Abstract:
As a social determinant of health, work influences the health and well-being of workers. Interventions to change the conditions of work are an important complement to individually-focused wellness initiatives. This systematic literature review identified organisational- and group-level workplace intervention studies using experimental or quasi-experimental designs. It considered 83 studies with well-being outcomes that span the mental health continuum from ill-being to positive mental health, including context-free well-being (e.g. psychological distress), work-specific well-being (e.g. job satisfaction), and work-family well-being (e.g. work-family conflict). Interventions were categorised into four types: flexible work and scheduling changes; job and task modifications; relational and team dynamic initiatives; and participatory process interventions. There is significant heterogeneity in conceptualisation and measurement of well-being with job satisfaction being most commonly measured. Our review finds that strategies aiming to change work conditions have the potential to improve working well-being with demonstrable effects in all three well-being domains. Regardless of type, interventions involving increased control and opportunities for workers’ voice and participation more reliably improve worker well-being, suggesting these components are critical drivers of well-being. We recommend further research incorporate process evaluation to clarify how interventions create positive changes and examine the conditions in which specific interventions may be most effective.
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