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The HSE indicator tool, psychological distress and work ability
S Guidi1, S Bagnara, G P Fichera
1Department of Communication Sciences, University of Siena, via Roma 56, Siena, 53100, Italy. guidi14@unisi.it
Occupational Medicine (Oxford, England)
|March 8, 2012
Summary
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) indicator tool effectively assesses work-related stress. Its scales correlate with psychological distress and work ability, with "control" being a key factor in maintaining work ability.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Psychological Assessment
- Workplace Well-being
Background:
- The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) indicator tool is widely used for assessing work-related stress risks.
- Limited research exists on the relationship between HSE tool scales and psychological distress or health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between the HSE indicator tool, psychological distress (General Health Questionnaire-12), and work ability (Work Ability Index).
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional anonymous questionnaire study was conducted with employees of a mid-sized Italian bank.
- The questionnaire included socio-demographic data, the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12), the HSE indicator tool, and the Work Ability Index (WAI).
Main Results:
- 99% response rate (413 employees); HSE subscales negatively correlated with psychological distress and work ability.
- GHQ-12 score strongly correlated with WAI score, explaining 47% of its variance.
- The 'control' subscale of the HSE tool remained significantly associated with WAI after accounting for psychological distress.
Conclusions:
- The study provides evidence for the HSE indicator tool's validity in estimating work-related stress risk.
- Psychosocial factors' impact on work ability may be largely mediated by psychological distress, with 'control' playing a direct role.
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