BACKGROUND: Traditionally, the field of health and employment has mainly focused on preventing un... more BACKGROUND: Traditionally, the field of health and employment has mainly focused on preventing unhealthy work practices. Nowadays, there is increasing interest in also promoting a positive work environment. It is relevant to investigate how organizations can integrate both approaches into their work practices. We posit this could promote the sustainable employability of employees. OBJECTIVE: We explored whether a tool that monitors health and safety risks can also be used to create a positive work environment. METHODS: Almost 600 employees completed the Dutch version of the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COP-SOQ). We used regression analyses to investigate the associations between dimensions of work and employees' outcome (stress and sustainable employability). We also validated the Dutch version of this questionnaire by adding Sustainable employability and Vigor. RESULTS: A theory-based selection of dimensions explained 32% of the variance in Sustainable employability, whereas a set of established predictors explained 16% in Stress. Confirmatory factor analyses indicated a good fit of the COPSOQ to the hypothesized model. Reliabilities of the dimensions were satisfactory to good. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates that organizations can use COPSOQ both as a tool to monitor risk, as well as a means of promoting positive work practices.
Vantage perspective during recall is thought to affect the emotionality and accessibility of dist... more Vantage perspective during recall is thought to affect the emotionality and accessibility of distressing memories. This study aimed to test the effects of vantage perspective during recall on memory associated distress and intrusion development. An adapted version of the trauma film paradigm was used in an experimental design with three conditions. Participants were asked to listen to eyewitness reports of car accidents (e.g. Trauma Analogue Induction) and imagine the scenes vividly using mental imagery. Afterwards, they were asked to recall the most distressing scene from field perspective, observer perspective, or to recall a neutral image from observer perspective (control condition) (e.g. Trauma Analogue Recall). Recall from field perspective resulted in higher negative mood, state anxiety, and a higher number of short-term intrusions compared to the observer perspective condition and control condition. Negative mood and state-anxiety were mediators in the relationship between vantage perspective and intrusions. In comparison to observer perspective, field perspective increased the amount of short-term intrusions as a result of higher levels of negative mood and state-anxiety after memory retrieval. Future research on the interaction between vantage perspective at recall and negative mood and anxiety effects is warranted.
The self is a multi-faceted and temporally dynamic construct reflecting representations and belie... more The self is a multi-faceted and temporally dynamic construct reflecting representations and beliefs about identity in the past, present, and future. Clinical studies have shown that individuals with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) exhibit alterations in self-related processing but these studies have fo-cused primarily on memory. Few studies in PTSD and SAD have examined self-related processing for the present and future, and no studies have directly compared these processes across these two disorders. Individuals diagnosed with PTSD (n = 21), SAD (n = 21), and healthy controls (n = 21) completed cognitive tasks related to the past, present, and future. Disorder congruent temporal alterations were found across both disorders. Further, regression analyses revealed that trauma-related memories were significantly predicted by future goals related to the trauma, whereas social anxiety-related recall was predicted by current socially anxious self-views. Thus, although self-related processing may be common in PTSD and SAD, those aspects of the self most strongly associated with disorder-congruent recall differ by disorder. Self-alterations may be modifiable and developing a better understanding of past, present, and future self-processing might aid in the development of interventions that target these process.
This study investigates burnout among Dutch nursing graduates as a process by testing a sequentia... more This study investigates burnout among Dutch nursing graduates as a process by testing a sequential-developmental model. A sample of 237 respondents was recruited from a population of Dutch early career nurses. Burnout was measured with the Dutch version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS, Maslach & Jackson, 1981; Schaufeli & van Dierendonck, 2000). First, the dimensionality was tested with confirmatory factor analysis. A resulting one-dimensional model with exhaustion and depersonalisation was then analysed using a Rasch rating scale measurement model. Rasch analysis showed that these data adhered well to a sequential-developmental model. Burnout among early career nurses may be operationalized as a process that starts with fatigue as a result of strain and ends with severe exhaustion and depersonalisation towards patients. Personal accomplishment develops relatively independently. A separate Rasch analysis on the personal accomplishment items revealed a scale with almost similar item locations, resulting in redundant information.
Teaching requires much emotion work which takes its toll on teachers. Emotion work is usually stu... more Teaching requires much emotion work which takes its toll on teachers. Emotion work is usually studied from one of two perspectives, a job or an individual perspective. In this study we assessed the relative importance of these two perspectives in predicting emotional exhaustion. More than 200 teachers completed a questionnaire comprising the DISQ, the D-QEL, and the UBOS. In line with previous studies our findings indicated that emotional exhaustion is positively associated with emotional job demands and surface acting. The relative importance of the two operationalizations of emotion work was assessed by comparing the results of two regression analyses. Whereas the model with job demands explained 18% of the variance, the model with emotional labour only explained only 5%. In understanding what might contribute to emotional exhaustion in teachers the emotional job demands might be much more important than the self-regulation perspective that is measured with emotional labour.
Teaching is a profession with a high level of emotional labor. In many professions high levels of... more Teaching is a profession with a high level of emotional labor. In many professions high levels of emotional labor are related to high levels of burnout. The aim of our study is to show that emotional labor has a unique relation with burnout that is separate from its relation with the variables from the Demand Control Support (DCS) model. Emotional labor was studied together with the variables of the Karasek Job Demand Control Support model in a random sample of 365 mathematics teachers in the Netherlands. We used the Dutch Questionnaire on Emotional Labor (D-QEL) that measures: (1) surface acting, (2) deep acting, (3) suppression, and (4) emotional consonance. In line with other studies, job characteristics were specifically related to emotional exhaustion. Surface acting was significantly related to depersonalization;emotional consonance was related to personal accomplishment. Emotional labor is a useful concept to better understand work stress. The absence of it, emotional consonance, appears to be related to personal accomplishment.
Research on emotional labor amongst teachers has focused on surface acting and deep acting of pos... more Research on emotional labor amongst teachers has focused on surface acting and deep acting of positive emotions. However, there is evidence that negative emotions play a vital role too. This study developed and examined two new scales, surface acting of negative emotions and deep acting of negative emotions, as an extension of the Dutch Questionnaire on Emotional Labor (D-QEL). Participants were two subsamples of secondary school teachers (total N = 399). A confirmatory factor analysis showed that both deep as well as surface acting of negative emotions have to be distinguished from acting positive emotions. The difference between the scores of experienced and inexperienced teachers on the new scales can be taken as proof of their validity.
BACKGROUND: Traditionally, the field of health and employment has mainly focused on preventing un... more BACKGROUND: Traditionally, the field of health and employment has mainly focused on preventing unhealthy work practices. Nowadays, there is increasing interest in also promoting a positive work environment. It is relevant to investigate how organizations can integrate both approaches into their work practices. We posit this could promote the sustainable employability of employees. OBJECTIVE: We explored whether a tool that monitors health and safety risks can also be used to create a positive work environment. METHODS: Almost 600 employees completed the Dutch version of the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COP-SOQ). We used regression analyses to investigate the associations between dimensions of work and employees' outcome (stress and sustainable employability). We also validated the Dutch version of this questionnaire by adding Sustainable employability and Vigor. RESULTS: A theory-based selection of dimensions explained 32% of the variance in Sustainable employability, whereas a set of established predictors explained 16% in Stress. Confirmatory factor analyses indicated a good fit of the COPSOQ to the hypothesized model. Reliabilities of the dimensions were satisfactory to good. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates that organizations can use COPSOQ both as a tool to monitor risk, as well as a means of promoting positive work practices.
Vantage perspective during recall is thought to affect the emotionality and accessibility of dist... more Vantage perspective during recall is thought to affect the emotionality and accessibility of distressing memories. This study aimed to test the effects of vantage perspective during recall on memory associated distress and intrusion development. An adapted version of the trauma film paradigm was used in an experimental design with three conditions. Participants were asked to listen to eyewitness reports of car accidents (e.g. Trauma Analogue Induction) and imagine the scenes vividly using mental imagery. Afterwards, they were asked to recall the most distressing scene from field perspective, observer perspective, or to recall a neutral image from observer perspective (control condition) (e.g. Trauma Analogue Recall). Recall from field perspective resulted in higher negative mood, state anxiety, and a higher number of short-term intrusions compared to the observer perspective condition and control condition. Negative mood and state-anxiety were mediators in the relationship between vantage perspective and intrusions. In comparison to observer perspective, field perspective increased the amount of short-term intrusions as a result of higher levels of negative mood and state-anxiety after memory retrieval. Future research on the interaction between vantage perspective at recall and negative mood and anxiety effects is warranted.
The self is a multi-faceted and temporally dynamic construct reflecting representations and belie... more The self is a multi-faceted and temporally dynamic construct reflecting representations and beliefs about identity in the past, present, and future. Clinical studies have shown that individuals with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) exhibit alterations in self-related processing but these studies have fo-cused primarily on memory. Few studies in PTSD and SAD have examined self-related processing for the present and future, and no studies have directly compared these processes across these two disorders. Individuals diagnosed with PTSD (n = 21), SAD (n = 21), and healthy controls (n = 21) completed cognitive tasks related to the past, present, and future. Disorder congruent temporal alterations were found across both disorders. Further, regression analyses revealed that trauma-related memories were significantly predicted by future goals related to the trauma, whereas social anxiety-related recall was predicted by current socially anxious self-views. Thus, although self-related processing may be common in PTSD and SAD, those aspects of the self most strongly associated with disorder-congruent recall differ by disorder. Self-alterations may be modifiable and developing a better understanding of past, present, and future self-processing might aid in the development of interventions that target these process.
This study investigates burnout among Dutch nursing graduates as a process by testing a sequentia... more This study investigates burnout among Dutch nursing graduates as a process by testing a sequential-developmental model. A sample of 237 respondents was recruited from a population of Dutch early career nurses. Burnout was measured with the Dutch version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS, Maslach & Jackson, 1981; Schaufeli & van Dierendonck, 2000). First, the dimensionality was tested with confirmatory factor analysis. A resulting one-dimensional model with exhaustion and depersonalisation was then analysed using a Rasch rating scale measurement model. Rasch analysis showed that these data adhered well to a sequential-developmental model. Burnout among early career nurses may be operationalized as a process that starts with fatigue as a result of strain and ends with severe exhaustion and depersonalisation towards patients. Personal accomplishment develops relatively independently. A separate Rasch analysis on the personal accomplishment items revealed a scale with almost similar item locations, resulting in redundant information.
Teaching requires much emotion work which takes its toll on teachers. Emotion work is usually stu... more Teaching requires much emotion work which takes its toll on teachers. Emotion work is usually studied from one of two perspectives, a job or an individual perspective. In this study we assessed the relative importance of these two perspectives in predicting emotional exhaustion. More than 200 teachers completed a questionnaire comprising the DISQ, the D-QEL, and the UBOS. In line with previous studies our findings indicated that emotional exhaustion is positively associated with emotional job demands and surface acting. The relative importance of the two operationalizations of emotion work was assessed by comparing the results of two regression analyses. Whereas the model with job demands explained 18% of the variance, the model with emotional labour only explained only 5%. In understanding what might contribute to emotional exhaustion in teachers the emotional job demands might be much more important than the self-regulation perspective that is measured with emotional labour.
Teaching is a profession with a high level of emotional labor. In many professions high levels of... more Teaching is a profession with a high level of emotional labor. In many professions high levels of emotional labor are related to high levels of burnout. The aim of our study is to show that emotional labor has a unique relation with burnout that is separate from its relation with the variables from the Demand Control Support (DCS) model. Emotional labor was studied together with the variables of the Karasek Job Demand Control Support model in a random sample of 365 mathematics teachers in the Netherlands. We used the Dutch Questionnaire on Emotional Labor (D-QEL) that measures: (1) surface acting, (2) deep acting, (3) suppression, and (4) emotional consonance. In line with other studies, job characteristics were specifically related to emotional exhaustion. Surface acting was significantly related to depersonalization;emotional consonance was related to personal accomplishment. Emotional labor is a useful concept to better understand work stress. The absence of it, emotional consonance, appears to be related to personal accomplishment.
Research on emotional labor amongst teachers has focused on surface acting and deep acting of pos... more Research on emotional labor amongst teachers has focused on surface acting and deep acting of positive emotions. However, there is evidence that negative emotions play a vital role too. This study developed and examined two new scales, surface acting of negative emotions and deep acting of negative emotions, as an extension of the Dutch Questionnaire on Emotional Labor (D-QEL). Participants were two subsamples of secondary school teachers (total N = 399). A confirmatory factor analysis showed that both deep as well as surface acting of negative emotions have to be distinguished from acting positive emotions. The difference between the scores of experienced and inexperienced teachers on the new scales can be taken as proof of their validity.
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in the Netherlands. We used the Dutch Questionnaire on Emotional Labor (D-QEL) that measures: (1) surface acting, (2) deep acting, (3) suppression, and (4) emotional consonance. In line with other studies, job characteristics were specifically related to emotional exhaustion. Surface acting was significantly related to depersonalization;emotional consonance was related to personal accomplishment. Emotional labor is a useful concept to better understand work stress. The absence of it, emotional consonance, appears to be related to personal accomplishment.
in the Netherlands. We used the Dutch Questionnaire on Emotional Labor (D-QEL) that measures: (1) surface acting, (2) deep acting, (3) suppression, and (4) emotional consonance. In line with other studies, job characteristics were specifically related to emotional exhaustion. Surface acting was significantly related to depersonalization;emotional consonance was related to personal accomplishment. Emotional labor is a useful concept to better understand work stress. The absence of it, emotional consonance, appears to be related to personal accomplishment.