Publication date: Dec 10, 2024

We examined the relationships between psychosocial factors and employee wellbeing in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Survey data were from Finnish public sector employees from 2018 (T1 = before), 2020 (T2 = during), and 2022 (T3 = after the pandemic) (n = 29,360). Employee wellbeing was measured with self-rated health, work ability, and recovery from work. The generalized linear models using Poisson distribution were adjusted for age, sex, socioeconomic status, obesity, and health behaviors. Psychosocial factors were associated with suboptimal employee wellbeing in every timepoint. The association between high effort-reward imbalance and suboptimal work ability was strongest during the pandemic (risk ratio 1. 53, 95% confidence interval 1. 47-1. 59). The association between high job strain and suboptimal recovery from work was stronger during the pandemic (1. 49, 1. 46-1. 52) than post-pandemic (1. 45, 1. 43-1. 48). Job stress had the strongest associations with suboptimal wellbeing during the pandemic.

Semantics

Original Article