Work determinants of health: New directions for research and practice in human resource development

Abstract

Health is complex and involves an interplay of factors. Connected to the complexities of health are those social conditions in which people live. Such conditions are defined as social determinants of health (SDOH). Little research in the areas of SDOH has connected, under a guiding framework, how work and/or working conditions influence employee health. The purpose of our work was to introduce a new term – work determinants of health — and a potentially new line of research within HRD. Work determinants of health (WDOH) were defined as the organizationally attributable employment-related conditions that influence individual and group differences in health risk and health status. Through our review of the HRD literature and neighboring disciplines, we proposed a work experience-based organizing framework of four thematic areas as a starting point and potential structure for understanding WDOH. Those four areas were stress, capacity, the physical and social environment, and meaning in work. Specific implications for HRD including a call for transdisciplinary research and exploring funding opportunities are presented.