Mariano Meseguer de Pedro

Workplace mobbing and effects on workers’ health

In this work, we analyze various consequences of the phenomenon of mobbing on the health of a work sector with special characteristics: the agro fruit sector. For this purpose, we collected data from a sample of 396 workers (61 men and 331 women) belonging to this sector in the Region of Murcia (Spain). A questionnaire with the following measurement instruments was administered: a Spanish adaptation of the revised Negative Acts Questionnaire (Saez, Garcia, & Llor, 2003), the Psychosomatic Problems Questionnaire (Hock, 1988), and a measure of absenteeism. The results revealed a significant and positive relation between workplace mobbing and psychosomatic symptoms, but not with absenteeism. The implications of the results for future research are discussed.

Grado de efecto de las variables sociodemográficas, laborales, organizativas y del entorno en la duración de la incapacidad temporal por contingencias comunes en España

OBJECTIVES This study examines the relationship, and relevance of the effect between the duration of the cases of temporary sick leave, as an indicator of absenteeism, and several characteristics (sociodemographic, labor, organizational and the environment) of workers covered by the Social Security System in Spain. METHOD A retrospective analysis was conducted on 598,988 processes, between 15 and 365days. The relationships between length of absence, and several characteristics such as demographic, sociodemographic, occupational, organizational and environment characteristics were determined (using P values). The mean duration for each of the features is described, and the size effect is calculated to estimate the importance of the relationships found. RESULTS There were significant relationships between the duration of temporary sick leave and several demographic characteristics (gender, age, nationality and length of service), occupational (wages, type of contract), organizational (economic sector, activity and size company), the environmental (region, state) characteristics. The age also showed a significant size effect (rxy=.134), especially after age 44. CONCLUSIONS Only age had a significance effect on the duration of work absence, although there was also a relationship with the rest of the demographic, occupational and work environment characteristics. There was also evidence of a cross-effects between the variables, which could cause errors in interpreting the results.

Resilience as a Moderator of Psychological Health in Situations of Chronic Stress (Burnout) in a Sample of Hospital Nurses

OBJECTIVES To analyze the role played by resilience in the dimensions that constitute burnout syndrome and, through that, the psychological health of a sample of nurses working at hospital centers. METHODS Cross-sectional design, with a questionnaire as the tool. The sample consisted of 537 nurses from three public hospitals in Murcia, Spain. The questionnaire contained measures of the following variables: resilience, the three dimensions of burnout (emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and professional efficacy), and general psychological health, as well as sociodemographic and employment information. RESULTS The emotional exhaustion and cynicism dimensions of burnout were significantly linked to psychological health in the manner expected, but this was not the case for professional efficacy. A stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed the moderating role of resilience on the emotional exhaustion and cynicism dimensions, as well as on psychological health. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE This study highlights the moderating role of resilience on burnout and psychological health. The practical implications of the results are discussed for the implementation of measures to increase resilience as a personal resource in order to improve the health and work performance of these professionals.

Evaluación del Capital Psicológico en trabajadores españoles: diseño y estructura empírica del cuestionario OREA

Psychological capital is a higher-order construct comprised by four components (optimism, resilience, hope and self-efficacy) that includes the development of those skills that have a direct impact on the outcome of different organizational variables. The objective of this study is the design of a questionnaire to evaluate psychological capital in the workplace. Two samples of workers belonging to companies of various socio- economic sectors of the Region of Murcia were used (N = 238; N = 338). In order to the the results of the first sample and according to the results of an analysis factor exploratory, a 12-item questionnaire was prepared, three items for each of the facets of psychological capital, which was called OREA (optimism, resilience, hope and self- efficacy). Next, the questionnaire was applied to the second sample and according to the analysis of structural equations, the four-factor model presented very suitable set values (GFI =. 943; CFI =. 936; RMSEA =. 07). It is concluded that the OREA questionnaire presents an empirical structure consistent with the theoretical model, and adequate levels of reliability and validity.