Towards Successful Seniority - Group Method for Preventing Burnout and Mental Health Problems in workplaces

Transcription

1 Towards Successful Seniority - Group Method for Preventing Burnout and Mental Health Problems in workplaces Salla Toppinen-Tanner (salla.toppinen-tanner@ttl.fi) Jukka Vuori, Heidi Ristolainen & Tommy Larvi Symposium: Involving employers, MHP in the Workplace European Conference on Mental Health Joining Forces across Europe for Prevention and Promotion in Mental Health Barcelona, 13th-15th September 2007

2 Background In Finland, as in many European countries, workforce is rapidly aging and younger generations are getting smaller The annual number of disability pensions granted for depressive disorders in Finland has increased since the beginning of the 1990s In Finland, over 40 % of the disability pensions have been granted due to mental disorders Depression is now among the most common causes of disability pensions; the number of sick leaves granted due to depression has also increased Towards Succesful Seniority/ FIOH /STT /

3 Leading principles in Towards Successful Seniority group method Prevention of work-related mental health problems and promoting successful career management in a continuously changing environment on the individual level Implementation in close contact with organizations: a tool for collaboration between OHS and HR Combines the goals of work ability maintenance and vocational training of personnel. Aim: to bring these activities closer to normal everyday practices and discussions. Towards Succesful Seniority/ FIOH /STT /

4 Preparedness for career transitions Learning career skills and inoculation against setbacks (Vinokur, 1996; Vuori & Vinokur, 2005) Defining problems and tasks for carrying out goals 2 Identifying work life goals 1 3 Practising needed skills and actions Identifying barriers and setbacks Practicing overcoming barriers and setbacks Defining solutions for barriers and setbacks Towards Succesful Seniority/ FIOH /STT /

5 Aims of the Towards Successful Seniority group method Methods of active learning Work life goals and their attainment; activity Information Practices Group support Strengthening self-efficacies needed Inoculation against probable setbacks "I can do it! I will manage! I know how to do it!" Motivation Well-being, mental health Long work career Innovativeness Decreasing number of sickness absence days Towards Succesful Seniority/ FIOH /STT /

6 Group characteristics Intensive course: 5 days; 4hours/day Timing: Need to increase work career management, stress management or work motivation Participants: Target age group +40, suitable for every field of activity, for every employee group Two trainers: Collaboration between administrative partners, OHS and HR, recommended Theory-based intervention: Theory of planned behavior (Ajzen), stress inoculation training (Meichenbaum), and social learning (Bandura) Early retirement decisions and losing work ability are long processes that can originate early on during a person's work career (intention or thoughts of early retirement burnout decision to retire early retirement) Strenuous work combined with deficits in occupational competence may lead to withdrawal from work life and lowered work ability Towards Succesful Seniority/ FIOH /STT /

7 Modules of the training; programme Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Presentation of the trainers and the program Meaning of studies and personal strengths to the career, life-long learning Social networks and social support Stress management, mental well-being, work/life -balance Goals for work life Work life goals interview Recognizing personal strengths and interests and transferable skills Management of changes Recognizing and making use of social networks and resources Social structure of organization, work roles, social undermining Career management: working hours, sabbaticals, job change, retirement Volunteers present their plans to the group Life-long learning Management of changes continues, learning opportunities in changes Overthoroughness, role play (boss - subordinate), balanced performance Information interview. A guest pensioner with continuing career Making a plan for goals in work life Finishing the program Towards Succesful Seniority/ FIOH /STT /

8 Evaluation of the effects during the period between 2006 and 2009 Participating organizations Group method Baseline questionnaire N=500 N= N=500 Participants N=1000 Randomi zation 2nd quest. after the active phase 3rd quest. 6-month followup 4th quest. 2-year followup Registerbased data N=500 N=500 N=500 Comparison group Towards Succesful Seniority/ FIOH /STT /

9 Towards Successful Seniority Participating organizations 8/2007 Municipal sector 9 cities and communes Private sector Banking and insurance OHS Multi-service provider Civil service departments Research Institute Ministry of Labor Employment office Participants -10 groups from 7 organizations -N= Intervention group -115 Comparison group -86% women -mean age 51 years -42% University-level education Towards Succesful Seniority/ FIOH /STT /

10 Methods Questionnaire surveys: baseline (T1) and immediate effects (T2) Work career preparedness 10 items on self-efficacies and inoculation against setbacks based on previous research (Meichenbaum, 1985; Vuori &Vinokur, 2005) and contents of the training Personal goals; Personal Project Analysis (Little, 1983; Nurmi & Salmela-Aro, 2002) Participants were asked to describe 4 of their current and important personal projects. Each project was classified as work-related or not work-related. Intrinsic motivation (Deci & Ryan, 2000): 2 items on intrinsic motivation to achieve a chosen work-related personal project Meaning of work (Kanungo, 1982) Towards Succesful Seniority/ FIOH /STT /

11 Immediate effects of the Towards Succesful Seniority group method Compared to the comparison group, in the intervention group (Linear regression models): The number of work-related life goals increased (p<0.001) A specified work-related life goal was intrinsically more strongly motivated (p<0.05) Career management preparedness was strengthened (p<0.05) No immediate effect on meaning of work Towards Succesful Seniority/ FIOH /STT /

12 Conclusions The preliminary immediate effects of the Towards Successful Seniority group method were positive indicating that learning new ways of action increases work career self-efficacies and intrinsic motivation to achieve work-related goals. This new method has been warmly welcomed by the participating organizations. The participants strongly feel that a group method such as this may serve as a significant tool for increasing participation in work life among personnel, for co-operation between OHS and HR, and even in changing the organizational culture. The results from the follow-up phases of the Towards Successful Seniority -study will show the long-term effects of early prevention at workplaces Towards Succesful Seniority/ FIOH /STT /