Access to categories of experience and mental health in a sample of managers

Author(s): Paterson, F.

Journal/Book: J Appl Soc Psychol. 1995; 25: 7961 Eastern Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20910. V H Winston & Sons Inc. 712-724.

Abstract: This study of 28 managers investigated the importance for mental health of Jahoda's (1982) five categories of experience, measured for both work and leisure. Each of the categories of experience of time structure, social contact, collective purpose, status, and activity correlated with at least one measure of mental health. Multiple regression analysis showed that collective purpose and status, in both work and leisure, had moderate to large beta coefficients, indicative of their potential influence, for a range of measures of mental health, covering positive mental health and freedom from negative mental health. Analyses of Warr's (1987) nine ''principal environmental influences'' (PEI) also supported the importance of collective purpose and status. This showed that the PEI ''valued social position,'' which includes these two categories of experience, remained significantly associated with several measures of mental health. Analysis of the PEIs also showed that opportunity for use of existing skills in leisure, and variety in leisure, were significantly associated with several measures of mental health. The importance of valued social position and active leisure for the well-being of managers is discussed.

Note: Article J Haworth, Univ Manchester, Dept Psychol, Oxford Rd, Manchester M13 9PL, Lancs, England

Keyword(s): WORK; UNEMPLOYMENT

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