Job morale: a scoping review of how the concept developed and is used in healthcare research

Abstract

Background: The job morale of healthcare staff is widely seen as an important factor for the quality of care. Yet, there are different understandings of what constitutes job morale, which hinders systematic research and comparisons. We therefore conducted a scoping review of how the concept of job morale has developed over time and how it is used in healthcare research. Methods: A scoping review was conducted to identify relevant literature. Data were gathered on study design and context, objectives, definitions of morale, outcome measures and key findings. Data was synthesised using a descriptive analytical framework. Results: Ninety-three unique studies met eligibility criteria for the present review. The literature outlines four main periods of the evolution of the concept of job morale: The First World War and the interwar years; Second World War; Aftermath of the Second World War; and Contemporary period. The concept of job morale originated in a military context and was later applied to and specified in the healthcare literature. The concept has been applied to individuals and groups. The understandings used in healthcare vary, but overlap. Methods for assessing job morale in healthcare include quantitative scales, indirect measurements of consequences and predictors of morale, and qualitative approaches. Existing studies have mainly focused on the job morale of general practitioners, nurses and mental health professionals in high-income countries. Conclusions: Although the understandings of job morale in healthcare are heterogeneous and inconsistent, the concept appears to have been useful over longer periods of time and in different contexts. Which precise understanding of job morale is useful, depends on the given research purpose, and studies should make explicit which exact understanding they apply. Systematic research on job morale is required to facilitate measures to improve and maintain high levels of morale across different professional groups, including professionals in low-and middle-income countries.

Traditions in Japanese Corporate Culture and Its Impact on Work Performance

“…The definition of "morale" in Western context is not clearly defined. However, employee morale is often associated with job satisfaction, feelings of well-being and an emotional connection with their workplace environment (Sabitova, et al, 2020;Mallik, et al, 2019;Bhasin, 2018;McKnight, et al 2001). Furthermore, it is suggested that management and policies such as affecting employee communications or providing support, and risk such as the potential for downsizing, have high impact on factors influencing positive or negative employee morale (Behm, 2009;Kettley, 1995).…”

Allied health front-line manager perceptions of factors impacting workplace morale and burnout risk

“…Wilson (2015) separated the intention to leave factors into intrinsic (level of competence, sense of accomplishment, recognition of job, autonomy and opportunities for advancement) and extrinsic (quality of supervision, support and communication from the manager) factors. Job satisfaction, considered an overlapping concept within morale (Sabitova et al. , 2020) is also often associated with burnout in healthcare (Nocon et al.…”

Morale and Perceived Threats as Predictors of Psychological Coping with Distress in Pandemic and Armed Conflict Times

“…Morale. The concept of morale, which originated in a military context [42], is a multifaceted, longitudinal, and relational experience that individuals share when they identify with and contribute to certain kinds of collective activities [43]. Morale is regarded by Weakliem and Frenkel [25] as a general term for positive feelings about the prescribed activities of the group.…”