Organizational Climate and Employee Mental Health Outcomes -- A Systematic Review of Studies in Health Care Organizations

Health Care Management Review, Volume 40 - Issue 3 - p 254–271

42 Pages Posted: 25 Apr 2014 Last revised: 25 Dec 2015

See all articles by Babette Bronkhorst

Babette Bronkhorst

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) - Faculty of Social Sciences

Lars Tummers

Utrecht University

Bram Steijn

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) - Faculty of Social Sciences

Dominique Vijverberg

Stichting IZZ

Date Written: 2015

Abstract

Background: In recent years, the high prevalence of mental health problems among health care workers has given rise to great concern. The academic literature suggests that employees’ perceptions of their work environment can play a role in explaining mental health outcomes.

Purposes: We conducted a systematic review of the literature in order to answer the following two research questions: (1) how does organizational climate relate to mental health outcomes among employees working in health care organizations and (2) which organizational climate dimension is most strongly related to mental health outcomes among employees working in health care organizations.

Methodology/Approach: Four search strategies plus inclusion and quality assessment criteria were applied to identify and select eligible studies. As a result, 21 studies were included in the review. Data were extracted from the studies to create a findings database. The contents of the studies were analyzed and categorized according to common characteristics.

Findings: Perceptions of a good organizational climate were significantly associated with positive employee mental health outcomes such as lower levels of burnout, depression, and anxiety. More specifically, our findings indicate that group relationships between co-workers are very important in explaining the mental health of health care workers. There is also evidence that aspects of leadership and supervision affect mental health outcomes. Relationships between communication, or participation, and mental health outcomes were less clear.

Practical Implications: If health care organizations want to address mental health issues among their staff, our findings suggest that organizations will benefit from incorporating organizational climate factors in their health and safety policies. Stimulating a supportive atmosphere among co-workers and developing relationship-oriented leadership styles would seem to be steps in the right direction.

Keywords: Organizational climate, mental health outcomes, leadership, group relationships, communication, systematic review, health care organizations, occupational health

Suggested Citation

Bronkhorst, Babette and Tummers, Lars and Steijn, Bram and Vijverberg, Dominique, Organizational Climate and Employee Mental Health Outcomes -- A Systematic Review of Studies in Health Care Organizations (2015). Health Care Management Review, Volume 40 - Issue 3 - p 254–271, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2428702

Babette Bronkhorst (Contact Author)

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) - Faculty of Social Sciences ( email )

Burgemeester Oudlaan 50
Rotterdam, 3062
Netherlands

Lars Tummers

Utrecht University ( email )

Vredenburg 138
Utrecht, 3511 BG
Netherlands

Bram Steijn

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) - Faculty of Social Sciences ( email )

3000 DR Rotterdam
Netherlands
+31 10 4082634 (Phone)
+31 10 4089099 (Fax)

Dominique Vijverberg

Stichting IZZ ( email )

Apeldoorn
Netherlands

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