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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2023 Aug;28(4):263-276.
doi: 10.1037/ocp0000357.

The effects of a Total Worker Health intervention on workplace safety: Mediating effects of sleep and supervisor support for sleep

Rebecca M Brossoit  1 , Leslie B Hammer  2 , Tori L Crain  2 , Jordyn J Leslie  2 , Todd E Bodner  2 , Krista J Brockwood  3
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

The effects of a Total Worker Health intervention on workplace safety: Mediating effects of sleep and supervisor support for sleep

Rebecca M Brossoit et al. J Occup Health Psychol. 2023 Aug.

Abstract

We tested the effects of a randomized controlled trial Total Worker Health intervention on workplace safety outcomes. The intervention targeted employee sleep at both the supervisor-level (e.g., sleep-specific support training) and employee-level (e.g., sleep tracking and individualized sleep feedback). The intervention components were developed using principles of the Total Worker Health approach and the theory of triadic influence for health behaviors. We hypothesized that employees in the treatment group would report greater safety compliance, safety participation, and safety motivation, and would be less likely to experience a work-related accident or injury following the intervention through improvements in sleep quantity and quality, as well as increased perceptions of supervisors' support for sleep. It was theorized that the indirect effects of the intervention on workplace safety outcomes via sleep mediators operated through a resource pathway, whereas the supervisor support for sleep mediator operated through an exchange pathway. Results broadly revealed that employees in the treatment group, compared to those in the control group, reported greater workplace safety behaviors and safety motivation, and reduced workplace accidents and injuries 9 months post-baseline, through lower dissatisfaction with sleep, reduced sleep-related impairments, and greater supervisor support for sleep 4 months post-baseline. Intervening on sleep and supervisor support for sleep in an integrated Total Worker Health framework can have a positive impact on workplace safety. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no other conflicts of interest to disclose. Regarding dissemination, the findings included in the manuscript were presented at the virtual Work, Stress, & Health Conference in 2021. Results will also be shared on the project website: https://www.meshstudy.org/.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Conceptual model of hypothesized effects.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Empirical results of the significant indirect intervention effects. Control variables (i.e., baseline values of the mediator and outcome variables) are not shown for parsimony. Standardized coefficients from the indirect effect models are provided on the arrows. Coefficients for dissatisfaction with sleep are listed first, followed by sleep-related impairment. †p < .10, *p < .05, **p < .01, *** p < .001
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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