The relationship between perceived health and psychosocial risk in women in the service sector (cleaning).

BACKGROUND: Cleaning is considered a female-dominant occupation. Women cleaning workers present a high risk of suffering impaired health probably as a result of performing low-skilled tasks. However, to date, no studies have been found that examine the health status of female cleaning workers in Spain. OBJECTIVES: The objectives were to 1) determine the level of perceived health in a sample of female cleaning workers, 2) evaluate the main psychosocial risks they face, 3) explore the relationship between perceived health and psychosocial risk factors, and 4) compare the perceived health of those women who present some psychosocial risk factor and those who do not. METHODS: This is a multi-centered cross-sectional study carried out in the service sector of a Spanish company. The final sample was composed of 455 female cleaning workers. Sociodemographic variables, perceived health status and psychosocial risk factors were assessed. RESULTS: Women presented a high perception of health status. The main psychosocial risk was lack of acknowledgement by their superiors, which affected 25.2% (n = 111) of the sample. Moderate negative correlations (r=-.222 to -.442; p < .01) were identified between perceived health and evident psychosocial risks. Those women who presented some psychosocial risk (n = 174; 38.3%) had a worse state of perceived health in all variables studied. CONCLUSION: Presence of psychosocial risk had a relationship with a worse health perception. This article highlights the need to orient preventive actions in the psychosocial field. The COVID-19 pandemic represents a new situation to renew the health promotion between cleaning workers.

Work stress and anxiety in health workers in the intensive care area

Introduction: The working conditions of workers in the intensive care area of the hospital in Riobamba during the COVID-19 pandemic may have influenced the presence of work stress and anxiety.Objective: To determine the relationship between work stress and anxiety in health workers in the intensive care area of the Riobamba Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: Basic, non-experimental, cross-sectional and descriptive research with a universe of 45 workers. The third version of the Occupational Stress questionnaire designed by Villalobos in 2016 was used to identify the presence of occupational stress and the Hamilton scale to identify the presence and levels of anxiety. Pearson's non -parametric correlation test was used to determine the correlation between job stress and anxiety. The odds ratio test was used to identify the risk of anxiety secondary to the presence and intensity of work stress.Results: Prevalence of workers exposed to work stress (75.56%) and with anxiety (57.78%). The average level of work stress (41.18%) and low level of anxiety (50.0%) were the most representative in each case.Conclusion: A high percentage of workers in the intensive care area of the General Hospital in Riobamba with work stress and anxiety was identified. A strong positive correlation was identified between work stress and anxiety. The odds ratio test showed that the percentage of having anxiety triples if there is work stress.

Demystifying EFL Teachers' Experiences During the Pandemic: A Study of the Psychosocial Risks Resulting from COVID-19

This study aims to identify the main psychosocial risks that COVID - 19 has caused in Ecuadorian EFL teachers and determine the factors associated with developing these risks. This study employed a quantitative approach and a non-experimental cross-sectional design, with a sample of 980 teachers from different educational levels from Ecuador. The data analysis was done using Stata 16 statistical program and a multivariate binary logistic regression (LR). The results showed that teachers are emotionally drained, isolated, frustrated with teaching, and exhausted because of teaching during the pandemic, being the women the most affected. The main factors that increased the probability of suffering these psychosocial effects were extra activities beyond working hours, status in the teacher's institutions, and gender. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Part-time or full-time teleworking? A systematic review of the psychosocial risk factors of telework from home.

Introduction: Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic thousands of people have experienced teleworking and this practice is becoming increasingly commonplace. This review aims to highlight the differences in exposure to psychosocial risk factors for health between part-time and full-time teleworking from home. Methods: The protocol of the systematic review of the literature was registered on PROSPERO 2020 platform according to the PRISMA statement guidelines. The key words "telework" and "frequency" ("part-time" or "full-time"), together with their synonyms and variations, were searched. Independent researchers conducted the systematic search of 7 databases: Scopus, SciELO, PePSIC; PsycInfo, PubMed, Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts (ASSIA) and Web of Science. Of the 638 articles identified from 2010 to June 2021, 32 were selected for data extraction. The authors evaluated the risk of bias and quality of evidence of the studies included using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Main themes categorized include 7 dimensions of psychosocial risk factors: work intensity and working hours; emotional demands; autonomy; social relationships at work; conflict of values, work insecurity and home/work interface. Results: The results revealed scant practice of full-time teleworking prior to the pandemic. Regarding the psychosocial risk factors found, differences were evident before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. For part-time and full-time telework prior to the pandemic, the dimensions of intensification of work and working hours, social relationships at work, and the home-work interface were the most prominent factors. However, studies performed during the COVID-19 pandemic where teleworking was mostly performed full-time, there was an increase in focus on emotional demands and the home-work interface, and a reduction in the other dimensions. Discussion: Full-time telework brings important changes in working conditions and has the potential to affect living and health conditions of teleworkers. Part-time teleworking may have positive impact on psychosocial risk factors, favoring work-home balance, communication, and social relationships. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=191455, PROSPERO 2020 CRD4202019 1455.

Work stress and anxiety in health workers in the intensive care area

Introduction: The working conditions of workers in the intensive care area of the hospital in Riobamba during the COVID-19 pandemic may have influenced the presence of work stress and anxiety.Objective: To determine the relationship between work stress and anxiety in health workers in the intensive care area of the Riobamba Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: Basic, non-experimental, cross-sectional and descriptive research with a universe of 45 workers. The third version of the Occupational Stress questionnaire designed by Villalobos in 2016 was used to identify the presence of occupational stress and the Hamilton scale to identify the presence and levels of anxiety. Pearson's non -parametric correlation test was used to determine the correlation between job stress and anxiety. The odds ratio test was used to identify the risk of anxiety secondary to the presence and intensity of work stress.Results: Prevalence of workers exposed to work stress (75.56%) and with anxiety (57.78%). The average level of work stress (41.18%) and low level of anxiety (50.0%) were the most representative in each case.Conclusion: A high percentage of workers in the intensive care area of the General Hospital in Riobamba with work stress and anxiety was identified. A strong positive correlation was identified between work stress and anxiety. The odds ratio test showed that the percentage of having anxiety triples if there is work stress.

Analysis of psychosocial risk factors and work stress in doctors during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective: To determine the magnitude to which risk factors predict work stress in physicians who worked in four hospitals in the cities of Quito, Ambato, Tulcan and Riobamba during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Non-experimental, cross-sectional, descriptive and correlational study. To a stratified sample of 203 doctors, the questionnaire of psychosocial risk factors of the Ministry of Labor of Ecuador (2018) and the Villalobos Stress Questionnaire (2010) were applied. Through the multiple correlation coefficient, the dimensions of the psychosocial factors that best explain the physiological, social, intellectual and emotional symptoms of stress were identified. Results: The ability to participate in decisions, the mental demands derived from the workload, and the lack of recovery were the factors of greatest exposure with 63%, 58% and 54% respectively. In reference to the dimensions of work stress that most affected the participants, physiological and social behavioral symptoms were present in 86% and 74%, respectively. Three of the 8 dimensions of psychosocial factors were able to explain the presence of work stress: work-related violence predicted 37%, workload predicted 41% and leadership described 43%. Conclusions: the emotional tension experienced during the last 3 months of the health emergency was due to the lack of leadership and labor management by the bosses, the increased workload and the psychological violence and moobbing perceived by the study population.

The Impact of Biosecurity on Biological and Psychosocial Risks for Health Workers of COVID Hospitals in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.

BACKGROUND: Some data support that health care workers (HCWs) must have sufficient and good quality personal protective equipment (PPE) and the necessary training to manage COVID patients to avoid contagion that can lead to death. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between biosafety on the biological risks of SARS-CoV-2 and risks of fatigue, anxiety, or depression in health workers who care for patients in COVID hospitals, from September 2020 to August 2021. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The questionnaire used in this study (Q6S64I) consisted of 6 spheres: Sociodemographic aspects, working conditions; Personal Protection Equipment; safety and health; training and knowledge about COVID-19, the form of transport, and personal health conditions. The answers were online. The Goldberg questionnaire (EADG) measures anxiety and depression, and the questionnaire measures fatigue (Barrientos-Gutiérrez et al.) (PSSF). RESULTS: In total, 76.5% of the HCWs were doctors, 25.2% worked in the emergency services, 79.3% received PPE from their institution, 82.9% cared for COVID-19 patients, and 27.9% tested positive for COVID-19. The PPE provided by the employer was 80%, but the quality was deficient, insufficient, and associated with a relative risk of 4.6. A total of 99% acquired better PPE on their own. The exposure to COVID-19 and the surgical mask provided by the institution had an associated relative risk of 2.8 for the HCWs. A total of 39% of the HCWs reported being calm. CONCLUSIONS: PPE, risk exposure, and safety at work were significantly associated with drowsiness and heaviness, difficulty concentrating, anxiety, and depression.

The COVID-19 pandemic and psychosocial risk factors in intensive care personnel

Objective: The objective was to determine the influence that the COVID-19 pandemic had on the exposure of psychosocial risk factors in the intensive care unit of a health center, through the comparison of two measurements, before and during the pandemic. Methods: To a population constituted by 67 workers, the questionnaire of psychosocial risk factors of the Ministry of Labor of Ecuador (2018) was applied in December 2019 and January 2021. The data were analyzed with the Wilcoxon test to test statistically significant differences. Results: in the second measurement, the average level of exposure to factors increased by 43.6%, with lack of skills development being the dimension with the highest increase (55.3%), followed by other important points (which measures violence and discrimination) with 52.3%, and work organization with 47.7%. Compared to the first measurement, there were twenty-nine more people who perceived unfavorably the conditions and organization of their work in the context of the pandemic. On the other hand, significant differences were recorded H all dimensions in relation to their means, with a significance of 0,05 through the nonparametric Wilcoxon test. Conclusions: As main conclusions, the stress, tension and anguish aroused because of the health emergency in intensive care personnel, has intensified the probability of Illness due to the absence of training processes, increased violence/discrimination and improvisation in the organization of work.

Risk of Stress and Burnout among Scientific and Educational Staff in Higher Education Institutions

The chapter presents contexts of professional functioning specific to contemporary scientific and educational staff. The discussion includes both the impact of global factors, i.e. challenges related to the SARS- COV- 2 pandemic, and the national thread: the impact of legislative changes related to the reform of the higher education system. The discourse focuses on psychosocial aspects of scientific and educational work, which can potentially be a source of occupational stress and, as a consequence, a progressive burnout syndrome. © Peter Lang GmbH Internationaler Verlag der Wissenschaften Berlin 2022. All rights reserved.

Psychosocial risks factors among victim support workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a study with the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire.

BACKGROUND: Being a victim support worker (VSW) involves exposure to victims' suffering, pain, and traumatic events, which may trigger the risk of VSWs developing mental health problems. Psychosocial risks (PSR) and work-related stress are considered the most challenging issues in occupational safety and health, considering they impact individuals, organizations, and economies. METHODS: The purpose of the present study was to identify the PSR in a sample of 196 Portuguese victim support workers (VSW) (Mean age = 36.49; SD = 10.52). A questionnaire with socio-demographic characteristics, variables related to VSW's job, and the Portuguese medium version of the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire II (COPSOQ II) were used to assess these professionals' perception of PSR factors. RESULTS: The results reveal that although VSW recognizes some psychosocial factors favourable to their health and well-being, they also identify some PSR that place them at intermediate and severe risk, i.e., emotional and cognitive demands, which are the main areas of risk to the VSW. VSW over 38 years old scored higher in job insecurity, burnout, and offensive behaviours. CONCLUSIONS: These findings give important insights into the areas that must be enhanced in this context involving VSW. Additionally, the results highlight the relevance of encouraging a healthy and supportive work environment, preventing and promoting the health and well-being of VSW, particularly when considering the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

Work stress in prehospital care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has generated changes in the working conditions of health workers, being considered a possible trigger of work stress. Objective: To analyze the degree of exposure to work stress presented by pre-hospital care workers in zone 3 of the Ecuadorian Institute of Social Security during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A basic, non-experimental, cross-sectional and descriptive research was carried out where the universe consisted of a total of 35 workers. The third version of the Occupational Stress questionnaire designed by Villalobos in 2016 was used. Results: Prevalence of workers exposed to work stress (88.57 %) with predominance of medium stress (48.39 %). Pain in the neck, back or muscle tension was always or almost always reported by 88.57 % of the workers. Feelings of work overload were always or almost always present in 80.00 % of the workers. 37.14 % reported problems always or almost always with their family relationships. 62.86 % of the workers reported that they consume alcoholic beverages, coffee or cigarettes always or almost always to control stress manifestations. Conclusion: A high percentage of workers with a medium level of stress was identified. Pains in the neck and back;difficulties in family relationships;Feelings of work overload, difficulties concentrating and the consumption of alcoholic beverages, coffee or cigarettes were the symptoms that were most frequently identified in the areas investigated.

Occupational risks and public health in the social environment

The exceptional situation generated by the coronavirus pandemic has led the legal system being overcome, overflowing the regulatory framework and proving in these situations the importance of guaranteeing effective and adequate protection both as citizens and workers. The need to provide a public service in order to guarantee the protection of the health of workers, generates situations in which a fine line is maintained between what should be considered as public health and what corresponds to occupational health. It's necessary to review this framework, taking into account either the present or situations that may arise in the future. This article takes a tour of different issues that affect public health and occupational health, and the application of these criteria to the workplace. © 2021 Wolters Kluwer (UK) Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic on Psychosocial Burden and Job Satisfaction of Long-Term Care Nurses in Poland.

Psychosocial consequences of the coronavirus pandemic are severe for health care workers due to their higher levels of exposure. Nurses often experience tremendous psychological pressure as a result of their workload in a high-risk environment. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on the psychosocial burden and job satisfaction of nurses employed in long-term care. One hundred thirty-eight nurses employed in long-term care participated in the study. The respondents were 96.4% female and 3.6% male. The mean age of the respondents was 53.99 (standard deviation-4.01). The study was conducted between February and June 2021. The research tool was a standardized psychosocial risk scale questionnaire, which is a scientifically validated diagnostic tool with high reliability and accuracy coefficients. The primary tests used during the statistical analyses were non-parametric Mann-Whitney U (for two samples) and Kruskal-Wallis (for more than two samples) tests for assessing differences. During these analyses, in addition to standard statistical significance, appropriate p-values were calculated using the Monte Carlo method. Correlations between ordinal or quantitative variables were made using Spearman's rho coefficient. The results obtained allow us to conclude that the respondents rated the characteristics present in the workplace that constitute psychosocial risks at an average level. Emotional commitment and continuance-type commitment to the respondents' job position were also at a medium level. Respondents' self-rated ability to work for nurses employed in long-term care during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and commitment to patient care was high at 4.0 and 4.18, with a maximum of 5 points.

Loneliness and Social Isolation: Determinants of Cardiovascular Outcomes.

One in three Americans report experiencing loneliness in everyday life, a number that has grown exponentially over the last few decades. As we respond to the SARS-COV2 pandemic with quarantine and social distancing, social isolation and feelings of loneliness are increasing among people of all ages. This presents as an opportune time to recognize the public health impact of these important psychosocial determinants. Loneliness and social isolation are associated with a higher incidence of CVD, higher healthcare utilization and worse outcomes even after controlling for conventional risk factors of CVD. In this review, we discuss loneliness and social isolation as determinants of cardiovascular outcomes, the pathophysiology of this association, and its implications in clinical practice. We discuss some of the shortcomings in the assessment of loneliness and social isolation while identifying the most commonly used rating scales for the same. Finally, we suggest modifications to interventions for loneliness and social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Contextual risk and psychosocial profiles of opioid-using mothers: A mixed-methods study.

INTRODUCTION: There is an increase in cases of mothers using opioids during pregnancy in the United States but research investigating mothers' psychosocial environments along with individual variability among this high-risk group of women is scarce. METHODS: This mixed-methods study aims to examine the complex interplay of contextual risks and experiences of opioid-using mothers. A sample of 50 opioid-using biological mothers of infants diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) were studied using a set of standardized and open-ended questions, along with medical records extraction. RESULTS: A high-risk subgroup of 36 mothers was identified using cluster analysis, characterized by a distinct profile of psychosocial risk. Thematic content analysis revealed four themes: (1) barriers to communication and mistrust of health professionals, (2) limitations of access to health care and the amplification of disadvantages related to COVID-19, (3) lifelong consequences of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and (4) intimate partner violence and its influence on drug use. CONCLUSION: Our findings highlight important information toward health services provision for opioid-using women of childbearing age. Efforts to reduce opioid usage in mothers need to consider psychosocial and contextual risks.

Health outcomes and psychosocial risk exposures among healthcare workers during the first wave of the COVID-19 outbreak.

The aim is to describe the health and psychosocial risk factors of Spanish healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A cross-sectional study by means of an online questionnaire (April-May 2020). The data comes from the database resulting from the COTS project "Working conditions, insecurity, and health in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic". The sample consisted of 1989 health care workers. RESULTS: Women, young people (doctors and nurses) and the middle-aged (assistants) had poorer health and greater exposure to psychosocial risks. Geriatric assistants were the most-affected occupational group. CONCLUSIONS: gender, occupation, and age are focuses of inequality in the exposure of health care workers to psychosocial risks.

The Role of Occupational Health Services in Psychosocial Risk Management and the Promotion of Mental Health and Well-Being at Work.

The development and enhancement of occupational health services (OHS) at the national level is central to ensuring the sustainable health, well-being and work engagement of the working population. However, due to differences in national health, social security and occupational safety and health systems, the content, capacity, coverage and provisions of OHS vary considerably across national contexts. Obtaining a better understanding in terms of such similarities and variations internationally is essential as such comparative information can help inform evidenced-based decision-making on OHS at both policy and practice levels. This paper therefore reviews and analyses the key policies, standards and approaches in OH systems and services, using both academic and grey literature, across 12 industrialised countries (Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, Poland, United Kingdom and the United States of America). It provides a detailed overview and categorization of OHS in these selected countries in terms of the legal and policy context, organisation and financing and coverage and staffing while specifically discussing variations aimed at psychosocial risk management and the promotion of mental health and well-being at work. It draws conclusions on key development needs of OHS internationally to ensure psychosocial risk management and mental health promotion are prioritised effectively in a preventive manner.

[Pandemic forced telework, a new psychosocial risk. Reflections on the health issues and the necessary support]. / Télétravail contraint en pandémie, nouveau risque psychosocial : réflexions sur les enjeux santé et l'accompagnement nécessaire.

With the COVID-19 pandemic, barrier measures also concerned the world of work. In particular, teleworking was encouraged over a long period in France and then generalized in April 2021, promoting social isolation. The anxious climate linked to the pandemic and the precipitous nature of this decision induced a new psychosocial risk factor. The psychological manifestations linked to stress: anxiety, depressive disorders and others justify without delay a global action plan with systematic support measures by local management, systematic screening for possible maladjustment by the occupational health services and support people in difficulty. For this purpose and in these circumstances, self-questionnaires, directed questionnaires and video interviews appear to be the most suitable means. The chosen and part-time teleworking making it possible to reconcile family and professional life will remain a solution at certain times of life, but full-time teleworking cannot constitute an univocal and lasting solution.

Analysis of Stress Factors for Female Professors at Online Universities.

The aim of this paper is to analyze the primary stress factors female professors at online universities are exposed to. The technique used for the prospective and exploratory analysis was the Delphi method. Two rounds of consultations were done with fourteen judges with broad experience in health and safety at work and university teaching who reached a consensus of opinion regarding a list of nine psychosocial risk factors. Among the most important risk factors, mental overload, time pressure, the lack of a schedule, and emotional exhaustion were highlighted. These risk factors are related to the usage and expansion of information and communication technology (ICT) and to the university system itself, which requires initiating more research in the future in order to develop the intervention programs needed to fortify the health of the affected teachers and protect them from stress and other psychosocial risks.

[The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Health and Coping Behaviors of Patients With Treatment-Resistant Depression].

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a disastrous impact globally. For the general public and for people with mental illnesses, this pandemic may cause mental/physical stress and major life impacts. PURPOSE: This study was designed to explore the related changes in daily life and impacts on the well-being of a group of patients with chronic treatment-resistant depression (TRD) during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This study was a part of a long-term, follow-up study of a cohort of patients with TRD collected in 2018. All of the subjects who were diagnosed with major depression and fit the inclusion criteria were referred by the psychiatrists from two teaching hospitals. Structured interviews were used to collect data on physical and psychological changes during the pandemic period between January and May 2020. The researchers organized the key points by recording or note taking. Thematic analysis was used to summarize and classify themes and units. RESULTS: The 116 respondents revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic affected their health in the biological, psychological, and social dimensions. The three emerging themes included: The threatening of homogeneity in the whole person's health, the interaction between bio-psycho-social aspects, and positive growth of individuals with TRD. Although the participants had confidence in the prevention strategies of the government related to COVID-19, they expressed feelings of distress and restlessness with regard to COVID-19-related news reports. CONCLUSIONS / IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the health of patients with TRD in both positive and negative ways. As the goal of government preventive strategies is to protect and promote public health, regular attention should be paid to the negative effects of long-term exposure to pandemic-related news on this vulnerable population.