Introduction to Occupational Health Psychology

elective courses

Introduction to Psychology 2500-EN_O_01

This course will provide an introduction to the interdisciplinary field of

occupational health psychology that is concerned with identifying workrelated

psychosocial factors that adversely affect the health of people

who work.

Occupational Health Psychology (OHP) is the interdisciplinary specialty

that takes some core notions from preventive medicine and public health,

from the occupational stress research, from organizational health, then

translated them into an organizational context for purposes of the

preventive management of individual and organizational health. OHP

helps to shape a new recognition of the importance of the health and

well-being of workers.

The purpose of this course is to review major theories and empirical

research linking the psychosocial work environment with employees’

health and well-being.

Specific topics covered include stress, workplace aggression and violence,

bullying, burnout, workaholism and work-life interference, aging

workforce. The antecedents and outcomes of these workplace problems

will be discussed, specific prevention or/and intervention programs will

be presented.

1. Occupational Health – An Overview

 Houdmont, J. & Leka, S. (2010). Introduction in Occupational

Health Psychology. In J. Houdmont & S. Leka (Eds.), Occupational

Health Psychology (pp.1-31). Chichester: Blackwell Publishing.

2. Occupational health and Well-being - Definitions and Criteria

 Macik-Frey, M., Quick, J.C., Nelson, D.L. (2007). Advances in

occupational health: From a stressful beginning to a positive

future. Journal of Management, 33, 809-840.

 Stairs, M., Galpin, M. (2010). Positive Engagement: From

Employee Engagement to Workplace Happiness. In: P. A. Lindley,

S. Harrington, N. Garcea (red.), Oxford handbook of Positive

Psychology and Work. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

3. Occupational Health - Methodological Considerations

 Bliese, P.D., & Jex, S.M. (2002). Incorporating a multilevel

perspective into occupational stress research: Theoretical,

methodological and practical implications. Journal of

Occupational Health Psychology, 7, 265-276.

 Zapf, D., Dorman, C. & Frese, M. (1996). Longitudinal studies in

organizational stress research: A review of the literature with

reference to methodological issues. Journal of Occupational

Health Psychology, 1, 145-169.

4. Occupational Stress – Antecedents, Outcomes and Interventions

 Gilboa, S., Shirom, A., Fried, Y., & Cooper, C. L. (2008). A metaanalysis

of work demand stressors and job performance:

Examining main and moderating effects. Personnel Psychology,

61, 227–271.

 Zapf, D., Vogt, C., Seifert, C., Mertini, H., & Isic, A. (1999). Emotion

work as a source of stress: The concept and development of an

instrument. European Journal of Work and Organizational

Psychology, 8, 371 – 400.

5. Occupational Stress – Interventions

 van der Klink, J. J., L., Blonk, R. W. B., Schene, A. H. & van Dijk, F. J.

H. (2001). Benefits of Interventions for Work-Related Stress.

American Journal of Public Health, 91, 270–276.

6. Workplace Mistreatment – Antecedents, Outcomes and Interventions

 Barling, J., Dupré, K. E., & Kelloway, E. K. (2009). Predicting

workplace aggression and violence. Annual Review of Psychology,

60, 671-692.

 Krischer, M. M & Penney, L. M, & Hunter, E. M. (2010). Can

Counterproductive Work Behaviors Be Productive? CWB as

Emotion-Focused Coping. Journal of Occupational Health

Psychology, 15, 154–166.

 Schat, A. C. H., & Kelloway, E. K. (2003). Reducing the adverse

consequences of workplace aggression and violence: The

buffering effects of organizational support. Journal of

Occupational Health Psychology, 8, 110-122.

7. Workplace Mistreatment – Interventions

 Schat, A. C. H., & Kelloway, E. K. (2003). Reducing the adverse

consequences of workplace aggression and violence: The

buffering effects of organizational support. Journal of

Occupational Health Psychology, 8, 110-122.

8. Burnout – Antecedents, Outcomes and Interventions

 Crawford, E. R., LePine, J. A., & Rich, B. L. (2010). Linking job

demands and resources to employee engagement and burnout: A

theoretical extension and meta-analytic test. Journal of Applied

Psychology, 95, 834-848.

 Demerouti, E., Le Blanc, P., Bakker, A.B., Schaufeli, W.B. & Hox, J.

(2009). Present but sick: A three-wave study on job demands,

presenteeism and burnout. Career Development International,

14, 50–68.

9. Burnout – Interventions

 Le Blanc, P.M., Hox, J.J., Schaufeli, W.B., Peeters, M.C.W. & Taris,

T.W. (2007). ‘Take Care!’ The evaluation of a team-based burnout

intervention program for oncology care providers. Journal of

Applied Psychology, 92, 213–227.

10. Work-Family Intersection and Workaholism – Antecedents, Outcomes

and Interventions

 Shimazu, A., Schaufeli, W. B., & Toon W. Taris (2010). How Does

Workaholism Affect Worker Health and Performance? The

Mediating Role of Coping. International Journal of Behavioral

Medicine, 17, 154–160.

 alinowska, D., Tr e i ska, M., Tokarz, A., & Kirkcaldy, B. (2013).

Workaholism and Psychosocial Functioning: Individual, Family and

Workplace Perspectives. In C. Cooper & A. S. Antoniou (Eds.). The

Psychology of the Recession on the Workplace (pp. 59-88).

Edward Elgar.

 Kirkcaldy, B., Malinowska, D., Staszczyk, S., & Tokarz, A. (2015). A

scheme for workaholism intervention including cognitive,

affective and behavioural techniques. W: A. S. Antoniou & C.

Cooper (Eds.), Coping, Personality And The Workplace:

Responding To Psychological Crisis And Critical Events. Gower

Publishing.

11. Work-Family Intersection and Workaholism –Interventions

 Kirkcaldy, B., Malinowska, D., Staszczyk, S., & Tokarz, A. (2015). A

scheme for workaholism intervention including cognitive,

affective and behavioural techniques. W: A. S. Antoniou & C.

Cooper (Eds.), Coping, Personality And The Workplace:

Responding To Psychological Crisis And Critical Events. Gower

Publishing.

12. The Aging Workforce – Psychological Issues and Interventions

 Ng, T. W. H. & Feldman, D. C. (2010). The Relationships Of Age

With Job Attitudes: A Meta-Analysis. Personnel Psychology, 63,

677–718.

 Posthuma, R. A., & Campion, M. A. (2009). Age stereotypes in the

workplace: Common stereotypes, moderators, and future

research directions. Journal of Management, 35, 158-188.

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. Explain and critically evaluate the basic theories and research

findings in the field of OHP

2. Apply those theories and research in creating healthier workplaces.

3. Apply a problem solving approach to diagnosing occupational health

problems and identifying potential solutions

1. Final Exam (60 points): multiple-choice test including 26 closeended

questions, one correct answer only + 4 open-ended

questions, 60 minutes

2. Intervention Proposal (40 points): group assignment presented

during the last 2 classes and prepared in a written form.

The intervention should be explained during a 10-minute

presentation followed by 10 minutes of discussion with the

audience. Students have to propose the intervention, aiming at

reducing specific occupational stressor/s or enhancing employee'

well-being. The proposal of the intervention should be based on

at least 4 evidences, e.g., empirical articles, meta-analyses.

In order to pass the course the overall grade need to be above 60%

Grading Policy:

Number of points Grade

< 60 Fail - 2

60-63 3

64-69 3.5

70-79 4

80-89 4.5

90-95 5

>90 5!

2 unexcused absences are permitted. The 3rd and 4th unexcused absence

results in additional work. More than 4 absences (excused or unexcused)

result in course failure.