Over the last three decades a large body of research has showed that psychosocial job dimensions such as time pressure, decision authority and social support, could have significant implications for psychological distress and well-being. Theoretical models, such as the job demand-control-social support model (JDCS model), the effort-reward imbalance model (ERI model), the job demands-resources model (JDR model) and the vitamin model suggest that distress and positive dimensions at work (well being and motivation) can be considered as two sides of the same coin. If the job is designed to provide the right mix of psychosocial job dimensions (e.g., optimal time pressure, decision authority and social support), work can boost job engagement and well-being as well as productive behaviors at work. When the job is not designed in an optimal way (e.g., too much time pressure and too little decision authority) work can trigger stress reactions and burnout. Although some insight has been gained on how job dimensions could predict distress and well-being, and also into the dimensions that might moderate and mediate these associations; research still faces several challenges. Firstly, most of this research has been cross-sectional in nature, thus making it difficult to conclude on the long-term effects of psychosocial job dimensions. Another challenge concerns how the contextual dimensions can be incorporated into micro-levels models on employee stress and well-being. Nowadays, work is carried out in the context of a wider environment that includes organizational variables. So far the role of the organizational variables in the theoretical frameworks for explaining the relationships between psychosocial job dimensions, employee distress and well-being, has often been underplayed. The main aim of this research topic is to bring together international research from different theoretical and methodological perspectives in order to advance knowledge and practice in the field of work stress.

Over the last three decades a large body of research has showed that psychosocial job dimensions such as time pressure, decision authority and social support, could have significant implications for psychological distress and well-being. Theoretical models, such as the job demand-control-social support model (JDCS model), the effort-reward imbalance model (ERI model), the job demands-resources model (JDR model) and the vitamin model suggest that distress and positive dimensions at work (well being and motivation) can be considered as two sides of the same coin. If the job is designed to provide the right mix of psychosocial job dimensions (e.g., optimal time pressure, decision authority and social support), work can boost job engagement and well-being as well as productive behaviors at work. When the job is not designed in an optimal way (e.g., too much time pressure and too little decision authority) work can trigger stress reactions and burnout. Although some insight has been gained on how job dimensions could predict distress and well-being, and also into the dimensions that might moderate and mediate these associations; research still faces several challenges. Firstly, most of this research has been cross-sectional in nature, thus making it difficult to conclude on the long-term effects of psychosocial job dimensions. Another challenge concerns how the contextual dimensions can be incorporated into micro-levels models on employee stress and well-being. Nowadays, work is carried out in the context of a wider environment that includes organizational variables. So far the role of the organizational variables in the theoretical frameworks for explaining the relationships between psychosocial job dimensions, employee distress and well-being, has often been underplayed. The main aim of this research topic is to bring together international research from different theoretical and methodological perspectives in order to advance knowledge and practice in the field of work stress.

This ground-breaking textbook is the first to cover the new and rapidly developing field of occupational health psychology. Provides a thorough introduction to occupational health psychology and an accessible overview of the key themes in research and practice Each chapter relates to an aspect of the core education curriculum delineated by the European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology Written by internationally recognized experts in the field Examines a host of contemporary workplace health issues, including work-related stress; the psychosocial work environment; positive psychology and employee well-being; psychosocial risk management; workspace design; organizational research methods; and corporate culture and health

Essentials of Occupational Health Psychology provides a thorough overview of Occupational Health Psychology (OHP) with a focus on empowering readers to take appropriate and reasoned action to address a wide variety of worker health, safety, and well-being challenges that are present in working situations all over the world. Although relatively new as an area of specialization, OHP research and intervention efforts are already having major impacts on the way work is done around the world. Each of the twelve chapters in Essentials of Occupational Health Psychology addresses an essential aspect of OHP, with a consistent emphasis on putting what is known about that area into practice. Topics include essential background information regarding the history of OHP and major areas of OHP research and practice, such as work-related stress and recovery, psychological and physical demands and resources, interpersonal mistreatment, work and nonwork role dynamics, and safety. Each chapter features a discussion of why these topics are important to workers and organizations, as well as pertinent evaluation and/or intervention recommendations to help readers better understand what they can do to improve worker health, safety, and well-being, and how to convince others of the value of such efforts. Additional supplements within each chapter include a set of targeted learning objectives to help structure student reading and in-class discussion, focused discussion questions, pertinent media resources to provide current examples of these topics, and professional profiles based on interviews conducted by the authors with fourteen well-known and widely respected OHP researchers and practitioners. Essentials of Occupational Health Psychology is valuable to graduate and advanced undergraduate students as well as working professionals who are interested in learning how to manage work environments that support worker health, safety, and well-being. The chapters in this text could also provide supplemental reading for training and development workshops for professionals in related disciplines who could benefit from a better understanding of the psychology associated with work experiences.

Occupational Health Psychology (OHP) is a rapidly expanding interdisciplinary field that focuses on the science and practice of psychology in promoting anddeveloping workplace health- and safety-related initiatives. This comprehensive text for undergraduate and graduate survey courses is the first toencompass a wide range of key issues in OHP from a North American perspective. It draws from the domains of psychology, public health, preventive medicine,nursing, industrial engineering, law, and epidemiology to focus on the theory and practice of protecting and promoting the health, well-being, and safetyof individuals in the workplace and improving the quality of work life. The text addresses key psychosocial work issues that are often related to mental and physical health problems, including psychological distress, burnout,depression, accidental injury, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. It examines leadership styles as they impact organizational culture and providesspecific recommendations for reducing employee-related stress through improved leader practices. Also addressed is the relationship between adversepsychosocial working conditions and harmful health behaviors, along with interventions aimed at improving the work environment and maximizingeffectiveness. Additionally, the book discusses how scientists and practitioners in OHP conduct research and other important concerns such as workplaceviolence, work/life balance, and safety. The book reinforces learning with chapter objectives, highlight boxes containing intriguing examples of researchand current controversies, and chapter summaries. Key Features: Comprises the first comprehensive text on Occupational Health Psychology for undergraduate and graduate survey courses Covers key issues in health psychology in the workplace such as stress, violence, work/life balance, and safety Organized and written for easy access by students and faculty Provides specific recommendation for reducing employee stress Includes learning objectives, highlight boxes, and end-of-chapter summaries

This book is a valuable, comprehensive and unique reference text on Psychosocial Safety Climate (PSC), a new work stress theory. It proposes a new PSC theory concerning the corporate climate for workers’ psychological health, its origins and implications for work stress, and provides a critique of current research and theories. It provides a comprehensive review of all PSC studies to date. The chapters discuss state-of-the-art empirical evidence testing PSC theory in relation to management roles, organisational resilience, corruption, organisational status, cultural perspectives, illegitimate tasks, high PSC work groups, PSC variability in work groups, etc. They investigate outcomes such as psychological distress, emotional exhaustion, depression, worry, engagement, health, cognitive decline, personal initiative, boredom, cynicism, sickness absence, and productivity loss, in various workplace settings across many countries. This unique book allows practitioners to rapidly update practical measures, benchmarks and processes, and provides students and trainees with an introduction to PSC and important concepts and methods, quantitative and qualitative, in occupational health with leads to further sources. Students as well as experts on occupational health and safety, human resource management, occupational health psychology, organisational psychology and practitioners, unions and policy makers will find this book highly informative. It covers relevant materials for undergraduate and postgraduate education, drawing upon the concepts, topics and methods (diary, multilevel, longitudinal, qualitative, data linkage) within the multidisciplinary occupational health area.

The past several decades of rapid organizational change and global economic activity beseech a fresh understanding of work conditions and mental health across all nations and regions. This volume addresses psychosocial factors at work, legislation, frameworks, research innovations and common perceptions in the Asia Pacific countries. It presents new research on psychosocial factors at work from an Asia Pacific perspective, introducing exciting new research on workaholism, bullying, work-life balance and conflict, work demands classifications, and psychosocial safety climate. Insights regarding workplace psychosocial factors, worker health and well-being have evolved mainly within North American and European cultural contexts and developed industrial countries. This state of the art account of knowledge development in the Asia Pacific region will stimulate new insights for researchers and policy makers to improve the quality of workers’ lives worldwide. "This very informative book highlights the significance and uniqueness of job stress problems encountered by workers of different countries in the Asia Pacific region. Occupational health researchers all around the world will find this book a great inspiration for future research." Yawen Cheng, ScD, Institute of Health Policy and Management, Taiwan “Initiatives and interventions reported from collaborative projects present useful hints for filling gaps in policies and practices for managing psychosocial risk factors in diverse work-life situations in the Asia Pacific region”. Dr. Kazutaka Kogi, President, International Commission of Occupational Health