Evaluation of the Quebec Healthy Enterprise Standard: Effect on Adverse Psychosocial Work Factors and Psychological Distress

Marie-Claude Letellier, Caroline S. Duchaine, Karine Aubé, Denis Talbot, Marie-Michèle Mantha-Bélisle, Hélène Sultan-Taïeb, France St-Hilaire, Caroline Biron, Michel Vézina and Chantal Brisson
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Marie-Claude Letellier: Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
Caroline S. Duchaine: Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
Karine Aubé: Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
Denis Talbot: Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
Marie-Michèle Mantha-Bélisle: Institut National de santé Publique du Québec, Quebec City, QC G1V 5B3, Canada
Hélène Sultan-Taïeb: School of Management Sciences, University of Quebec in Montréal, Montreal, QC H2X 3X2, Canada
France St-Hilaire: Management School, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada
Caroline Biron: Faculty of Administration Sciences, Laval University, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
Michel Vézina: Institut National de santé Publique du Québec, Quebec City, QC G1V 5B3, Canada
Chantal Brisson: Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 3, 1-18

Abstract: Adverse psychosocial work factors are recognized as a significant source of psychological distress, resulting in a considerable socioeconomic burden. The impact of occupational health standards that aim to reduce these adverse work factors, such as the Quebec Healthy Enterprise Standard (QHES), is of great interest for public health. The aim of this study was to evaluate, for the first time, the effect of QHES interventions targeting adverse psychosocial work factors on the prevalence of these factors and of psychological distress among ten Quebec organizations. These outcomes were assessed by questionnaire using validated instruments before (T1, n = 2849) and 2–3 years following (T2, n = 2560) QHES implementation. Beneficial effects of interventions were observed for two adverse psychosocial work factors: low rewards (ratio of prevalence ratios (PRs) = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.66–0.91) and low social support at work (ratio of PRs = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.77–1.03). Moreover, beneficial effects of interventions were also observed on the prevalence of high psychological distress (ratio of PRs = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.75–0.998). Psychosocial interventions implemented in the context of this standard improved the psychosocial work environment and had beneficial effects on workers’ mental health.

Keywords: workplace intervention; psychological distress; mental health; occupational health standard; standard certification; psychosocial work factors; sick leave; management practices; work stress (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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