Noortje Kloos1, Constance H C Drossaert2, Ernst T Bohlmeijer3, Gerben J Westerhof4. 1. Department of Psychology, Health and Technology, Centre for eHealth and Wellbeing Research, University of Twente, Drienerlolaan 5, 7522NB, Enschede, the Netherlands. Electronic address: n.kloos@utwente.nl. 2. Department of Psychology, Health and Technology, Centre for eHealth and Wellbeing Research, University of Twente, Drienerlolaan 5, 7522NB, Enschede, the Netherlands. Electronic address: c.h.c.drossaert@utwente.nl. 3. Department of Psychology, Health and Technology, Centre for eHealth and Wellbeing Research, University of Twente, Drienerlolaan 5, 7522NB, Enschede, the Netherlands. Electronic address: e.t.bohlmeijer@utwente.nl. 4. Department of Psychology, Health and Technology, Centre for eHealth and Wellbeing Research, University of Twente, Drienerlolaan 5, 7522NB, Enschede, the Netherlands. Electronic address: g.j.westerhof@utwente.nl.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Nursing staff in nursing homes is at risk for stress-related problems. Positive psychology interventions have been shown to effectively improve well-being and decrease depressive symptoms, and may be beneficial for nursing staff. However, controlled studies with nursing staff are missing. OBJECTIVES AND DESIGN: This is the first study to test the effectiveness and acceptability of an online multi-component positive psychology intervention in nursing home staff. This study used a cluster-randomized controlled design, with an intervention group and a control group, and measurements at baseline (T0) and following the training period (T1). We hypothesized that the intervention would improve general well-being, job satisfaction and work engagement, especially for people with low initial well-being, satisfaction or engagement. Furthermore, we explored the acceptability of such an intervention for nursing home staff. SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS: All nursing staff of the units for physically frail older adults of four Dutch nursing homes belonging to one care organization were invited to participate in this study. A sample of 128 nursing staff completed T0, and 107 nursing staff completed T1, mostly licensed practical nurses with a mean age of 42 years. METHODS: The 8-week online intervention concerned information and evidence-based exercises of six topics of Positive Psychology, which were completed individually at home. General well-being, job satisfaction and work engagement were measured, and participants evaluated the intervention. RESULTS: No time by group interaction effect was found on general well-being nor on work engagement, but there was a small effect on job satisfaction. No moderation effects of baseline outcome measures were found. The evaluation of the intervention varied: a majority positively valued the intervention, in particular the topics "positive emotions" and "strengths", but most agreed that there was too much text and too many exercises. CONCLUSIONS: The online multi-component positive psychology intervention had only very limited effectiveness, as the decrease in job satisfaction in the control group may reflect a regression to the mean. The high baseline levels of well-being and engagement, intervention content, obligatory character of the intervention, and individuality are discussed as possible reasons for these results. Opportunities lie in creating a concise, work focused positive psychology intervention for nursing staff, including some form of autonomy support.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Nursing staff in nursing homes is at risk for stress-related problems. Positive psychology interventions have been shown to effectively improve well-being and decrease depressive symptoms, and may be beneficial for nursing staff. However, controlled studies with nursing staff are missing. OBJECTIVES AND DESIGN: This is the first study to test the effectiveness and acceptability of an online multi-component positive psychology intervention in nursing home staff. This study used a cluster-randomized controlled design, with an intervention group and a control group, and measurements at baseline (T0) and following the training period (T1). We hypothesized that the intervention would improve general well-being, job satisfaction and work engagement, especially for people with low initial well-being, satisfaction or engagement. Furthermore, we explored the acceptability of such an intervention for nursing home staff. SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS: All nursing staff of the units for physically frail older adults of four Dutch nursing homes belonging to one care organization were invited to participate in this study. A sample of 128 nursing staff completed T0, and 107 nursing staff completed T1, mostly licensed practical nurses with a mean age of 42 years. METHODS: The 8-week online intervention concerned information and evidence-based exercises of six topics of Positive Psychology, which were completed individually at home. General well-being, job satisfaction and work engagement were measured, and participants evaluated the intervention. RESULTS: No time by group interaction effect was found on general well-being nor on work engagement, but there was a small effect on job satisfaction. No moderation effects of baseline outcome measures were found. The evaluation of the intervention varied: a majority positively valued the intervention, in particular the topics "positive emotions" and "strengths", but most agreed that there was too much text and too many exercises. CONCLUSIONS: The online multi-component positive psychology intervention had only very limited effectiveness, as the decrease in job satisfaction in the control group may reflect a regression to the mean. The high baseline levels of well-being and engagement, intervention content, obligatory character of the intervention, and individuality are discussed as possible reasons for these results. Opportunities lie in creating a concise, work focused positive psychology intervention for nursing staff, including some form of autonomy support.
Authors: Joep van Agteren; Matthew Iasiello; Laura Lo; Jonathan Bartholomaeus; Zoe Kopsaftis; Marissa Carey; Michael Kyrios Journal: Nat Hum Behav Date: 2021-04-19