Turning Intention Into Participation in Occupational Health Promotion Courses? The Moderating Role of Organizational, Intrapersonal, and Interpersonal Factors Objective: Investigate organizational, intrapersonal (expectations, risk, strain, self-care), and interpersonal (health-oriented leadership) factors as predictors for employees’ participation in occupational health promotion (OHP) and the mediating effect of intention. Identifying moderators that strengthen the relationship between intention and participation. Methods: Two cross-sectional studies using moderated mediation and moderator analyses analyzed data from N = 269 to N = 503 employees. Results: Study 1 showed that favorable expectations and a supportive context predict participation via intention and strengthen the effect of intention on participation. The relationship between intention and participation was also stronger if leaders’ staff-care was higher. Study 2 showed that the relationship between intention and participation was stronger, if employees’ self-care was higher, and strain, neuroticism, and agreeableness was lower. Conclusions: Findings provide suggestions how organizations may increase participation by supporting employees in building intention and turning their intention into participation.

Does Social Capital in the Workplace Predict Job Performance, Work Engagement, and Psychological Well-Being? A Prospective Analysis Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the prospective association between social capital in the workplace and self-reported job performance, work engagement, and psychological well-being. Methods: Survey data on 538 employees in the dairy industry were analyzed using linear multilevel regression analysis. Social capital was analyzed as individual-level and aggregated team-level variables. Follow-up time was approximately 2 years. Analyses were adjusted for age, sex, outcome measured at T1, and random effects at team level. Results: Individual-level social capital at T1 predicted self-reported job performance, and psychological well-being at T2. Changes in individual-level and team-level social capital from T1 to T2 were significantly associated with self-reported job performance, work engagement, and psychological well-being at T2. Conclusions: Social capital in the workplace is associated with relevant outcomes for work organizations. Workplace interventions to enhance social capital are recommended.

The Effects of Exposure Time on Systemic Inflammation in Subjects With Exposure to Zinc- and Copper-Containing Brazing Fumes Introduction: Inhalation of copper and zinc containing brazing fumes (2.5 mg/m3 for 6 hours) is able to induce asymptomatic systemic inflammation which is supposed to be connected with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. In this study it was investigated if inflammation can be prevented by reducing the exposure time. Methods: A total of 15 healthy male subjects were exposed to such brazing fumes in a crossover design for 3, 4, and 5 hours in randomized order. Before and 24 hours after exposure, blood samples were taken and c-reactive protein (CRP) as marker for an acute phase reaction was measured. Results: Five-hour exposure induced an increase of CRP, whereas the shorter exposure times did not result in a significant inflammatory reaction. Conclusions: Reducing daily exposure times below 5 hours is able to prevent systemic inflammatory reactions.

Utilization of an Employee Behavioral Health Program and Its Effects on Outcomes for Depression and Anxiety Disorders Objective: To examine the impact of an employer-sponsored behavioral health program on depression and anxiety by assessing dose effect of psychotherapy. Methods: A retrospective data analysis of patients with baseline scores more than or equal to 10 on the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ9) or the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD7). Survival analyses were conducted to assess whether those with a higher number of therapy sessions per episode (dose) achieved faster response (score reduction by 50% or below 10). Results: Patients with medium (8 to 12 visits) or high (more than 12 visits) dose achieved faster response than those with low dose (less than eight visits; hazard ratios more than 1.5, P < 0.05). No significant difference was found between the medium and high dose. Conclusion: Higher dose of psychotherapy is correlated with improved behavioral health outcomes, although there appears to be no incremental benefit beyond a certain level.

Examining a Comprehensive Model of Work and Family Demands, Work–Family Conflict, and Depressive Symptoms in a Sample of Correctional Supervisors Objective: This study examined how work and family demands affect depressive symptoms, and the mediating roles of work-to-family conflict and family-to-work conflict in a sample of correctional supervisors. Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, correctional supervisors working in a Northeastern state (n = 156) participated in an online survey. Structural equation modeling was used to examine direct and indirect effects between study variables. Results: Amount of overtime hours worked significantly predicted work-to-family conflict (β = 0.18, P < 0.05), and work-to-family conflict significantly predicted greater depressive symptoms (β = 0.61, P < 0.01). Overtime work also had an indirect effect on depressive symptoms through work-to-family conflict (β = 0.11 [95% CI 0.001–0.42]). No other statistically significant effects of relevance were found. Conclusions: Working overtime had an indirect effect on correctional supervisors’ depressive symptoms, mediated by work-to-family conflict.

Showers, Culture, and Conflict Resolution: A Qualitative Study of Employees’ Perceptions of Workplace Wellness Opportunities Objective: Research on employee opinions of workplace wellness programs is limited. Methods: At a large academic medical center in Boston, we conducted 12 focus groups on employee perceptions of wellness programs. We analyzed data using the immersion-crystallization approach. Participant mean age (N = 109) was 41 years; 89% were female; 54% were white. Results: Employees cited prominent barriers to program participation: limited availability; time and marketing; disparities in access; and workplace culture. Encouraging supportive, interpersonal relationships among employees and perceived institutional support for wellness may improve workplace culture and improve participation. Employees suggested changes to physical space, including onsite showers and recommended that a centralized wellness program could create and market initiatives such as competitions and incentives. Conclusion: Employees sought measures to address serious constraints on time and space, sometimes toxic interpersonal relationships, and poor communication, aspects of workplaces not typically addressed by wellness efforts.

Relationship Between Opioid Use and Pain Severity Ratings in Workers With Low Back Pain Objective: The primary goal of this cross-sectional analysis was to determine the relationships between self-reported low back pain (LBP) ratings and use of opioid medications. Methods: At baseline, subjects completed a computerized questionnaire. Structured interviews were conducted by residents or certified therapists under the direction of board-certified physicians. Results: There was a statistically significant nonlinear relationship between lifetime prevalence of worst LBP rating (0 to 10) and lifetime prevalence of opioid use. Those with a low pain rating for worst lifetime LBP and those with high LBP ratings were significantly more likely to have been prescribed opioids. Surprisingly, those with moderate pain ratings were the least likely to have used opioids. Conclusion: This study found a higher use of opioids between workers with low and high severe pain rating then those with moderate pain. We also found an increase of opioid use for severe pain.

Occupationally Tailored, Web-Based, Nutrition and Physical Activity Program for Firefighters: Cluster Randomized Trial and Weight Outcome Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of an occupationally tailored, web-based health and wellness program, The First Twenty® (TF20), for weight change among volunteer firefighters. Methods: The impact of TF20 on firefighters’ 6-month weight change was tested in a cluster, randomized controlled trial, using a crossover design of firefighters in 10 departments. TF20 has web-based nutrition, physical activity, and behavioral health components. Results: An adjusted treatment-induced weight loss from 1.7 to 2.8 lb was observed for all participants and 2.3 to 3.1 lb among overweight and obese participants. An average weight gain was observed among firefighters in the control condition and weight loss for those in the treatment condition. Conclusions: TF20 supports firefighters’ weight loss. Firefighters need wellness interventions to improve nutrition and physical activity given their high prevalence of obesity.

Firefighters’ Physical Activity and Waist Circumference as Predictors of Objective: To examine associations among objectively measured physical activity (PA), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in firefighters. Methods: Career firefighters (n = 29; male = 100%) wore accelerometers to assess PA. BMI and WC classified obesity. Each participant completed a stage-graded exercise test to determine maximal oxygen uptake ( JOURNAL/joem/04.02/00043764-201910000-00009/math_9MM1/v/2019-10-02T061320Z/r/image-tiff ). Results: Two linear regression models were used to investigate whether PA intensities, step count, BMI, or WC were predictive of “true” JOURNAL/joem/04.02/00043764-201910000-00009/math_9MM2/v/2019-10-02T061320Z/r/image-tiff . Vigorous physical activity (VPA) was predictive of “true” JOURNAL/joem/04.02/00043764-201910000-00009/math_9MM3/v/2019-10-02T061320Z/r/image-tiff (F[1,27] = 7.89, R2 = 0.23, P < 0.01). Additionally, when BMI and WC were added, only WC was predictive of “true” JOURNAL/joem/04.02/00043764-201910000-00009/math_9MM4/v/2019-10-02T061320Z/r/image-tiff (F[1,27] = 11.76, R2 = 0.30, P < 0.01). Conclusion: Fire departments should be cognizent of ways to increase PA levels, decrease excess weight gain, and maintain CRF to adequately perform job-specific tasks.

Determinants of Managerial Preventive Actions in Relation to Common Mental Disorders at Work: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Swedish Managers Objective: Manager characteristics (personal, work-, and competence-related) were investigated as determinants of managerial preventive actions (MPAs) in relation to common mental disorders (CMDs) among employees. Methods: A web survey (n = 2921) among Swedish managers measured diverse managerial characteristics and two types of MPAs: reviewing assignments and work situation (MPA-review); talking about CMDs at the work place (MPA-talk). Results: MPA-review was reported by 50% and MPA-talk by 57% of managers. Characteristics that related to more MPAs were female gender, workplace offering lectures on CMDs, workplace offering stress counseling, being responsible for the work environment, management training on CMDs, and more than 10 years of managerial experience (MPA-talk only). Conclusion: Managers who are female, have had training on CMDs, and work for organizations paying attention to CMD prevention initiate MPAs more often.