Mental health research in African organisations: Advancing theory and practice

SA Journal of Human Resource Management

2021

Self Cite

Orientation: Aspects of religion and spirituality are now being infused into the experience of work. The key to this is understanding how religion and spirituality affect individual and organisational functioning.Research purpose: This study investigated the influence of career adaptability on workplace spirituality and employee health. In this study, employee health refers to mental and physical health.Motivation for the study: This study’s context was the South African public service noted to be undergoing change affecting employees. Strategies that assist employees in promoting mental and physical health are needed.Research approach/design and method: Quantitative data were gathered through a self-administered questionnaire, and 214 teachers took part in this study. Simple linear regression and hierarchical regression analyses were performed to make meaning of the data. Respondents of the study were teachers in rural high schools of South Africa.Main findings: The results indicate that workplace spirituality significantly influences mental and physical health. Furthermore, career adaptability moderates the relationship between workplace spirituality and employee health.Practical/managerial implications: Given the positive role that workplace spirituality has on employee health, that is, mental and physical health, we advocate for some interventions. This could be in the form of employee-friendly policies. Furthermore, training can assist in developing a heightened sense of individual and organisational workplace spirituality.Contribution/value-add: Paying attention to how employees develop workplace spirituality and career adaptability can encourage positive behaviours around employee health.

Section: Literature Review Workplace Spirituality Career Adaptability and Employee Healthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

The moderating role of career adaptability on the relationship between workplace spirituality and employee mental and physical health

Shava

SA Journal of Human Resource Management

2021

Self Cite

“…Whilst this work shows support to previous similar international research (Cummins, 2000;Guo et al, 2017), it becomes the first to proffer these findings from a South African public service context. This gains significance since it concerns the challenges, especially of mental health, within the South Africa context (Chinyamurindi, 2019), and its potential impact on the organisation and its employees (Cooper, 2013).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We focus on understanding the challenge of employee health particularly on three fronts where this problem is magnified. Firstly, we note a global challenge of healthrelated issues affecting the contemporary world of work (Chinyamurindi, 2019). This includes aspects of physical health and especially mental health.…”

Section: Gaps In the Literaturementioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of work resources and career adaptability on employee health: A case of sample of teachers in South Africa

Shava

SA Journal of Industrial Psychology

2021

Self Cite

Orientation: There is a rise in health-related challenges within the confines of the organisation. Strategies are needed not just from a human resources practitioner but also a theoretical basis in finding solutions to such challenges.Research purpose: Firstly, to determine the effects that work resources have on employee health and its two facets of physical and mental health. Secondly, to determine if career adaptability moderates the relationship between work resources and employee health.Motivation for the study: Studies exist in the literature that focus on the intersection of individual and organisational factors on health constructs such as mental health. Further, such studies continue to be an issue of inquiry especially within the public service professions such as teaching.Research approach/design and method: A quantitative research approach utilising a survey data collection technique was utilised. Simple linear regression and a hierarchical regression were performed to analyse the data.Main findings: Work resources do predict employee mental and physical health. Further, career adaptability does not moderate the relationship between work resources and employee health among teachers.Practical/managerial implications: Based on the findings, recommendations are made that assist not just teachers but also those engaged in creating a context in which teachers can thrive from a management perspective.Contribution/value-add: The findings help us focus on the notion that in rural high schools of South Africa, a supportive work environment for assisting teachers to utilise work resources for organisational functioning, in a manner that is friendly to their mental and physical health is needed.

Determinants of employee mental health in the South African public service: the role of organizational citizenship behaviours and workplace social support

Mathibe

Advances in Mental Health

2021

Objective: The paper explores the mediating effect of workplace social support on the relationship between organizational citizenship behavior and employee mental health amongst public service employees in South Africa. Methods:A survey approach was utilized amongst a sample of 289 conveniently selected public service employees in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Results:The results confirm that a direct relationship exists between organizational citizenship behavior and employee mental health. Further, the association is made significant only through the mediation effect of workplace social support. Discussion:The study focuses on the importance of intra-organizational behaviors such as organizational citizenship in promoting employee mental health aspects. Such a focus becomes essential, especially when the South African public service is noted to be in a state of flux and often affects employee work behaviors, including their health. The findings heighten focus on the importance of developing behaviors such as those that promote organizational citizenship coupled with efforts related to workplace social support. In essence, by serving others within the workplace and the entire organization, employees contribute to their mental health. The findings are a valuable precursor to interventions that assist not only the organization but also employees.