Comparing Exposure to Psychosocial Risks: Face-to-Face Work vs. Telework.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, substantial changes have occurred in the work organization and arrangements. One of the main ones has been the popularization of teleworking among non-manual workers. This paper aims to assess the exposure of psychosocial risks among non-manual Spanish wage-earners, depending on the working modality (mainly telework, combining teleworking with onsite work, or onsite work). METHODS: Based on an online survey conducted between April and May 2021, a cross-sectional study was carried out among n=11,519 members of a trade union where Psychosocial Risks (PSR) were measured through COPSOQ Questionnaire Scales. All analyses were performed stratifying by sex. RESULTS: Women who combine telework and face-to-face work (aPR: 1.21; 95%CI 1.07-1.37) and men who mainly telework (aPR: 1.26; 95%CI 1.11-1.43) and that combine (aPR: 1.27; 95%CI 1.11-1.45) are more exposed to quantitative demands than men and women who do not telework. On the other hand, women who telework, either entirely (aPR: 0.89; 95%CI 0.82-0.97) or combining (aPR: 0.89; 95%CI 0.81-0.98), are less exposed to emotional demands than women who do not telework, and the same occurs among men who mainly telework (aPR: 0.84; 95%CI 0.76-0.92). Telework and horizontal or vertical social support are not associated, except for supervisor support among males, nor with work-life conflict. CONCLUSIONS: Except for quantitative demands, employees who combine telework and face-to-face work are less exposed to psychosocial risks than those who mainly telework or work face-to-face only. More studies with a gender and class perspective are needed in this area.

Job Insecurity, Mental Health, and General Health Over Time: A Longitudinal Update of a Cross-sectional Study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to test the relationship between different conceptualizations of job insecurity and health over time by applying a longitudinal design. METHODS: 543 workers were reinterviewed after 1 year to check if being exposed to job insecurity affected their general and mental health. Robust Poisson regressions were fitted to calculate the incidence rate ratio between job insecurities and two health outcomes. RESULTS: Cognitive job loss insecurity increases the risk of poor mental and general health. Other expressions of job insecurity such as labor market insecurity and working conditions insecurity, as well as affective job insecurity, are not significantly related to health across time. CONCLUSIONS: Caution is needed when interpreting cross-sectional results. Protection against the threat of losing a job would prevent mental health issues and poor general health.

Protective action in the workplace in the time of COVID-19: The role of worker representation.

BACKGROUND: This study addresses the contribution of worker representation to health and safety in the pandemic context. To do so, we examine whether the self-reported presence of representatives in workplaces is associated with the implementation of anti-COVID-19 protective action and with which type of measures their existence is most strongly associated (individual, collective or organizational). The article also explores how the presence of worker representatives and anti-COVID-19 protective measures are distributed according to workers' socio-professional characteristics and company features. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study based on an online survey conducted in Spain (n = 19,452 workers). Multiple Correspondence Analysis was used for the multivariate description while the association between worker representation and protective measures was assessed by robust Poisson regressions. RESULTS: The maps resulting from the Multiple Correspondence Analysis allow for the identification of patterns of inequalities in protection, with a clear occupational social class divide. The regression models show that protective measures are applied more frequently where worker representatives exist, this association being particularly strong in relation to organizational measures. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of worker representation is systematically associated with a greater presence of protective measures, which could have implications for the reduction of social inequalities resulting from labor-management practices.

Mental health inequalities in times of crisis: evolution between 2005 and 2021 among the Spanish salaried population.

BACKGROUND: Studying the working population's mental health in times of crisis (such as the 2008 recession or the COVID-19 pandemic) is very relevant. This study aims to assess the prevalence of poor mental health among the Spanish salaried population, according to the labour market inequality axes (2005-2021). METHODS: Repeated cross-sectional study by comparing different surveys from 2005, 2010, 2016 and 2021 on workers residing in Spain who had been working in a salaried job during the week preceding the survey. n=7197 (2005), n=4985 (2010), n=1807 (2016) and n=18 870 (2021). OUTCOME VARIABLE: poor mental health (Mental Health Inventory of the 36-item Short Form Health Survey scale). Explanatory variables: gender, age, occupational class and type of contract. Prevalence of poor mental health was estimated for each year by means of logistic regression models with robust clustered SEs, stratifying by the explanatory variables. Additionally, prevalence ratios (PR) were estimated by means of robust Poisson regression models to assess differences between the explanatory variables' categories. All analyses were weighted to address unrepresentativeness. RESULTS: Poor mental health significantly increased in 2021 (55.92%), compared with the previous years of study (15%-17.72%). Additionally, pattern changes were identified on inequality axes in 2021, with better mental health status among older workers (oldest group PR: 0.76; 95% CI 0.71 to 0.8) and permanent workers (PR: 0.9; 95% CI 0.85 to 0.94). CONCLUSION: This study shows a steep worsening of mental health among the salaried population in 2021 compared with previous periods. In 2021, health inequalities have apparently narrowed, although not by improving the disadvantaged groups' mental health but by worsening the typically advantaged groups' mental health.

Delegation and consultation on operational and tactical issues: Any difference in their potentialities for a healthier psychosocial work environment?

BACKGROUND: Despite the growing number of studies on direct participation labor-management practices, little is known about the role of their different discretionary degrees (delegation or consultation) and topics in their relationship with the psychosocial work environment by occupational groups. METHODS: Cross-sectional study on the relationship between direct participation and work-related psychosocial risks (using COPSOQ-ISTAS21 v3) on a representative sample of the salaried and wage-earning employees in Spain (n = 1807). Prevalence ratios were calculated using adjusted Poisson regression models, controlling for 10 other labor-management practices, sex, and age, and stratified by occupational group. RESULTS: The use of direct participation was either associated consistently with a healthier psychosocial work environment (mostly in manual occupations, which presented twice as many positive associations as nonmanual occupations, and of greater strength, mostly in the control and social support dimensions) or there were no significant associations (mostly among nonmanual occupations and in relation to work pace). More frequent and stronger associations were observed when consultation and delegation were used in combination. If used separately, consultation achieved better results among manual occupations and delegation among nonmanual occupations. Direct participation topics were not important for results in manual occupations whereas results were better on tactical (vs. operational) issues in nonmanual occupations. CONCLUSIONS: Direct participation does not change power structure, but it may be a useful intervention at the company level to reduce work-related psychosocial exposures and associated diseases among workers in manual occupations, and consequently for decreasing occupational exposures and health inequalities.

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 third version of COPSOQ-Istas21. An updated international instrument for the workplace.] / La tercera versión de COPSOQ-Istas21. Un instrumento internacional actualizado para la prevención de riesgos psicosociales en el trabajo.

OBJECTIVE: The Copenhagen Psychosocial Questio-nnaire (COPSOQ) is one of the most widely used in research and psychosocial risk assessment in the workplace. The adaptation of the third international COPSOQ version to Spain is described and the evidence of its validity and reliability presented. METHODS: Most of the items were already part of the previous versions I and II. The translation of the new items was done by means of translation/reverse translation. The questionnaire was included in the Psychosocial Risk Survey 2016, a cross-sectional study of a representative sample of the wage-earning population in Spain (N=1,807). Descriptive statistics, internal consistency, floor and ceiling effects and factor structure were analysed. Prevalence Ratios adjusted by age, sex and occupational class (aPR) to mental health, general health and job satisfaction were calculated. Finally, population reference values were calculated for all dimensions of the instrument. RESULTS: The questionnaire showed an excellent factorial structure. All scales, except one, showed α of Cronbach >0.70. Comparing the COPSOQ-Istas21 III scales with their international references, Cronbach's α were higher and the ceiling and floor effects were lower; i.e. Organisational Justice: α=0.85 vs 0.74, ceiling and floor 1.6 and 9.4 vs 3.3 and 12.8. The aPR between all the psychosocial dimensions and the Mental Health, General Health and Job Satisfaction were in the expected direction and showed an association gradient. CONCLUSIONS: COPSOQ-Istas21 version III presents psychometric properties analogous or better than the original in English language, and good indicators of validity and reliability, to be used in research and psychosocial risk assessment at the workplace in Spain.

OBJETIVO: El Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ) es uno de los más utilizados en investigación y evaluación de riesgos psicosociales en el trabajo. En este artículo se describió la adaptación de la tercera versión internacional a España y se presentaron las pruebas de su validez y fiabilidad. METODOS: La mayoría de los ítems ya formaban parte de las versiones anteriores I y II. La traducción de los nuevos ítems fue realizada mediante traducción/traducción inversa. El cuestionario se incluyó en la Encuesta de Riesgos Psicosociales de 2016, estudio transversal de una muestra representativa de la población asalariada en España (N=1.807). Se analizaron los estadísticos descriptivos, consistencia interna, efectos suelo y techo y estructura factorial. Se calcularon las Razones de Prevalencia ajustadas por edad, sexo y clase ocupacional (aRP) con salud mental, salud general y satisfacción laboral. Finalmente, se calcularon los valores de referencia poblacionales para todas las dimensiones del instrumento. RESULTADOS: El cuestionario mostró una excelente estructura factorial. Todas las escalas, excepto una, mostraron α de Cronbach >0,70. Comparando las escalas de COPSOQ-Istas21 III con sus referentes internacionales, las α de Cronbach fueron más altas y los efectos techo y suelo menores (por ejemplo, Justicia organizacional: α=0,85 vs 0,74, techo y suelo 1,6 y 9,4 vs 3,3 y 12,8). Las aRP entre todas las dimensiones psicosociales y las dimensiones de Salud mental, Salud general y Satisfacción, fueron en la dirección esperada y mostraron un gradiente de asociación. CONCLUSIONES: COPSOQ-Istas21 versión III presenta propiedades psicométricas análogas o mejores al original en lengua inglesa y buenos indicadores de validez y fiabilidad para ser usado en investigación y evaluación de riesgos psicosociales laborales en España.

[Psychosocial risk exposure among wage earning population in Spain (2004-05): reference values of the 21 dimensions of COPSOQ ISTAS21 questionnaire]. / Exposición a riesgos psicosociales entre la población asalariada en España (2004-05): valores de referencia de las 21 dimensiones del cuestionario COPSOQ ISTAS21.

BACKGROUND: Reference values of all the 21 psychosocial scales or dimensions (73 items) of the psychosocial risk assessment questionnaire COPSOQ ISTAS21 are computed from a representative sample of the wage earning population in Spain. METHODS: Representative sample of the Spanish wage-earning population, n=7,612. The sampling was multi-stage by conglomerates. The information was obtained by the administration of a standardized questionnaire in the household during 2004-2005. All 21 scales were standardized and three punctuation levels were established and labelled as 'more favourable to health (or green)', 'intermediate (or yellow)' and 'more unfavourable to health (or red)' according two criteria: 1) to obtain groups that follow a tertiles theoretical distribution and 2) to get the 'red' and 'green' groups as equilibrated as possible. RESULTS: Response rate was 60. Predictability dimension showed the wider difference between 'green' and 'red' proportions (7.14). Role clarity concentred the 35.06 % of population between 100 and 93.75 points, and Sense of community the 29.6% between 100 and 91.67. Double presence and hiding emotions grouped the 34.02% and the 27.74% % of population between 0 and 12.5 points, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: 2005 upgraded representative reference values of the 21 COPSOQ ISTAS21 psychosocial dimensions for the wage earning population in Spain are available, necessary premise to diagnose risk situations and prioritize the needed preventive actions at company level.