Study: Stress management emphasised in pandemic-like crises

Finnish Institute of Occupational Health media release 26 August 2024
 
The Finnish Institute of Occupational Health’s study project “The consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and factors supporting resilience in the municipal sector” found that a functioning work community and fair management are important factors for employees’ well-being, regardless of crises. It was also found that workload management is a particularly important factor in supporting work ability and recovery in times of crisis.
 
The study project funded by the Finnish Work Environment Fund monitored the well-being of municipal sector employees from the pre-pandemic era to autumn 2022. Questions on the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on one’s own work and well-being at work were added to the Kunta10 survey, which was conducted in autumn 2022.
  
The coronavirus pandemic brought with it significant changes in many municipal sector jobs. Work was reorganised: remote work was implemented and, for example, personnel in the healthcare sector were tasked with coronavirus testing and moved to the front line of infection prevention and treatment.

Previous risk factors also have an effect

The study found that pre-pandemic psychosocial risk factors, such as unjust management or a poorly functioning work community, were indicators of reduced work ability that deteriorates further during a pandemic. On the other hand, it was found that a functioning work community and fairness were important for well-being at all times. Work-related stress was more strongly linked to work ability and recovery during the pandemic than after it.
 
“Although a functioning work community and fairness are important at all times, issues in these areas at the start of a crisis predict the deterioration of already reduced work ability during the crisis,” says Principal Investigator Jenni Ervasti from the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.
 
“Our results provide employers with information on what to pay attention to if the workplace is faced with an external crisis. It is important to identify stress factors and create operational models in advance that can be used to influence stress management during a pandemic or other crises,” Ervasti emphasises.

Healthcare personnel experienced the greatest burden but also found that the appreciation of their profession increased

According to the study, 58 per cent of respondents in the municipal sector felt that the pandemic had affected their own work quite a bit or a lot, and the effects were mostly negative. Negative experiences were most common among teachers, rescue workers and healthcare and social welfare professionals. In office and customer service work and worker professions, the changes were more often seen as either neutral or positive.
 
The pandemic increased the mental load experienced by healthcare and social welfare personnel and teaching staff in particular. However, healthcare and social welfare personnel often also felt that the pandemic increased the appreciation of their profession.
 
In 2020, 47 per cent of respondents reported having switched to remote work either partially or fully. Remote work seemed to have helped protect against the negative effects of the pandemic. Work ability deteriorated most among those who were transferred to other tasks.

Coronavirus infection increased sickness absences even later on

The study also investigated the impact of contracting coronavirus on future sickness absences. A coronavirus infection reported in 2020 increased the risk of sickness absences in 2021–2022, even though the respondents’ individual risk factors and sickness absences prior to the pandemic were taken into account.
 
The risk of future sickness absences caused by a coronavirus infection was the greatest in service and care professions.
 
“An infection reported in the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic appears to have increased the risk of sickness absences even in the two-year follow-up period. The result is somewhat surprising. Possible explanations may be related to long COVID, increased susceptibility to other diseases, mental health or changes in sickness absence behaviour,” says Principal Investigator Matti Joensuu from the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.

Learn more about the study

The consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and factors supporting resilience in the municipal sector (in Finnish)(Julkari.fi)

Further information

• Jenni Ervasti, Principal Investigator, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, tel. +358 (0)30 474 2806, jenni.ervasti@ttl.fi
• Johanna Kausto, Specialist Researcher, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, tel. +358 (0)30 474 2509, johanna.kausto@ttl.fi
• Matti Joensuu, Principal Investigator, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, tel. +358 (0)30 474 2636, matti.joensuu@ttl.fi