Neighborhoods' Evaluation: Influence on Well-Being Variables.

The influence of neighborhood characteristics on residents' well-being and residential satisfaction has been widely studied, and has presented considerable variability. This study analyses the extent to which neighborhood resources influence variables relating to well-being, and examines the relationship between neighborhood resources and residents' perceptions. The study was structured over two phases: (1) the neighborhood resources were evaluated, and (2) 252 neighborhood residents was interviewed. The results have shown that the observation by independent observers of neighborhood resources is connected to residents' perceptions of their neighborhood. Residents' perceptions of their neighborhoods is associated with indicators of well-being, and residential satisfaction. Also, the reasons for living in the neighborhood appear to be connected to the observed availability of resources and the perception of it. Wellbeing and residential satisfaction are the outcome of multiple aspects that are not limited to structural and material elements of neighborhoods.

Validación de la Escala Subjetiva de Carga mental de trabajo (ESCAM) en profesionales de la salud de Chile / Validation of the Subjective Mental Workload Scale (SCAM) in health professionals from Chile

El objetivo de este estudio es confirmar las características psicométricas de la Escala Subjetiva de Carga Mental de Trabajo (ESCAM) en trabajadores sanitarios de hospitales chilenos. Participaron en este estudio 379 trabajadores de tres hospitales. Los instrumentos utilizados fueron: (a) ESCAM y (b) el cuestionario SUSESO-ISTAS 21. Los resultados indican que ESCAM se estructura en cinco dimensiones: Demandas cognitivas y complejidad de la tarea, Características de la tarea, Organización temporal, Ritmo de trabajo y Consecuencias para la salud. Asimismo, se observan correlaciones significativas entre la puntuación total de ESCAM y sus dimensiones con los factores de SUSESO-ISTAS 21. Además, se comprobó la validez de la escala mediante el análisis de perfiles de carga mental con diferentes grupos profesionales.

The aim of this study is to confirm the psychometric characteristics of the Subjective Mental Workload Scale (SCAM) in health workers of Chilean Hospitals. The instruments used were: (1) SCAM; (2) questionnaire SUSESO-ISTAS 21. The sample was composed of 379 workers from three hospitals. The findings showed that SCAM is structured in five dimensions: Cognitive demands and task complexity, Task characteristics, Temporal organization, Work rate, and Health consequences. Likewise, significant correlations between overall score of SCAM and its dimensions with the SUSESO-ISTAS 21 factors were found. Also, scale validity was verified through mental workload profiles with different professional groups.

Psychosocial factors and mental work load: a reality perceived by nurses in intensive care units.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the perception of psychosocial factors and mental workload of nurses who work in intensive care units. It is hypothesised that nurses in these units could perceive psychosocial risks, manifesting in a high mental work load. The psychosocial dimension related to the position's cognitive demands is hypothesised to mostly explain mental work load. METHOD: Quantitative study, with a descriptive, cross-sectional, and comparative design. A total of 91% of the intensive care unit populations of three Chilean hospitals was surveyed, corresponding to 111 nurses. The instruments utilised included (A) a biosociodemographic history questionnaire; (b) the SUSESO-ISTAS 21 questionnaire; and (c) the Mental Work Load Subjective Scale (ESCAM, in Spanish). RESULTS: In total, 64% and 57% of participants perceived high levels of exposure to the psychosocial risks Psychosocial demands and Double shift, respectively. In addition, a medium-high level of overall mental load was observed. Positive and significant correlations between some of the SUSESO-ISTAS 21 and ESCAM dimensions were obtained. Using a regression analysis, it was determined that three dimensions of the psychosocial risk questionnaire helped to explain 38% of the overall mental load. CONCLUSION: Intensive care unit nurses felt that inadequate psychosocial factors and mental work overload existed in several of the tested dimensions.

Psychosocial factors and mental work load: a reality perceived by nurses in intensive care units / Fatores psicossociais e carga mental de trabalho: uma realidade percebida pelos enfermeiros em Unidades de Terapia Intensiva / Factores psicosociales y Carga mental de trabajo: una realidad percibida por enfermeras/os en Unidades Críticas

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the perception of psychosocial factors and mental workload of nurses who work in intensive care units. It is hypothesised that nurses in these units could perceive psychosocial risks, manifesting in a high mental work load. The psychosocial dimension related to the position's cognitive demands is hypothesised to mostly explain mental work load. METHOD: Quantitative study, with a descriptive, cross-sectional, and comparative design. A total of 91% of the intensive care unit populations of three Chilean hospitals was surveyed, corresponding to 111 nurses. The instruments utilised included (A) a biosociodemographic history questionnaire; (b) the SUSESO-ISTAS 21 questionnaire; and (c) the Mental Work Load Subjective Scale (ESCAM, in Spanish). RESULTS: In total, 64% and 57% of participants perceived high levels of exposure to the psychosocial risks Psychosocial demands and Double shift, respectively. In addition, a medium-high level of overall mental load was observed. Positive and significant correlations between some of the SUSESO-ISTAS 21 and ESCAM dimensions were obtained. Using a regression analysis, it was determined that three dimensions of the psychosocial risk questionnaire helped to explain 38% of the overall mental load. CONCLUSION: Intensive care unit nurses felt that inadequate psychosocial factors and mental work overload existed in several of the tested dimensions. .

OBJETIVO: analisar a percepção de fatores psicossociais e a carga mental de trabalho de enfermeiros que trabalham em unidades de terapia intensiva. A hipótese é que os enfermeiros dessas unidades podem perceber os riscos psicossociais e manifestar uma alta carga mental de trabalho. Além disso, a dimensão psicossocial relacionada às demandas cognitivas do cargo explicaria a maior parte da carga mental de trabalho. MÉTODO: estudo quantitativo, com delineamento descritivo, transversal e comparativo. Foi examinada 91% da população das Unidades de Terapia Intensiva de três hospitais chilenos, correspondente a 111 enfermeiros. Os instrumentos utilizados incluíram (a) um questionário do histórico biossociodemográfico; (b) o questionário SUSESO-ISTAS 21; e (c) a Escala Subjetiva de Carga Mental de Trabalho (ESCAM). RESULTADOS: no total, 64% e 57% dos participantes perceberam um alto nível de exposição aos riscos psicossociais Demanda psicológica e Jornada dupla, respectivamente. Além disso, foi observado um nível de médio para alto de carga mental global. Foram obtidas correlações positivas e significativas entre algumas das dimensões do SUSESO-ISTAS 21 e do ESCAM. Utilizando uma análise de regressão, determinou-se que três dimensões do questionário de risco psicossocial ajudaram a explicar 38% da carga mental total. CONCLUSÃO: os enfermeiros das unidades de terapia intensiva percebem os fatores psicossociais e a sobrecarga mental de trabalho em várias de suas dimensões. .

OBJETIVO: analizar la percepción de Factores psicosociales y Carga mental de trabajo de enfermeras/os que laboran en Unidades Críticas. Se hipotetiza que los/as enfermeros/as de estas unidades pudieran percibir riesgos psicosociales; Mostrarán una Carga mental de trabajo alta; y la dimensión psicosocial relacionada con exigencias cognitivas del puesto explicará en mayor medida la Carga Mental. MÉTODO: estudio cuantitativo, de diseño descriptivo, transversal y comparativo. Se censó el 91% de la población de Unidades Críticas de tres hospitales chilenos, correspondiente a 111 enfermeras/os. Los instrumentos utilizados fueron: (a) Cuestionario de antecedentes biosociodemográficos; (b) Cuestionario SUSESO-ISTAS 21; y (c) Escala Subjetiva de Carga Mental de Trabajo (ESCAM). RESULTADOS: el 64% y el 57% de los/as participantes perciben un alto nivel de exposición a los riesgos psicosociales Demandas psicológicas y Doble presencia, respectivamente. Además, se obtiene un nivel de Carga mental global media-alta. Se obtuvo correlaciones positivas y significativas entre algunas dimensiones de SUSESO-ISTAS 21 y ESCAM, y mediante un análisis de regresión se obtuvo que tres dimensiones del cuestionario de riesgos psicosociales contribuyen a explicar un 38% de la Carga mental global. CONCLUSIÓN: las/os enfermeras/os de unidades críticas, perciben factores psicosociales inadecuados y sobrecarga mental de trabajo, en varias de sus dimensiones. .

Desarrollo de una Escala Subjetiva de Carga Mental de Trabajo (ESCAM) / Development of a Subjective Mental Workload Scale (SCAM)

El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar las características psicométricas de un instrumento multidimensional de la carga mental subjetiva (ESCAM). La muestra estuvo constituida por 474 participantes. Se elaboró una escala de carga mental compuesto por 31 ítems. Mediante un análisis factorial se obtuvieron cinco dimensiones de carga mental: demandas cognitivas y complejidad de la información, consecuencias para la salud, características de las tareas, organización temporal y ritmo de trabajo. Los resultados mostraron la consistencia interna para cada dimensión de carga mental así como la fiabilidad de la escala (AU)

The main aim of this study was to analyze the psychometric characteristics of a multidimensional instrument of a subjective mental workload (ESCAM). The sample consisted of 474 individuals of both sex. A mental workload scale of 31 items was elaborated. The factor analysis showed five dimensions of workload: cognitive requirements and information complexity, health consequences for workers, task characteristics,temporal organization of work and work rate. The results show the internal consistency for each workload dimension as well as the reliability of the scale (AU)

La salud y la seguridad organizacional desde una perspectiva integradora / No disponible

Este artículo presenta una revisión de la línea de investigación en el área de la salud y la seguridad en las organizaciones que viene desarrollando el equipo de Investigación Psicosocial en Salud y Seguridad Organizacional (IPSSO) de la Universidad de La Laguna, en el marco de programas de investigación europeos. Este artículo defiende un enfoque holista e integrado de la salud y la seguridad en las organizaciones que plantea la necesidad de vincular los conceptos, filosofías y estrategias de la cultura de seguridad y la cultura organizacional. Desde esta perspectiva y partiendo de la cultura de seguridad como elemento integrador, se abordan algunos factores psicológicos, específicamente el clima de seguridad, así como factores conductuales y del puesto de trabajo, como son la carga mental y el desempeño. Por último, se plantean algunas conclusiones y propuestas básicas de orientación en el análisis, evaluación e intervención para la mejora de la prevención de riesgos laborales

This paper presents a revision of research in the area of organisational health and safety developed by the team IPSSO (Psychosocial Research on Organisational Health and Safety) from the University of La Laguna through European Research Programs. This article proposes a holistic and integrated approach to health and safety in organisations that pointed out the need of linking the concepts, philosophies and strategies of organisational and safety culture. From this perspective, and a conception of safety culture as an integrated concept, some psychological factors are considered, specifically safety climate, as well as behavioural and job related factors, such as mental workload and performance. Finally, there are presented some conclusions and basic proposals for guiding analysis, evaluations and intervention on the improvement of work risk prevention (AU)