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Stress is the most common reason for sick leave in Sweden today. The physical demands are less in today’s work life, but the psychological demands have increased, resulting in increased stress related ill-health. The aim with the current study was to gain an understanding in how individuals that has been or are on stress-related sick leave experience the social support received at the work place and where they experienced that the primary responsibility for the sick leave was. Nine participants from self-help groups for stress was interviewed with a qualitative hermeneutic approach. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed with van Manen’s (1990) “selective or highlighting approach”. The analysis was grounded in four research questions; causes of stress-related sick leave, perceived responsibility for the sick leave, social support, and facilitating factors for returning to work. The result showed that the participants experienced lack of rewards, high demands, low control, lack of social support, insufficient recovery and denial of symptoms of stress. The participants often blamed themselves and took on the primary responsibility. The self-help groups acted as substitute for the lacking social support as well as increased the self-awareness and motivation among the participants.

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between gender and self reported symptoms (physiological and psychological) and sense of coherence (SOC) and Job Demand-Control-Social support (JDCS). The sample consisted of 360 respondents (nfemale= 261, nmale= 99), in the ages between 19-53 (M=25,57, SD=5,77), all students from Växjö University. A quantitative work method was used in the study; data was collected using questionnaires that consisted of self-reported questions, based on three parts: A modified symptom checklist, SOC 13 and a modified JDCS questionnaire. The result of our study showed that both SOC and JDCS had an effect on self-reported symptoms but there were no interaction between SOC and JDCS. No significant gender differences were found regarding the level of SOC. Female students reported symptoms in a significant higher extent than male students. There were no gender differences regarding JDCS. Our results are discussed in relation to previous studies. Our conclusion is that it is important to perform further research on students’ health and work environment.

<p>The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between gender and self reported symptoms (physiological and psychological) and sense of coherence (SOC) and Job Demand-Control-Social support (JDCS). The sample consisted of 360 respondents (nfemale= 261, nmale= 99), in the ages between 19-53 (M=25,57, SD=5,77), all students from Växjö University. A quantitative work method was used in the study; data was collected using questionnaires that consisted of self-reported questions, based on three parts: A modified symptom checklist, SOC 13 and a modified JDCS questionnaire. The result of our study showed that both SOC and JDCS had an effect on self-reported symptoms but there were no interaction between SOC and JDCS. No significant gender differences were found regarding the level of SOC. Female students reported symptoms in a significant higher extent than male students. There were no gender differences regarding JDCS. Our results are discussed in relation to previous studies. Our conclusion is that it is important to perform further research on students’ health and work environment.</p>

While the literature surrounding the negative effects of stress on health and well-being is plentiful, there is a distinct lack of research applying stress frameworks to an organisational safety context. This study investigated the impact of stressors and strains on safety in the workplace, using the Job Demand-Control model as a research framework. In order to maintain a proactive approach to safety management, safety climate, safety compliance and safety participation were used as study variables as they have been established as antecedents to accidents and injuries in the workplace. From questionnaire data from employees with regular safety issues it was found that a positive relationship exists between safety climate and safety behaviours. Satisfaction was found to mediate the relationship between safety climate and one dimension of the safety compliance measure used. Providing support for the buffer hypothesis of the Job Demand-Control model, safety control moderated the relationship between safety climate and safety participation. Control over work scheduling, and decision latitude moderated the relationship between safety climate and safety participation but were indicative of an enhancing effect, rather than a buffering effect. The results suggest that control is an important variable to consider in terms of safety.

Psykosocial arbetsmiljö är samspelet mellan psykiska och fysiska faktorer vilka är av vikt för en individs hälsa, välbefinnande och arbetstrivsel. Forskning inom området har främst fokuserat på hälsa, välmående och stress där krav-kontrollmodellen är en vanligt förekommande modell. Syftet med studien var att undersöka hur faktorerna krav, kontroll och socialt stöd relaterar till arbetstrivsel. Utgångspunkt var krav-kontroll-stödmodellen samt dess relation och interaktion till arbetstrivsel utifrån fem frågeställningar och tre hypoteser. Medverkande var 65 kvinnor och 22 män från två kontor inom en statlig myndighet i Mellansverige. Undersökningen genomfördes med en enkät inspirerad av mätinstrumenten ASK 2.0 och Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire. En trevägs variansanalys påvisade resultatet att kontroll eller stöd kan vara av betydelse för arbetstrivsel, men krav verkar inte vara avgörande. De anställda ser ut att trivas och befinner sig antingen i det avspända eller i det aktiva arbetet.

Syftet med studien är att undersöka betydelsen faktorer kopplade till schemaläggning har för upplevelse av delaktighet och inflytande. De faktorer som undersökts är schemaläggningssystem, organisatoriska aspekter, samarbete, och flexibilitet. De teorier som används är Job demand-control model, Social exchange theory och Structural empowerment theory. Det är en kvalitativ intervjustudie med fem informanter som jobbar hel- eller deltid inom äldrevård eller funktionshinderomsorg i Umeå kommun. Informanterna har tre olika schemasystem med det gemensamma att samtliga informanter får ge önskemål på hur de vill att deras schema för kommande schemaperiod ska se ut. Resultatet visar att informanterna upplever olika grad av delaktighet och inflytande i sitt schemaläggningssystem. Centralt schemastöd är den funktion som minskar upplevelsen av delaktighet och inflytande för majoriteten av informanterna. Ökad utbildning, avsatt tid för schemaläggning, stöd för att öka samarbete på arbetsplatsen och kontakt med Centralt schemastöd är faktorer som sammanfattningsvis föreslås kan öka de anställdas delaktighet och inflytande i schemaläggning.

With the increasing mental health challenges, a growing demand for professional help can be seen. Despite their crucial role in society, the counseling profession is not sufficiently researched. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to examine counselors' ability to disconnect from work in their private lives in relation to workload. The study included 89 counselors, including 16 men, 72 women, and 1 identifying as other. The survey consisted of several background variables and two already well-developed measurement instruments, along with a self-created instrument. The analysis revealed that only the variable demand can explain 50% of the variation regarding spillover. The factors demand and control had the strongest correlation with the ability to disconnect from work. Furthermore, the analysis showed that women are more affected by work-related demand than men. Finally, the result demonstrated that a high level of health had a positive effect on spillover and the impact of the demand variable on the individual. The results allowed for further research, such as exploring the difference between 'old' and 'new' counselors.

Abstract Date: 2017-06-05 Level: Master thesis in Business Administration, 15 cr Institution: School of Business, Society and Engineering, Mälardalen University Authors:                             Nilsson, Isabella                  Ulriksson, Jennifer                                            920507                                930119 Title: Connection versus Recovery? Communication technology in the modern working life.  Tutor: Magnus Hoppe Keywords: Smartphones, Information and communication technology, Boundary control, Psychological detachment, Work-Life Conflict, Stress, Job-Demand-Control. Research question: How do managers handle the positive and negative effects of communication technology? Purpose: The aim of this study is to critically analyse how managers in Sweden regulate the use of communication technology and how they perceive the effects of communication technology on the modern workplace. This contributes to an understanding regarding whether communication technology should be handled based on individuals being either digitally connected or able to mentally recover from work. Method: This study is of a qualitative approach, where semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight managers who is/ or has been, in charge of personnel. The study has a deductive approach and thus has its base in theory. Theories have consequently been used in the construction of the interview questions as well as in the creation of Modell 1.0. Conclusion: Policies restricting the use of communication technology is not desirable according to managers, this is due to it being a prerequisite for the working life of 2017. ‘Connection’ and ‘recovery’ are not dichotomies for all employees. Policies can be of use for employees who need help managing the boundaries between work and family. However, to reach a solution regarding the negative effects of communication technology, efforts should be put into the organizational culture rather than policies, which is depicted in Model 2.0. In that way, negative effects of communication technology can be fought off without risking the positive effects. Communication technology should not be handled based on the assumption that individuals are either digitally connected or able to mentally recover from work.

I det komplexa och moderna arbetslivet förändras både människor och organisationer. Detta leder till att hälsofrämjande på arbetsplatser får en allt större betydelse i samband med att alla förändringar ställer nya krav på organisationer och dess anställda. Syftet med studien var att undersöka på vilka sätt chefer aktivt arbetar för att främja och bibehålla den arbetsrelaterade hälsan hos medarbetare. Det genomfördes kvalitativa telefonintervjuer med åtta första linjens chefer, vilka var aktiva inom skolverksamheten, fritidsgårdsverksamheten, rättspsykiatriska vården och kommunen. Intervjuerna bearbetades genom tematisk analys, något som visade att chefer främjar och bibehåller sina medarbetares hälsa genom att ge medarbetarna möjlighet till kontroll och delaktighet i arbetet samt genom ett närvarande och stöttande ledarskap. Studien ansågs vara praktiskt användbar av nuvarande och framtida chefer som vill arbeta hälsofrämjande samt av intresse för de undersökta arbetsplatserna där studien kan fungera som ett synliggörande underlag kring det hälsofrämjande arbetet.