Mental health risk in human services work across Europe: the predictive role of employment in various sectors
BackgroundHuman services occupations are highly exposed to mental health risks, thus psychosocial risk management is critical to assure healthy and safe working conditions, promote mental health and commitment, and prevent fluctuation of employees. However, still little is known about prominent psyc...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1407998/full |
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| author | Ágnes Győri Éva Perpék Szilvia Ádám |
| author_facet | Ágnes Győri Éva Perpék Szilvia Ádám |
| author_sort | Ágnes Győri |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundHuman services occupations are highly exposed to mental health risks, thus psychosocial risk management is critical to assure healthy and safe working conditions, promote mental health and commitment, and prevent fluctuation of employees. However, still little is known about prominent psychosocial risk factors in various human services work.ObjectivesTo identify prominent psychosocial risk factors of mental health in human services occupations and to explore their individual and organizational correlates in 19 European countries.MethodsCross-sectional survey using data from the European Union's Labor Force Survey among 379,759 active employees in 19 European countries. First, a descriptive analysis was carried out to establish the prevalence of mental health risk factors. Then sociodemographic correlates of occupational mental health risk factors were assessed by means of Pearson's chi-squared test. Finally, correlations were explored between perceived psychosocial risk factors and human vs. non-human services occupations, as well as contextual variables by applying multilevel logistic and multinomial regression analyses.ResultsThe prevalence of mental health risk was 45.1%. Work overload (19.9%), dealing with difficult clients (10.2%), and job insecurity (5.8%) were the most prevalent mental health risk factors among European employees. We identified significant differences in the prevalence of mental health risks and specific mental health risk factors among employees according to sex, age, and educational attainment. The prevalence of mental health risks was significantly higher among women (47.0%, man: 43.3%), workers aged 35–50 years (47.5%, >50: 44.4%, <35: 42.3%), and those with the higher level of education (51.9%, secondary with diploma: 42.6%, elementary: 36.2%). Employees working in healthcare in Northern Europe were most likely to be exposed to mental health risks (AME = 0.717). Working in healthcare in Northern Europe was the strongest predictor of reporting work overload (AME = 0.381). Working in social care in Central and Eastern Europe was the strongest predictor of reporting dealing with difficult clients (AME = 0.303) as the most prevalent mental health risk factor.ConclusionUnderstanding the impact of employment in specific human services occupations on mental health and its specific occupational stressors are vital to improve mental health and safety at work and maintain high quality services. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-edaccfe116c3458f86f3936b1f1aa7e8 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-edaccfe116c3458f86f3936b1f1aa7e82025-01-29T16:49:01ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-01-011210.3389/fpubh.2024.14079981407998Mental health risk in human services work across Europe: the predictive role of employment in various sectorsÁgnes Győri0Éva Perpék1Szilvia Ádám2HUN-REN Centre for Social Sciences, Institute for Sociology, Budapest, HungaryHUN-REN Centre for Social Sciences, Child Opportunities Research Group, Budapest, HungaryFaculty of Health and Public Services, Semmelweis University, Health Services Management Training Centre, Budapest, HungaryBackgroundHuman services occupations are highly exposed to mental health risks, thus psychosocial risk management is critical to assure healthy and safe working conditions, promote mental health and commitment, and prevent fluctuation of employees. However, still little is known about prominent psychosocial risk factors in various human services work.ObjectivesTo identify prominent psychosocial risk factors of mental health in human services occupations and to explore their individual and organizational correlates in 19 European countries.MethodsCross-sectional survey using data from the European Union's Labor Force Survey among 379,759 active employees in 19 European countries. First, a descriptive analysis was carried out to establish the prevalence of mental health risk factors. Then sociodemographic correlates of occupational mental health risk factors were assessed by means of Pearson's chi-squared test. Finally, correlations were explored between perceived psychosocial risk factors and human vs. non-human services occupations, as well as contextual variables by applying multilevel logistic and multinomial regression analyses.ResultsThe prevalence of mental health risk was 45.1%. Work overload (19.9%), dealing with difficult clients (10.2%), and job insecurity (5.8%) were the most prevalent mental health risk factors among European employees. We identified significant differences in the prevalence of mental health risks and specific mental health risk factors among employees according to sex, age, and educational attainment. The prevalence of mental health risks was significantly higher among women (47.0%, man: 43.3%), workers aged 35–50 years (47.5%, >50: 44.4%, <35: 42.3%), and those with the higher level of education (51.9%, secondary with diploma: 42.6%, elementary: 36.2%). Employees working in healthcare in Northern Europe were most likely to be exposed to mental health risks (AME = 0.717). Working in healthcare in Northern Europe was the strongest predictor of reporting work overload (AME = 0.381). Working in social care in Central and Eastern Europe was the strongest predictor of reporting dealing with difficult clients (AME = 0.303) as the most prevalent mental health risk factor.ConclusionUnderstanding the impact of employment in specific human services occupations on mental health and its specific occupational stressors are vital to improve mental health and safety at work and maintain high quality services.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1407998/fullEU Labor Force Surveyinternational comparisonmental health risks at worksocial carehealthcareeducation |
| spellingShingle | Ágnes Győri Éva Perpék Szilvia Ádám Mental health risk in human services work across Europe: the predictive role of employment in various sectors Frontiers in Public Health EU Labor Force Survey international comparison mental health risks at work social care healthcare education |
| title | Mental health risk in human services work across Europe: the predictive role of employment in various sectors |
| title_full | Mental health risk in human services work across Europe: the predictive role of employment in various sectors |
| title_fullStr | Mental health risk in human services work across Europe: the predictive role of employment in various sectors |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mental health risk in human services work across Europe: the predictive role of employment in various sectors |
| title_short | Mental health risk in human services work across Europe: the predictive role of employment in various sectors |
| title_sort | mental health risk in human services work across europe the predictive role of employment in various sectors |
| topic | EU Labor Force Survey international comparison mental health risks at work social care healthcare education |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1407998/full |
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