doocing? Comment on Akram, Z.; Li, Y.; Akram, U. When Employees Are Emotionally Exhausted Due to Abusive Supervision. A Conservation-of-Resources Perspective. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16, 3300

by Stefania Fantinelli

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(24), 9370; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17249370 - 15 Dec 2020

Viewed by 1468

Abstract

Thanks to the research work of Akram and colleagues on the consequences of an abusive supervision, it is possible to hypothesize a new point of view of the doocing phenomenon. According to the authors, an abusive supervision can cause, through the interaction of [...] Read more.

Thanks to the research work of Akram and colleagues on the consequences of an abusive supervision, it is possible to hypothesize a new point of view of the doocing phenomenon. According to the authors, an abusive supervision can cause, through the interaction of some mediators and moderators, counterproductive work behaviors; this comment proposes that these behaviors can be performed also in an online context. As a consequence, a worker could be fired because of something posted on social media (doocing). Another relevant point of view concerns the great responsibility given to supervisors and management with regard to the care of job environment from an emotional point of view. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Work in the Digital Era to Protect the Environment and Promote Health)

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