Linking decent work with physical and mental health: A psychology of working perspective

an article by Ryan D.Duffy, Haram J.Kim, Nicholas P.Gensmer, Richard P.Douglass and Jessica W.England (University of Florida, USA), Trisha L.Raque-Bogdan (University of Denvert, USA) and AysenurBuyukgoze-Kavasa (Ondokuz Mayıs University, Turkey) published in Journal of Vocational Behavior Volume 112 (June 2019)

Highlights

• Collected data diverse sample of employed adults (N = 497) with an annual household income under $50,000
• Examined links between decent work, need satisfaction, and physical health grounded in Psychology of Working Theory
• Decent work strongly predicted survival, social contribution, and self-determination need satisfaction.
• All three need satisfactions fully mediated the link of decent work to mental health.
• Survival needs satisfaction partially mediated the link between decent work and physical health.

Abstract

Drawing from a psychology of working perspective, the current study examined links between decent work and health among a sample (N = 497) of employed adults with an annual household income under $50,000.

A theory driven mediation model was tested positioning decent work as a predictor of mental and physical health via need satisfaction at work. Decent work strongly predicted survival, social contribution, and self-determination need satisfaction.

Regarding mental health, hypotheses were mainly supported as all three need satisfactions mediated the link of decent work to mental health.

Regarding physical health, hypotheses were partially supported as only survival needs partially mediated this relation.

Overall, findings suggest that securing decent work may promote increased mental health primarily because work is meeting individual needs and may promote physical health – in part – by helping meet survival needs. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.

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