Modeling the Experience of Psychological Health at Work

The Role of Personal Resources, Social-Organizational Resources, and Job Demands

Boudrias, Jean-Sébastien
Desrumaux, Pascale
Gaudreau, Patrick
Nelson, Katia
Brunet, Luc
Savoie, André

¹Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
²UFR of Psychology, University of Lille 3, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France
³School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Jean-Sébastien Boudrias, Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, Downtown station, Montréal (Québec) Canada H3C 3J7 [email protected]

International Journal of Stress Management 18(4):p 372-395, November 2011. | DOI: 10.1037/a0025353

This study tested a model of psychological health in the workplace. Psychological health is conceptualized as an integrative variable covering both positive (well-being) and negative (distress) health symptoms. Based on complementary theories and scientific evidence, three categories of psychological health predictors were identified and organized in an integrated model: job demands, social–organizational resources (supportive climate, procedural and distributive justice), and personal resources (optimism and resilience). The model hypothesized direct and indirect effects of predictors on psychological health through the satisfaction of individuals' basic needs and based on predictors' interplay. Structural equation modeling performed on cross-sectional data collected from 391 teachers lent support to the hypothesized model. Results suggested that personal resources exert important direct and indirect influences on psychological health through multiple mediators. Research implications and study limitations are discussed.