Good leadership means healthier workers

Posted by Ricki Sharpe on August 22, 2008  
Filed Under Leadership

A review of studies by Finnish researchers suggests good leadership has positive effects for employee health and well-being.

Study leader Dr. Kuoppala Jaana of Kiiskilampi, Finland, and colleagues searched for the best-quality studies on the effect of leadership on key measures of employee health and well-being.

The review of 27 studies, published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, provided moderately strong evidence linking good leadership to increased employee well-being. Workers with good leadership were 40 percent more likely to be in the highest category of job well-being and had low rates of symptoms like anxiety, depression and job stress. Good leadership was associated with a 27 percent reduction in sick leave and a 46 percent reduction in disability pensions.

The findings support the “job well-being pyramid model” — a theory suggesting that a strong foundation of leadership, healthy work environment and good working conditions reduces worker health problems such as sick leave and disability.

“If the association between leadership and health and well-being described in this review represents a true relationship, it would be extremely important that leadership function was considered, measured and evaluated, and good leadership practices were promoted in all work environments,” Jaana said in a statement.

Reference

Kuoppala, J., Lamminpaa, A., Liira, J. & Vainio, H. (2008). Leadership, Job Well-Being, and Health Effects-A Systematic Review and a Meta-Analysis. Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, 50, 904-915.


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