A cross‐sectional study on perceived workplace health support and health‐related quality of life

OBJECTIVE: Many companies in Japan have been increasingly interested in “health and productivity management (H&PM).” In terms of H&PM, we hypothesized that companies can enhance their employees’ perceived workplace health support (PWHS) by supporting workers’ lively working and healthy living. This could then improve their health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) by increasing PWHS. Consequently, this study explored the relationship between PWHS and HRQOL. METHODS: In December 2020, during the COVID‐19 pandemic, we conducted an Internet‐based nationwide health survey of Japanese workers (CORoNaWork study). A database of 27 036 participants was created. The intensity of PWHS was measured using a four‐point Likert scale. We used multilevel ordered logistic regression to analyze the relationship between PWHS intensity and the four domains of the Centers for Disease Control's HRQOL‐4 (self‐rated health, number of poor physical health days, number of poor mental health days, and activity limitation days during the past 30 days). RESULTS: In the sex‐ and age‐adjusted and multivariate models, the intensity of PWHS significantly affected self‐rated health and the three domains of unhealthy days (physical, mental, and activity limitation). There was also a trend toward worse HRQOL scores as the PWHS decreased. CONCLUSIONS: We found that the higher the PWHS of Japanese workers, the higher their self‐rated health and the fewer their unhealthy days. Companies need to assess workers’ PWHS and HRQOL and promote H&PM. H&PM is also necessary to maintain and promote the health of workers during the COVID‐19 pandemic.