Occupational Health Psychology
Occupational health psychology (OHP) is a relatively new discipline that emerged out of the confluence of health psychology, industrial and organizational psychology, and occupational health. OHP has its own doctoral programs, journals, and professional organizations. The field is concerned with identifying psychosocial characteristics of workplaces that give rise to health-related problems in people who work. These problems can involve physical health (e.g., cardiovascular disease) or mental health (e.g., depression). Examples of psychosocial characteristics of workplaces that OHP has investigated include amount of decision latitude a worker can exercise and the supportiveness of supervisors. OHP is also concerned with the development and implementation of interventions that can prevent or ameliorate work-related health problems. In addition, OHP research has important implications for the economic success of organizations. Other research areas of concern to OHP include workplace incivility and violence, work-home carryover, unemployment and downsizing, and workplace safety and accident prevention. Two important OHP journals are the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology and Work & Stress. Two important organizations closely associated with OHP are the Society for Occupational Health Psychology and the European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology.
Read more about this topic: Applied Psychology
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