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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology 10/2011

01-10-2011 | Original Paper

Demands, control, supportive relationships and well-being amongst British mental health workers

Authors: Stephen Wood, Chris Stride, Kate Threapleton, Elizabeth Wearn, Fiona Nolan, David Osborn, Moli Paul, Sonia Johnson

Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology | Issue 10/2011

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Abstract

Purpose

Staff well-being is considered to be a potential problem within mental health occupations, and its variability is in need of investigation. Our starting point is to assess the role of demands, control and supportive relationships that are at the core of Karasek’s model. The study aims to assess the relationship amongst mental health workers of job demands, control and support (from peers and superiors) with multiple measures of well-being.

Method

Data were obtained through a self-completion questionnaire from mental health staff in 100 inpatient wards, 18 crisis resolution/home treatment teams and 18 community mental health teams. The data was analysed using multilevel regression analysis.

Results

Job demands (negatively), control (positively) and supportive relationships (positively) are each uniquely associated with the five measures of well-being included in the study: namely intrinsic satisfaction, anxiety, depression, emotional exhaustion and personal accomplishment. Non-linear and interaction effects involving these demands, control and supportive relationships are found, but vary in type and strength across well-being measures.

Conclusions

The combination of low levels of demands and high levels of control and supportive relationships is good for the well-being of mental health staff. Our results suggest that management initiatives in mental health services should be targeted at creating this combination within the working environment, and particularly at increasing levels of job control.
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Metadata
Title
Demands, control, supportive relationships and well-being amongst British mental health workers
Authors
Stephen Wood
Chris Stride
Kate Threapleton
Elizabeth Wearn
Fiona Nolan
David Osborn
Moli Paul
Sonia Johnson
Publication date
01-10-2011
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology / Issue 10/2011
Print ISSN: 0933-7954
Electronic ISSN: 1433-9285
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-010-0263-6

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