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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Expanding the Impact of the Psychology of Working: Engaging Psychology in the Struggle for Decent Work and Human Rights

an article by David L. Blustein and Maureen E. Kenny (Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA), Annamaria Di Fabio (University of Florence, Firenze, Italy) and Jean Guichard (Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers (Paris), France) published in Journal of Career Assessment Volume 27 Issue 1 (February 2019)

Abstract

Building on new developments in the psychology of working framework (PWF) and psychology of working theory (PWT), this article proposes a rationale and research agenda for applied psychologists and career development professionals to contribute to the many challenges related to human rights and decent work. Recent and ongoing changes in the world are contributing to a significant loss of decent work, including a rise of unemployment, underemployment, and precarious work across the globe.

By failing to satisfy human needs for economic survival, social connection, and self-determination, the loss of decent work undermines individual and societal well-being, particularly for marginalized groups and those without highly marketable skills.

Informed by innovations in the PWF/PWT, we offer exemplary research agendas that focus on examining the psychological meaning and impact of economic and social protections, balancing caregiving work and market work, making work more just, and enhancing individual capacities for coping and adapting to changes in the world of work.

These examples are intended to stimulate new ideas and initiatives for psychological research that will inform and enhance efforts pertaining to work as a human right.

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Unemployment From the Perspective of the Psychology of Working

Chris Kossen and Peter McIlveen (University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Australia) published in Journal of Career Development Volume 45 Issue 5 (October 2018)

Abstract

Unemployment is a ubiquitous problem that is a complex of cultural, economic interpersonal, physical, and psychological dimensions.

Whereas the pernicious negative outcomes of unemployment are empirically established in the literature, there is a need to better understand the psychological experiences of unemployment so as to inform interventions that ameliorate its impact.

The present research is based on archival interview data and uses the psychology of working theory to understand 32 individuals’ experiences of unemployment. The findings include themes that are consistent with the hypothesized predictors posited in the theory, including marginalization, economic constraints, volition, career adaptability, proactive personality, critical consciousness, social support, and economic conditions.

The research findings affirm the conceptual precepts of the theory with regard to its predictors; thus, this contribution to the literature on the psychology of working and unemployment opens new perspectives on a perennial problem.

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The Paradoxes of Decent Work in Context: A Cultural Political Economy Perspective

an article by Felix Hauf (Goethe University, Frankfurt) published in Global Labour Journal Volume 6 Number 2 (2015)

Abstract

Scientific discourses of decent work can be roughly grouped into two main lines of interpretation.

The first, optimistic line sees the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) decent work agenda as indicative of counter-hegemonic forces successfully injecting post-neo-liberal norms into global labour regulation. Specifically, feminist scholars have welcomed the emergence of decent work, because of its explicit concern with non-standard work, informal labour and care work.

The second, more pessimistic line is critical of the decent work agenda, seeing it as compatible with or even reinforcing neo-liberal hegemony, especially because of its embrace of soft labour regulation and corporate social responsibility.

This article aims to analyse the paradoxes of decent work by putting this discourse in its historical and theoretical context. The article first draws on the framework of Cultural Political Economy (CPE) to identify competing ‘economic imaginaries’ of decent work.

Two prominent interpretations will be juxtaposed to outline a ‘feminist’ and a ‘business case’ decent work imaginary. Second, the article interrogates two different ILO initiatives, each of which is underpinned by one of these decent work imaginaries, in terms of the ways they may challenge or reinforce neo-liberal hegemony – the Domestic Workers Convention and the Better Work Programme. 

Full text (PDF)

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New ILO standards on decent work for domestic workers: A summary of the issues and discussions

an article by Manuela Tomei and Patrick Belser (Conditions of Work and Employment Programme, ILO) published in International Labour Review Volume 150 Issue 3-4 (December 2011)

Abstract

The world’s millions of domestic workers are mostly excluded from national labour laws because they work in private homes, in employment relationships with special characteristics. They are highly vulnerable to exploitation and abuse – often overworked, underpaid and subjected to violence. Adopted in June 2011, the ILO’s Domestic Workers Convention, 2011 (No. 189), and its accompanying Recommendation (No. 201) embody the resolve of governments and workers’ and employers’ organizations worldwide to remedy this situation. The authors of this paper, who were closely associated with the preparations and tripartite negotiations that led to the adoption of these instruments, review their contents and highlights of the underlying debates.

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