Quality of work life as predictor of employees' mental health

[摘要] English: QWL is a major issue for employees, and how organizations deal with this issue is of both academic and practical significance. QWL and its relationships with employees' mental health and performance became an explicit objective for many of the human resource policies in modern organizations. Although there is no formal definition of QWL, industrial psychologists and management scholars agree in general that QWL is a construct that deals with the well-being of employees and that QWL differs from job satisfaction. QWL variables are excellent indicators of whether or not employees are coping well with the stressors they are confronted with. Employees in the workplace should experience and exhibit high levels of mental health in order to ensure they cope effectively with the stressors they are being exposed to. According to the literature, QWL can produce a favourable work environment which is beneficial for developing and maintaining a good mental health. If this is the case, it could be assumed that QWL could be an important determinant and predictor of mental health. It would be of value to investigate which QWL variables play a significant role in determining mental health especially in service organizations where demands are high. The aim of the research was to determine whether QWL variables are predictors of employees' mental health in a service organization in the Free State. For the purpose of this study, one-hundred and forty two (142) employees working in a service organization in the Free State were selected. QWL was measured by the Leiden Quality of Work Life Questionnaire while mental health was measured by Warr's Mental Health Measures, the General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28), the Satisfaction with Life Questionnaire and the Affectometer 2, which is a measure of general happiness. The multiple stepwise regression was used to predict which QWL variables affect employees' mental health in a service organization in the Free State. Due to the fact that non-probability sampling and more specifically accidental sampling was used, the results of this study could not be generalized. The sample of respondents consisted of more white respondents of which 58% were male respondents, which were married and having at least a matriculation qualification. The respondents exhibited a very high level of QWL except for work and time pressure, physical exertion, job insecurity and lack of meaningfulness. A high level of mental health was also exhibited by the respondents. The level of general health in terms of all the dimensions varied from low to very low. Furthermore, the respondents displayed a low level of satisfaction with life especially with material wealth. The respondents' level of general happiness (all the respective dimensions) was very low. Lack of meaningfulness, role ambiguity, social support (supervisor), work and time pressure, social support (colleague), skill discretion, hazardous exposure, job insecurity, physical exertion and decision latitude were identified as valid predictors of employees' mental health in the service organization. Further research regarding QWL as a predictor of mental health should be conducted since there were very few studies done in this regard. Based on the study a clear idea can be obtained as to which QWL variables are predictors of employees' mental health. The importance of acknowledging these factors aimed at improving employees' QWL and mental health in service organizations becomes apparent.

[发布机构] University of the Free State