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Katsaouni M, Tripsianis G, Constantinidis T, Vadikolias K, Kontogiorgis C, Serdari A, Arvaniti A, Theodorou E, Nena E. Assessment of quality of life, job insecurity and work ability among nurses, working either under temporary or permanent terms. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2024; 37:98-109. [PMID: 38240653 PMCID: PMC10959278 DOI: 10.13075/ijomeh.1896.02245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Aim of this study was to assess and compare health, quality of life, well-being, job satisfaction and job insecurity between nurses, in a tertiary hospital in Greece, working either under permanent or temporary contract. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this cross-sectional study, consecutively recruited nurses answered a structured questionnaire, the WHO-5 Well-being Index (WHO-5), the Job Insecurity Index (JII), the Work Ability Index (WAI), and the Well-Being at Work Scale (WBWS). RESULTS Included were 323 nurses (87.6% women, age M±SD 43.68±8.10 years). Tem- porary contract employees had worse quality of life (p = 0.009) and higher job insecurity: both in cognitive dimension (p = 0.013) and emotional dimension (p < 0.001). They also scored worse in the positive affect (p < 0.001), negative affect (p = 0.002) and fulfillment of expectations in work environment (p < 0.001) domains of the WBWS. Additionally, they reported less frequently occupational accidents and injuries (p = 0.001), muscu - loskeletal disorders of the spine or neck (p = 0.007), cardiovascular (p = 0.017), and gastrointestinal (p = 0.010) disorders, while they reported more frequently mental disorders (p < 0.001). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that temporary work predicted high cognitive (p = 0.010) and emotional (p < 0.001) insecurity, low positive emotions and mood index (p = 0.007), low achievement-fulfillment index (p = 0.047) and high index of negative emotions (p = 0.006), regardless of gender and age. CONCLUSIONS Temporary employment among nurses is associated with a lower sense of job security and well-being, and a higher prevalence of mental disorders, independently of age or gender without a significantly negative effect on their ability to work. Managers, as well as occupational physicians, should recognize the extent of nurses' job insecurity and assess their ability to work, to provide them with the necessary support and to stimulate the sense of occupational security and work capacity, so that they can thrive in their workplace and therefore be more productive and provide high quality healthcare. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2024;37(1):98-109.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Katsaouni
- University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece
- Democritus University of Thrace, Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Protection, Medical School, Alexandroupolis, Greece
- Democritus University of Thrace, Laboratory of Social Medicine, Medical School, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Gregory Tripsianis
- Democritus University of Thrace, Laboratory of Medical Statistics, Medical School, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Theodoros Constantinidis
- University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece
- Democritus University of Thrace, Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Protection, Medical School, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Vadikolias
- University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece
- Democritus University of Thrace, Neurology Department, Medical School, Alexandroupolis, Greece
- Democritus University of Thrace, Laboratory of Clinical Neurophysiology, Medical School, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Christos Kontogiorgis
- Democritus University of Thrace, Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Protection, Medical School, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Aspasia Serdari
- University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece
- Democritus University of Thrace, Department of Psychiatry and Child Psychiatry, Medical School, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Aikaterini Arvaniti
- University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece
- Democritus University of Thrace, Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Evangelos Theodorou
- Democritus University of Thrace, Laboratory of Medical Statistics, Medical School, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Evangelia Nena
- University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece
- Democritus University of Thrace, Laboratory of Social Medicine, Medical School, Alexandroupolis, Greece
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Jalil MF, Ali A. The influence of meaningful work on the mental health of SME employees in the COVID-19 era: can coping strategies mediate the relationship? BMC Public Health 2023; 23:2435. [PMID: 38057782 PMCID: PMC10702016 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-17347-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stress, depression, and anxiety are prevalent issues among SME employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even while having meaningful work that expressively contributes to individual growth has been related to improving mental health, employees' work may also need to adopt coping strategies to increase outcomes. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between meaningful work (positive meaning, meaning-making, and greater good motivations) and mental health, as well as coping strategies (problem-focused and emotion-focused) as a mediator of this relationship. METHODS Meaningful work, coping strategies, and mental health were evaluated in empirical research based on a sample of 462 SME employees working in Malaysia. Structured questionnaires were used to collect the data and analyze it through Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) using AMOS 21.0. RESULTS The findings of the study show the importance of meaningful work in influencing the mental health of SME employees, particularly during a crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic. This suggests that the more they value and see their work as meaningful, the more capable they are of dealing with limitations and mental health problems associated with crises. The study also discovered a partial mediating role for coping strategies between employees' mental health and meaningful work. CONCLUSION This study encourages employees to constantly feel connected and discover continued possibilities to work and learn even during crisis situations. In order to improve human resource efficiency in emerging markets, managers and owners of SMEs must implement the model developed by the researchers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Farhan Jalil
- Faculty of Economics and Business, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), 94300, Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia.
| | - Azlan Ali
- Graduate School of Management, Management and Science University, Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
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