Not Extent of Telecommuting, But Job Characteristics as Proximal Predictors of Work-Related Well-Being. Issue 10 (October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vander Elst, Tinne; Verhoogen, Ronny; Sercu, Maarten; Van den Broeck, Anja; Baillien, Elfi; Godderis, Lode
• Is Part Of: Journal of occupational and environmental medicine. Volume 59:Issue 10(2017)
• Publication Date: 2017-10
• Subjects: Medicine, Industrial -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; Occupational Medicine -- Periodicals; Environmental Medicine -- Periodicals; Environmental health; Medicine, Industrial; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9803
• DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000001132
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1076-2752

Abstract

Abstract : Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the curvilinear relationship between extent of telecommuting and work-related well-being (ie, burnout, work engagement, and cognitive stress complaints), as well as to test whether job characteristics act as explanatory mechanisms underlying this relationship. Methods: A sample of 878 employees from an international telecommunication company with a long history of telecommuting participated in a survey on psychosocial risk factors and well-being at work. Mediation path analyses were conducted to test the hypotheses. Results: Social support from colleagues, participation in decision-making, task autonomy, and work-to-family conflict, but not extent of telecommuting, were directly related to work-related well-being. Extent of telecommuting was indirectly related to well-being via social support. Conclusion: Employers should invest in creating good work environments in general, among both telecommuters and nontelecommuters.