An Integrative, Multilevel, and Transdisciplinary Research Approach to Challenges of Work, Family, and Health

Abstract

Recognizing a need for rigorous, experimental research to support the efforts of workplaces and policymakers in improving the health and wellbeing of employees and their families, the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention formed the Work, Family & Health Network (WFHN). The WFHN is implementing an innovative multisite study with a rigorous experimental design (adaptive randomization, control groups), comprehensive multilevel measures, a novel and theoretically based intervention targeting the psychosocial work environment, and translational activities. This paper describes challenges and benefits of designing a multilevel and transdisciplinary research network that includes an effectiveness study to assess intervention effects on employees, families, and managers; a daily diary study to examine effects on family functioning and daily stress; a process study to understand intervention implementation; and translational research to understand and inform diffusion of innovation. Challenges were both conceptual and logistical, spanning all aspects of study design and implementation. In dealing with these challenges, however, the WFHN developed innovative, transdisciplinary, multi-method approaches to conducting workplace research that will benefit both the research and business communities.

Can a Flexibility/Support Initiative Reduce Turnover Intentions and Exits? Results from the Work, Family, and Health Network

“…Some study groups consist of large teams reporting to the same managers, while other study groups include multiple smaller teams under either one senior leader or working closely together on the same application. A randomization procedure modified from a biased-coin randomization technique (Bray et al 2013) was developed to ensure that job function, division, and size of the study groups were balanced between the treatment groups (STAR) and usual practice groups.…”

“…To summarize, the WFHN randomized field research design (Bray et al 2013) permits comparisons between those employees in teams randomized to receive the STAR intervention and those in the control group continuing usual practices. The STAR intervention, which was introduced immediately after the baseline interview for teams randomized to treatment, was aimed at promoting both greater flexibility and greater supervisor support for family and personal issues.…”

Parents’ Daily Time With Their Children: A Workplace Intervention

“…In an additional effort to keep the data collection and intervention separate, 4 facilitators delivered the STAR intervention to supervisors and employees, and a separate group of research staff, blind to participants' experimental assignment, was responsible for data collection. 24,25 Fifty-six groups of information technology workers who reported to the same manager were randomized to either the intervention (STAR), or UP conditions. STAR involved facilitated training sessions (6 manager training sessions, 4 employee sessions) across a 4-month period.…”

“…We tested the effects of the STAR (SupportTransform-Achieve-Results) intervention, which was designed to promote a supportive work culture by increasing supervisor support for personal and family life and schedule control. 24,25 The STAR intervention was introduced by executives as a company-sponsored pilot program. The intervention was developed jointly by our research team and outside consultants who customized the materials for this work force.…”

Schedule Control, Work Interference With Family, and Emotional Exhaustion: A Reciprocal Moderated Mediation Model

“…For this study, the data were collected as part of a large, publicly available dataset called the Work, Family, and Health Study (WFHS; Bray et al, 2013). The participants were employed in the 14 centres of an extended health care company.…”