RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Working in the healthcare sector seems less interesting than other sectors: the salary is low relative to the demands of the labour involved, and working conditions as well as management are perceived as poor. These factors may have an impact on the well-being of nurses in the healthcare sector. This study aims to explore the relationship between precarious employment and occupational well-being, in addition to the moderating effect of having a calling in this relationship among younger and older nurses. METHODS: Cross-sectional survey data were collected among Finnish nurses (n = 5867) between October and November 2020. Data were collected on demographics, occupational well-being, precarious employment, and having a calling in the field. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to explore the associations. RESULTS: Younger nurses perceived lower levels of occupational well-being and calling, and higher levels of precarious employment compared to older nurses. Precarious employment had a negative relationship with occupational well-being, and having a calling showed a positive relationship with regard to occupational well-being. No interaction effect of precarious employment and having a calling with occupational well-being was found. CONCLUSIONS: Young nurses' occupational well-being, precarious employment, and calling should be studied further because they are in a weaker position in working life. Using a qualitative approach should be considered in order to obtain more in-depth information.
Asunto(s)
Empleo , Humanos , Estudios Transversales , Femenino , Finlandia , Adulto , Empleo/estadística & datos numéricos , Empleo/psicología , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Salud Laboral , Satisfacción en el Trabajo , Factores de Edad , Adulto Joven , Enfermeras y Enfermeros/psicología , Enfermeras y Enfermeros/estadística & datos numéricos , Seguridad del EmpleoRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: Employment conditions in the care sector are changing, and precarious employment (PE) is becoming more widespread, manifesting as undervaluation, adverse leadership, work overload, and inadequate control over work. This study aimed to examine changes in psychosocial health, work well-being, PE, and calling over time and explore the effects of PE and calling on psychosocial health and work well-being. METHODS: The longitudinal study collected follow-up panel data in the three time points (2020, 2022, and 2023) from care workers (n = 1502), linear mixed effects models. RESULTS: PE decreased (ß = - 0.02), and perceived work well-being increased (ß = 0.04), but there were no change in psychosocial health (ß = - 0.01) and calling (ß = 0.01) during the three-year period. Younger (< 39) care workers perceived higher levels of PE and had poorer psychological health. Moreover, PE had a negative effect on psychosocial health (ß = - 0.63) and work well-being (ß = - 0.68) and calling had a positive effect on psychosocial health (ß = 0.41) and work well-being (ß = 0.49) in multivariate models. CONCLUSION: PE conditions affect work performance and employee well-being and may threaten patient care; therefore, it should be further investigated in the care sector. It is noteworthy that calling still seems to be central in care work. The results deepen the understanding of the current shortage crisis in health and social care workplaces but can also provide keys to resolving the crisis.