Working conditions and self-efficacy among users of psychotherapeutic consultation at work

INTRODUCTION: Psychotherapeutic consultation at work (PT-A) aims to prevent sickness absence and to facilitate return to work by offering early intervention and treatment for employees with (subclinical) symptoms of mental disorders. PT-A specifically considers work-related aspects to increase occupational self-efficacy, which is a predictor for work ability and return to work. This study investigates which psychosocial working conditions are related with occupational self-efficacy among employees who enrolled for PT-A. METHODS: This cross-sectional analysis uses baseline data of 536 participants of a randomized controlled trial (friaa-study) investigating the effect of PT-A in Germany. Psychosocial working conditions were measured by the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ) using the following subscales: quantitative and emotional demands, decision authority, possibilities for development, leadership quality and social support. Occupational self-efficacy was measured by the short form of the Occupational Self-Efficacy Scale. Associations between psychosocial working conditions and occupational self-efficacy are calculated by multiple linear regression. RESULTS: Quantitative job demands are negatively (b=-0.118, SE = 0.047, p<.05) and possibilities for development (b = 0.284, SE = 0.049, p<.001) are positively associated with occupational self-efficacy. Interactions between sex and decision authority (b = 0.228, SE = 0.097, p<.05) and social support (b=-0.273, SE = 0.101, p<.05) suggest that occupational self-efficacy is only associated with social support among male and only associated with decision authority among female participants. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that psychosocial working conditions and particularly quantitative job demands, decision authority, possibilities for development and social support should be addressed during PT-A. However, longitudinal data ought to shed light on the causal relationships between working conditions and occupational self-efficacy. KEY MESSAGES: • Results suggest that adverse psychosocial working conditions are related to lower levels of occupational self-efficacy among users or PT-A. • It might therefore be useful to address psychosocial working conditions with employees visiting PT-A.