Ms. Mako Iida, a third-year Ph. D. student, pursuing research at the Department of Psychiatric Nursing, The University of Tokyo, received the best presentation award at the 30th Annual Meeting of the Japan Association of Job Stress Research for the presentation titled “Development of the online participatory work environment improvement program and the preliminary investigation.”
Occupational stress is a major risk factor for various mental health outcomes. A stress check program focusing on the primary prevention of mental health problems is being implemented in Japan. It includes an annual stress survey, an analysis of group results, and an improvement of the psychosocial work environment. The work environment improvement could enhance workers’ psychological distress, but it is said to be challenging to implement due to the lack of facilitators in the workplace, etc. Besides, the COVID-19 pandemic promoted remote working, and conducting such a participatory program became more difficult. Under these circumstances, Ms. Iida and her co-researchers conducted this study intending to develop a new automated online program that makes participatory work environment improvement possible for employees working from home and reduces the difficulties.
After conducting the program, 40.9 % of the participants were satisfied with the program. The stated reason for their satisfaction was that the program provided an opportunity to promote dialogue, while the reason for their dissatisfaction was that they could not decide on actions that meet their needs. The results of the study showed a significant increase in workplace social capital and job satisfaction in one department. No significant changes were found in work engagement. Therefore, the program needs to be revised so that participants can consider actions that meet their needs and improve satisfaction and its effect on mental health.
Ms. Iida believes in the benefits of an automated online program. “For employees to prevent mental health problems and improve their well-being, it is important for them to think spontaneously about what kind of psychosocial environment is needed for their workplace, and we have to provide programs that are easier to engage in,” said Ms. Iida.