Optimizing Employee Well-Being through Occupational Therapy Interventions: Assessing the Role of Work Environment Adaptation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61506/01.00465Keywords:
Employee Wellbeing, Occupational Therapy Interventions, Work Life Balance, Work Environment, Job Demand Resource Theory, Employee EngagementAbstract
This study explores the impact of occupational therapy interventions—work environment adaptation, task modification, and sensory integration techniques—on employee well-being, with employee engagement as a mediator and work-life balance as a moderator. The research was conducted in physical therapy clinics in Karachi, utilizing a structured questionnaire and analyzing the data with SmartPLS. The results demonstrate that all three occupational therapy interventions have a significant positive impact on employee well-being. Work environment adaptation and task modification emerged as particularly influential, while sensory integration techniques also contributed positively, though to a lesser extent. Employee engagement significantly mediated the relationship between the interventions and well-being, indicating that when employees feel engaged, the benefits of these interventions are more pronounced. Furthermore, work-life balance moderated the effect of work environment adaptation on well-being, amplifying its positive impact. These findings are aligned with the Job Demands-Resources Theory, which posits that workplace resources mitigate job demands, leading to higher employee well-being and retention. The study underscores the importance of integrating physical adaptations with policies that support employee engagement and work-life balance. Despite its contributions, the study is limited by its cross-sectional design, geographical focus, and reliance on self-reported data, suggesting future research directions to enhance generalizability and validity. Overall, this research offers valuable insights for clinic managers seeking to optimize employee well-being and performance through occupational therapy interventions and holistic work environment strategies.
References
Abaoğlu, H., Demirok, T., & Kayıhan, H. (2021). Burnout and its relationship with work-related factors among occupational therapists working in public sector in Turkey. Scandinavian journal of occupational therapy, 28(4), 294-303. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/11038128.2020.1735513
Boakye, K. G., Apenteng, B. A., Hanna, M. D., Kimsey, L., Mase, W. A., Opoku, S. T., & Peden, A. (2021). The impact of interpersonal support, supervisory support, and employee engagement on employee turnover intentions: Differences between financially distressed and highly financially distressed hospitals. Health care management review, 46(2), 135-144. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/HMR.0000000000000251
Connor, L. T., Wolf, T. J. W., Foster, E. R., Hildebrand, M., & Baum, C. M. (2024). Participation and engagement in occupation in adults with disabilities. In Occupational science for occupational therapy (pp. 107-120). Routledge. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003525257-11
Cosgrave, C. (2020). The whole-of-person retention improvement framework: a guide for addressing health workforce challenges in the rural context. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(8), 2698. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17082698
Ghani, B., Zada, M., Memon, K. R., Ullah, R., Khattak, A., Han, H., ... & Araya-Castillo, L. (2022). Challenges and strategies for employee retention in the hospitality industry: A review. Sustainability, 14(5), 2885. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su14052885
Giallouros, G., Nicolaides, C., Gabriel, E., Economou, M., Georgiou, A., Diakourakis, M., ... & Nikolopoulos, G. K. (2024). Enhancing employee engagement through integrating leadership and employee job resources: evidence from a public healthcare setting. International Public Management Journal, 27(4), 533-558. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10967494.2023.2215754
Hasan, T. ., & Sadat, A. . (2023). Dynamics of Job Satisfaction in Bangladesh’s Banking Sector Implications for Employee Engagement and Organizational Success. Journal of Business and Economic Options, 6(4), 36-42.
Hitch, D., Lhuede, K., Giles, S., Low, R., Cranwell, K., & Stefaniak, R. (2020). Perceptions of leadership styles in occupational therapy practice. Leadership in Health Services, 33(3), 295-306. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/LHS-11-2019-0074
Ibrahim, N. F., Said, A. M. A., Abas, N., & Shahreki, J. (2020). Relationship between well-being perspectives, employee engagement and intrinsic outcomes: A literature review. Journal of Critical Reviews, 7(12), 69-74. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31838/jcr.07.12.11
Ismail, K., & Ali, B. (2020). Understanding the Nexus of Job Satisfaction, Job-Related Stress, and Employee Performance: A Study in the Nursing Sector of Lahore, Pakistan. Journal of Policy Options, 3(1), 26-34.
Ivanovic, T., Ivancevic, S., & Maricic, M. (2020). The relationship between recruiter burnout, work engagement and turnover intention: Evidence from Serbia. Engineering Economics, 31(2), 197-210. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5755/j01.ee.31.2.24100
Lexén, A., Kåhlin, I., Erlandsson, L. K., & Håkansson, C. (2020). Occupational health among Swedish occupational therapists: a cross-sectional study. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(10), 3379. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17103379
Mertala, S. M., Kanste, O., Keskitalo-Leskinen, S., Juntunen, J., & Kaakinen, P. (2022). Job satisfaction among occupational therapy practitioners: A systematic review of quantitative studies. Occupational Therapy in Health Care, 36(1), 1-28. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/07380577.2021.1964146
Park, E. Y. (2021). Meta‐Analysis of Factors Associated with Occupational Therapist Burnout. Occupational therapy international, 2021(1), 1226841. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/1226841
Pekerşen, Y., & Tugay, O. (2020). Professional satisfaction as a key factor in employee retention: A case of the service sector. Journal of Tourism and Services, 11(20), 1-27.
Pekerşen, Y., & Tugay, O. (2020). Professional satisfaction as a key factor in employee retention: A case of the service sector. Journal of Tourism and Services, 11(20), 1-27. DOI: https://doi.org/10.29036/jots.v11i20.123
Porter, S., & Lexén, A. (2022). Swedish occupational therapists’ considerations for leaving their profession: Outcomes from a national survey. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 29(1), 79-88. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/11038128.2021.1903992
Rahman, A., Björk, P., & Ravald, A. (2020). Exploring the effects of service provider’s organizational support and empowerment on employee engagement and well-being. Cogent Business & Management, 7(1), 1767329. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2020.1767329
Rollins, A. L., Eliacin, J., Russ-Jara, A. L., Monroe-Devita, M., Wasmuth, S., Flanagan, M. E., ... & Salyers, M. P. (2021). Organizational conditions that influence work engagement and burnout: A qualitative study of mental health workers. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 44(3), 229. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/prj0000472
Rostami, H. R., Akbarfahimi, M., Ghaffari, A., Kamali, M., & Rassafiani, M. (2021). Relationship between Work‐Related Quality of Life and Job Satisfaction in Iranian Occupational Therapists. Occupational Therapy International, 2021(1), 6692752. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/6692752
Slowiak, J. M., & DeLongchamp, A. C. (2022). Self-care strategies and job-crafting practices among behavior analysts: Do they predict perceptions of work–life balance, work engagement, and burnout? Behavior Analysis in Practice, 15(2), 414-432. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-021-00570-y
Starr, J. A., Holmes, M. B., Riley, E., McDonnell, B., Driscoll, L., Camarinos, J., ... & Harbaugh, A. G. (2020). A quantitative measurement of physical therapists’ empathy and exploration of the relationship with practice setting and work engagement. Evaluation & the health professions, 43(4), 255-263. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0163278719864687
Steigenberger, N., & Mirc, N. (2020). Should I stay or should I go? Multi-focus identification and employee retention in post-acquisition integration. Human Relations, 73(7), 981-1009. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0018726719847521
Suomi, K., Saraniemi, S., Vähätalo, M., Kallio, T. J., & Tevameri, T. (2021). Employee engagement and internal branding: two sides of the same coin? Corporate Reputation Review, 24, 48-63. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/s41299-019-00090-0
Walder, K., Bissett, M., Molineux, M., & Whiteford, G. (2022). Understanding professional identity in occupational therapy: A scoping review. Scandinavian journal of occupational therapy, 29(3), 175-197. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/11038128.2021.1974548
Wang, C., Xu, J., Zhang, T. C., & Li, Q. M. (2020). Effects of professional identity on turnover intention in China's hotel employees: The mediating role of employee engagement and job satisfaction. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 45, 10-22. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhtm.2020.07.002
Zainal, N. S. B., Wider, W., Lajuma, S., Ahmad Khadri, M. W. A. B., Taib, N. M., & Joseph, A. (2022). Employee retention in the service industry in Malaysia. Frontiers in sociology, 7, 928951. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2022.928951
