The purpose of this thesis is to identify, describe and develop the understanding of what aspects at work are important for individuals' identity construction. In this understanding-oriented study the empirical data consists of three different groups: middle managers, cultural workers and “Airis-managers”. I have interpreted and analysed the 75 respondents’ stories, and in their experiences found similar patterns. My conclusion is that there are different dimensions at work that may affect the identity construction. My research question: What is it about work that is experienced as important for individuals’ identity construction? can be answered with the five different identity-related dimensions that I have identified: the enabling dimension, the legitimating dimension, the strengthening dimension, the touching dimension and the constraining dimension. All these dimensions, except the constraining dimension, contribute positively to identity construction. The constraining dimension can be compensated if the other positively confirming dimensions dominate. The identity construction for each individual appears different depending on what dimensions he/she experiences. That is why work’s impacts on the individual's identity construction vary. In order to illustrate the developed typology of identity-related dimensions, I created a model that aims to facilitate understanding of what aspects at work that may be important for the personal identity. When raising awareness of these dimensions, efforts to strengthen the most important dimensions can be made. Through their leadership and ways of organizing work, managers may influence their employees’ opportunities to construct and strengthen their identity. Much of the identity research discusses the more conscious identity work. In my third study my empirical data consists of managers’ who have brought artists into their organizations, i.e. conducted an artistic intervention called Airis. My interpretation is that implementing an artistic intervention can be considered as a way to challenge and develop the managers’ identity and be a part of their identity work. This thesis deals with “identity at work” (to reconnect to the title). People seldom discuss “identity construction” but that does not mean that identity issues are unimportant. On the contrary, people often talk about their jobs and their work experiences. What this "talk" really means is what this thesis highlights: Identity is constructed and confirmed at work, especially when others are told about the work-related experiences.

Tidigare forskning har visat att tidspress och arbetsbelastning som vi i denna studie kallar pressfaktorer är vanliga orsaker till arbetsrelaterad stress för revisorer. Forskning har även visat att långvarig stress är ett växande folkhälsoproblem som kan få förödande konsekvenser om man inte hanterar den. Något som oss veterligen inte är beforskat är hur sambandet mellan pressfaktorer och arbetsrelaterad stress påverkas av fysisk aktivitet.      Syftet med denna studie är att förklara hur sambandet mellan revisorers pressfaktorer och arbetsrelaterad stress påverkas av fysisk aktivitet. För att uppnå syftet har litteratur som behandlar tidspress, arbetsbelastning, arbetsrelaterad stress och fysisk aktivitet använts. Det har konstruerats tre hypoteser utifrån tidigare forskning. För att testa hypoteserna användes en webbaserad enkätundersökning riktad till personer som arbetar inom revision.   Studien visar att tidspress och arbetsbelastning är förklarande faktorer till arbetsrelaterad stress för revisorer. Däremot visar resultatet inte att fysisk aktivitet har en modererande effekt på det positiva sambandet mellan pressfaktorer och arbetsrelaterad stress. Resultaten visar dock att fysisk aktivitet har en mildrande effekt direkt kopplat till den arbetsrelaterade stressen.   Studiens viktigaste bidrag är att ge ökad insikt till revisionsbranschen om att sambandet mellan pressfaktorer och arbetsrelaterad stress är vanligt förekommande vilket kan få revisionsbyråer att rikta fokus på att hitta lösningar för att minska arbetsrelaterad stress. Dessutom bidrar studien till ökad kunskap till samhället i stort om stress som ett växande folkhälsoproblem, att fysisk aktivitet har flera positiva hälsoeffekter samt kan användas för att minska arbetsrelaterad stress. / Previous research has shown that time pressure and workload, which in this study are referred to as pressure factors, are common reasons for work-related stress for auditors. Research has also shown that prolonged stress is a growing public health issue that may lead to severe consequences if not addressed. As far as we are aware, there has yet to be any research conducted in regard to the association between pressure factors and work-related stress and how it is affected by physical activity   The aim of this study is to explain how the association between pressure factors and work-related stress is affected by physical activity. To achieve this aim, we have used literature covering time pressure, workload, work-related stress and physical activity. Three hypotheses have been constructed using previous research. To test the hypotheses a web-based survey was used, aimed specifically toward employed auditors.   Our study shows that time pressure and workload are explanatory factors to work related stress for auditors. However, the result does not point to physical activity having a moderating effect on the positive relation between pressure factors and work-related stress. The results do however show that physical activity directly connected to the work-related stress has a mitigating effect.   The most important contribution of the study is to give an increased insight to the auditing profession that the relation between pressure factors and work-related stress is indeed common which could help auditing firms to focus on finding solutions to reduce work-related stress. Our study also adds knowledge to society as a whole, that stress is a growing public health issue and that physical activity has a wide variety of positive health benefits and may be used to decrease work-related stress.

Enhetschefer är benämningen på den yrkesverksamma grupp som ansvarar för verksamheter som drivs enligt socialtjänstlagen och lagen om stöd och service till vissa funktionshindrade. De befinner sig i en politiskt styrd organisation med socialnämnden som uppdragsgivare. Enhetschefer är identifierade som en yrkesverksam grupp med hög arbetsbelastning och högre risk att utsättas för stress, i jämförelse med andra yrkesgrupper i ledande position. Syftet med studien är att undersöka hur olika stressfaktorer bidrar till upplevelsen av arbetsrelaterad stress hos enhetschefer inom kommunal äldre- och funktionshinderomsorg. Metodvalet är en kvantitativ enkätundersökning med syfte i att nå ut till fler personer och på så sätt få en bred överblick av enhetschefernas arbetssituation. Studien har genomförts i en medelstor svensk kommun där samtliga enhetschefer inom kommunal äldre- och funktionshinderomsorg valts ut. Av resultatet framkommer att de faktorer som i störst utsträckning bidrar till upplevd arbetsrelaterad stress, är för hög arbetsbelastning i förhållande till arbetstiden samt  bristande möjlighet att uppfylla önskemål från brukare. / Middle managers is the name of the professional group who is responsible for institutions that are run by the Social Service Act and Act concerning Support and Service for Persons with Certain Functional impairments. They work in a politically controlled organization with the municipal social welfare committee as the outsourcer. Middle managers are identified as a profession with a high workload and a higher risk of being exposed to stress, in comparison with other occupational groups with a leading position. The aim of the study is to examine how various stressors contribute to work-related stress. The method is a quantitative survey with the aim of reaching out to more people and to get a larger overview of the middle managers work situation. The study has been carried out in a medium-sized Swedish municipality, where all middle managers in municipal elderly and disability care were selected. The result shows that the stressors that contribute most to work-related stress are the high workload in relation to working time and a lack of opportunity to fulfill the client’s wishes.

Bakgrund: På grund av psykiatriska diagnoser ökar den arbetsrelaterade ohälsan. Genom att arbeta förebyggande och främjande på arbetsplatsen, kan den arbetsrelaterade hälsan stärkas och utvecklas. Med tanke på att ett hälsofrämjande fokus har stark koppling till arbetseffektivitet, behöver detta hälsoarbete framhävas. Av bakgrund till att flyktingströmmen 2015 resulterade i en hög arbetsbelastning för integrationsarbetare, fann denna studie ett intresse av att studera hälsofrämjande inslag på en kommunal mottagningsenhet för nyanlända. Syfte: Att studera om de anställda på en mottagningsenhet för nyanlända upplevde hälsofrämjande faktorer på sin arbetsplats. Metod: Studien genomfördes med hjälp av en kvalitativ metod. Intervjuer på nio heltidsanställda fick representera resultatet. Intervjuerna transkriberades och analyserades med en innehållsanalys. Resultat: Arbetsuppgifter, social gemenskap, möjlighet till delaktighet, kompetensutveckling, ledarskap samt dagliga hälsofrämjande aktiviteter på arbetstid visade sig vara betydande hälsofrämjande faktorer på arbetsplatsen. Konklusion: Faktorerna genomsyrade en hälsofrämjande karaktär eftersom de kunde kopplas till känsla av sammanhang, savoring och empowerment. Det konkluderades att upprätthållandet av faktorerna är viktigt, med tanke på att de kan påverka de anställdas hälsa positivt. Fortsättningsvis är det av stor vikt att de här faktorerna stärks och upprätthålls för att möjliggöra ett gott integrationsarbete. / Background: Work related illness is based on the growth of psychiatric diagnosis. By working preventive and promotive in the workplace, the work related health can be strengthened and developed. Given that workplace health promotion has a strong link to work effectiveness, this health work needs to be emphasized. Due to the fact that the 2015 refugee flow resulted in a high workload for integration workers, this study found an interest in studying health promotion features at a municipal receiving unit for new arrivals. Purpose: To study whether employees on a receiving unit for new arrivals experienced health promotive factors at their workplace. Method: The study was implemented by using a qualitative method. Interviews of nine fulltime employees represented the results. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed with a content analysis. Results: Work task, social community, opportunity for participation, capacity building, leadership and daily health promotion activities at work time was proven to be substantial health promoting factors at the workplace. Conclusion: Because of the linkage to sence of coherence, savoring and empowerment, the activities were related as health promotive factors. The factors are important given that they can positively improve employee health. Henceforth it is vital that these factors can be strengthened and maintained to promote integration work.

Arbetsrelaterad psykisk ohälsa orsakar årligen en ansenlig mängd sjukskrivningar. Behovet av allt tidigare åtgärder, som fokuserar på att anpassa arbetskrav med arbetsförmåga samt samhälleliga strukturer som stödjer dessa har framlyfts. En utmaning är den otillräckliga kunskapen om tidiga arbetsplatsnära åtgärder. Arbetsterapi blir oftast inte aktuellt förrän de negativa konsekvenserna av både tillståndet och sjukskrivningen är betydande. Syftet i denna studie var att utforska och beskriva hur personer som drabbats av arbetsrelaterad psykisk ohälsa, men som inte är sjukskrivna, upplever sin arbetsmiljö samt att undersöka hindrande och stödjande faktorer i arbetsmiljön. Metod: Studien genomfördes med en Mixed Methods design. Data samlades in med Work Environment Impact Scale (WEIS). Analys av kvalitativa data kombinerade deduktiv och induktiv ansats. Kvantitativa data analyserades med deskriptiv statistik. Resultatet framlyfte en flerdimensionell och individuellt varierad miljöpåverkan både i och utanför arbetet som bidrog till upplevelsen av nedsatt arbetsförmåga. Detta är implikationer för behovet av att i ett tidigt skede stödja arbetsförmåga ur ett perspektiv som beaktar den drabbade individens vardagliga helhetskontext. Anpassning av arbetssituationen baserad på en analys av faktorer kopplade till individen, arbetet och miljön, behövs i större utsträckning. Arbetsterapeuters metoder och kompetens kan bidra till ökad kunskap om tidiga åtgärder samt till at stödja individer att undvika sjukskrivning. Denna kompetens berikar och kompletterar de arbetssätt som redan är praxis inom företagshälsovård. Arbetsterapeuters expertis borde i tidigare skede och högre grad finnas tillgänglig som stöd vid arbetsrelaterad psykisk ohälsa. / Work related mental disorders continue to cause significant amounts of work absenteeism. The need of matching working conditions to the individuals’ work ability has been emphasized. The lack of knowledge concerning early interventions is though challenging. Occupational therapy is often offered at too late a point when the negative consequences of the sick-leave or the condition already are significant. The aim of this study was two-fold. Firstly, to explore and describe how people affected by work related stress but not on sick leave, experience their working environment. Secondly, to investigate interfering and supporting aspects in the working environment. A Mixed methods design was chosen, and data collected using the Work Environment Impact Scale (WEIS). The qualitative content analysis employed both deductive and inductive approach. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse gradings. The results reflected a multidimensional environmental influence in and outside the work leading to an experience of decreased work ability. The results imply the necessity to early support of work ability embracing the general daily context of the individual affected. Matching the individual and the work to each other, based on an analysis of individual, environmental and work-related factors, should be more common. The methods and the competence occupational therapists possess can contribute to gaining knowledge concerning early interventions and also support individuals to avoid sick leave. This expertise enrichens customary occupational health services practice and should be more commonly provided.

The purpose of this thesis is to compile current research knowledge about the social worker’s psychosocial work environment in social services, focusing on themes as work-related stress, psychological well-being, social support and professional identity. The aim is to discover areas of change or improvement within the work environment in social services. The thesis is answering the following research question: what does research, published within the timeframe of 2017-2020, say about the social worker’s psychosocial work environment considering themes as work-related stress, social support, psychological well-being and professional identity? Two theoretical perspectives are applied to make understanding of the empirical data: cognitive theory with a coping perspective and social constructionism. The method used in this study is a thematic analysis. The purpose of this method is to compile research regarding the social worker’s psychosocial work environment according to different themes. The results of the study show that social workers experience both stress and well-being within their work environment. Stress is caused by high demands, lack of resources and lack of control. Work-related stress affects social workers’ health, professionality and their attitudes towards their job. Psychological well-being is promoted by resources such as social support, quality of work, work experience and client affirmation. Social support is a high valued resource among social workers and is often a reason for staying in social services. The social worker’s professional identity is both individual and shared, and built on solidarity. The results show that professional identity is affected negatively by conflicting demands within social services.

The purpose of this qualitative master thesis is to investigate the cultural activity experiencesof employees and their meaning for well-being and work satisfaction. The method used inthis study was thematic analysis. The data collection was conducted through eightsemi-structured interviews with employees in a municipal department that participated incultural activities organized by their employer as a part of their ordinary work tasks. In theresult three main themes emerged with appurtenant sub-themes: The experience of increasedsocial interaction in the workplace (Promoting fellowship and cohesion in the workplace,New and deepened relationships with colleagues, and Conversations and discussions withcolleagues), The experience of a changed view of the workplace (Feeling appreciated by theemployer, The experience that cultural activities benefit the workplace, and The experience ofhow the cultural activities have been arranged), and The experience that cultural activitieslead to benefits for the individual (Something out of the ordinary and Enriching for theindividual). The main themes, together with their sub-themes, describe how the culturalactivities have been perceived to have affected social relations, increased well-being in theworkplace and enriched the individuals. The results are largely in line with previous researchand can be linked to established theories. All together, from what has emerged in the resultsand previous research the conclusion can be drawn that cultural activities could be used inwork-life to promote the individuals well-being and job satisfaction. / Syftet med föreliggande kvalitativa studie är att undersöka anställdas upplevelser avkulturaktiviteter som arrangerats av arbetsgivaren och deras eventuella betydelse förvälbefinnande och arbetstillfredsställelse. Metoden som användes i studien var tematiskanalys. Datainsamlingen skedde genom åtta semistrukturerade intervjuer med anställda vid enkommunförvaltning som haft deltagande i kulturaktiviteter organiserade av arbetsgivarensom en del av sina arbetsuppgifter. I resultatet utkristalliserades tre huvudteman medtillhörande underteman: Upplevelsen av en ökad social interaktion på arbetsplatsen(Främjande av gemenskap och sammanhållning på arbetsplatsen, Nya och fördjupaderelationer med kollegor, och Samtal och diskussion med kollegor), Upplevelsen av enförändrad syn på arbetsplatsen (Att känna sig uppskattad av arbetsgivaren, Upplevelsen avatt kulturaktiviteterna gynnar arbetsplatsen, och Upplevelsen av hur kulturaktiviteterna harorganiserats), och Upplevelsen av att kulturaktiviteterna leder till fördelar för individen(Någonting utöver det vanliga för individen, och Berikande för individen). Huvudtemanabeskriver tillsammans med sina underteman hur kulturaktiviteterna upplevs ha påverkatsociala relationer, ökat trivseln på arbetsplatsen samt varit utvecklande för medarbetarna somindivider. Resultatet går till stor del i linje med tidigare forskning och kan kopplas tilletablerade psykologiska teorier. Sammantaget dras slutsatsen utifrån vad som framkommit iresultatet och tidigare forskning att kulturaktiviteter skulle kunna användas inom arbetslivetför att främja individens välbefinnande och trivsel på arbetet.

Introduction. Simulation-based training courses are commonly used in medical and teacher education in order to practice handling difficult tasks and situations in a safe environment. This paper researches a training course held by the university library of Linköping. Using simulations with avatars the librarians acted out challenging and troublesome scenarios with library users. The library users were played by computer simulated avatars, in a virtual environment. The avatars were controlled by a simulation specialist. The aim of the paper is to research if and how this kind of simulation-based training course can strengthen librarians’ ability to handle difficult situations with library users, and if it can be a useful tool in the aim to improve the workplace environment. Method. To find out the thoughts and feelings of the participants of the training course, a questionnaire was distributed to all participants. To get a deeper understanding, five of the participants also took part in an interview. One of the simulation-specialists and the librarian who led the training course, were also interviewed, to find out more about the simulation-based training course. Lastly, both authors of this paper participated in a short simulation exercise as well, to gain a deeper understanding of how it works. Analysis. The research material from the questionnaires and interviews were analyzed using Albert Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy, Stevan E. Hobfoll’s resource theory, and John Dewey’s education theory. The three theories together made possible for us to research the simulation-based training course from several different perspectives. This enabled an investigation into the training course’s potential to strengthen the librarians’ ability to handle difficult situations, conserve resources and make them resilient, and what this unique form of training course can teach. Results. The questionnaires and interviews show that difficult or threatening situations with library users rarely occur at the university library where the participants work. The respondents emphasize however, the importance of recurrent training in the treatment of library users. A few respondents express that they feel safer after completing the training course, and that they feel better prepared to face difficult situations with library users. The results also show that the simulation-based training course is a good way to learn as it is based on the real experiences of the librarians, and they get to be physically active, using their bodies in acting during the scenarios. Conclusions. The findings of this research suggest that this kind of simulation-based training course in handling difficult situations with library users, has the potential to strengthen librarians’ resilience and ability to handle difficult situations. It concludes as well that the form of the training course, acting out scenarios with computer simulated avatars, is a good way to learn different strategies to cope with challenging situations. Any overarching conclusions cannot be drawn since this paper only research one training course and it is not within its scope to study the long-term effects.  This is a two-year master’s thesis in Library and Information Science.

Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka och öka kunskapen om arbetsrelaterad stress hos biståndshandläggare inom äldreomsorgen. Genom kvalitativa intervjuer med sex anställda har ett antal frågeställningar besvarats. Dessa handlar om stressens orsaker, hur stressen påverkar biståndshandläggarnas välmående och arbetskvalitet, hur stressen hanteras och vilka faktorer biståndshandläggarna anser kan reducera den upplevda stressen. Intervjumaterialet har sedan analyserats utifrån tidigare forskning kopplat till stress hos socialarbetare samt två teoretiska verktyg: krav-kontrollmodellen och copingteorin. Resultat visar på att orsaker till stress handlar om faktorer så som en okontrollerbar ärendemängd och brist på stöd från ledning. Biståndshandläggarnas hälsa påverkas på olika sätt, både psykiskt, fysiskt och kognitivt. Vidare påverkas arbetskvaliteten genom att detaljer lättare missas. Respondenternas stresshantering kännetecknas av både positiva och negativa strategier. Det kan handla om att öka strukturen, sänka de personliga kraven, arbeta övertid eller att inte söka stöd. Respondenternas egna idéer om stressreducerande faktorer visade sig handla om stöd på arbetsplatsen och att arbeta i en resursstark organisation. Vidare framkom det att respondenter kan uppleva stress som något positivt då den kombineras med en hög kontrollnivå. / The aim of this study was to examine and increase the knowledge about work related stress among social service workers within elderly care. Through qualitative interviewes with six employees, a number of questions have been answered. These are about the causes of stress, how the stress affects the employees health and quality of work, how stress is managed and which factors they believe can reduce stress. The material has been analyzed on the basis of earlier research linked to stress among social workers together with two theoretical tools: the demand-control model and the coping theory. Results show that causes of stress are factors such as lack of control in work cases and a lack of support from the management. The employees health is affected by stress in various ways, both mentally, physically and cognitively. Furthermore, the quality of work is affected by details being more easily missed. The respondents’ stress management is characterized by both positive and negative strategies. It can be about increasing the work structure, lowering personal demands, working overtime and not seeking support. The respondents’ own ideas about stress reducing factors turned out to be about support within the work place and to work in a resourceful organisation. Results also show that respondents may experience stress as something positive when it is combined with a high level of control.

Samverkan inom psykiatri/socialpsykiatri inbegriper organisationer och de professionella roller som utgår ifrån olika lagar och riktlinjer, organisatoriska strukturer samt teoretiska och professionella grunder. Syftet med denna studie är att ge en bild av hur en kommunal socialnämnd och en lokal psykiatrisk verksamhet kan arbeta med en långsiktig strategi för samverkan. Denna fallstudie granskar samverkan mellan psykiatrin och socialtjänsten i en kommun i Stockholms län. Ansatsen är organisationsteoretisk och belyser de strukturer och processer som samverkan innebär. De organisationer som berörs tillhör olika administrativa och politiska sektorer inom landsting respektive kommun och innefattar olika professionella inriktningar såsom läkare, socialsekreterare, sjuksköterskor, psykologer, kuratorer, arbetsterapeuter, boendestödjare, mentalskötare m.fl. Fallstudien omfattar dels en dokumentationsstudie över avtal och rutiner för samverkan, utvärderingar och andra typer av dokumentation samt en intervjustudie av personer med olika professionella roller inom respektive organisation. Resultaten visar att framgångsrik samverkan bygger på klara strukturer utifrån mandat från respektive organisations ledning samt processinriktade faktorer, framför allt behovet av gemensamma "arenor" som stöd till de direkta kontakter som behöver tas i arbetet med individuella patienter och klienter. / Collaboration in the area of mental health involves organizations and professional roles with their basis in differing laws and guidelines, organizational structures and theoretical and professional foundations. The aim of this study is to examine the structures and processes involved in collaboration between the social service and providers of psychiatric care. Drawing on organizational theory concerning the nature of collaboration and factors which can hinder or assist successful collaboration, a case study has been constructed examining collaboration between a local psychiatric clinic in the region of Stockholm and the social service in a local community. The organizations concerned belong to different administrative and political sectors and involve professionals with various specialties such as psychiatrists, social welfare secretaries, nurses, psychologists, counsellors, occupational therapists and others. A study of formal agreements and routines for collaboration, evaluations and other forms of documentation, in combination with an interview study of persons with different professional roles in each respective organization, reveals the importance of a commitment to support collaboration from the management of each organization and the systematic creation and upholdning of meeting places for the various professions in order to support and facilitate cooperation concerning individual clients and patients.