Concepts of health and well-being in managers: An organizational study

Abstract

Global changes and new managerial challenges require new concepts of health and well-being in organizational contexts. In the South African context, health and well-being of managers have gained relevance in organizations and in management sciences. International organizations, in particular, attempt to address the increasing demand for health care and the delivery of health services to their managers. Careful and appropriate health management requires research to evaluate context-specific health concepts and strategies. The purpose and aim of this article is to assess managerial concepts on health and well-being that could be used by the organization to contribute to managerial well-being by implementing health promotion according to managerial needs. At the same time, this article contributes to salutogenetic health research that is very rare with regard to the South African organizational management research.This study is a multi-method research study conducted in a selected international organization in South Africa. However, in this article, selected qualitative findings will only be presented.This organizational study presents selected research findings on health concepts and strategies employed by managers. Findings demonstrate that the managerial concepts of health and strategies mainly refer to not only physical but also to mental and spiritual aspects, with a priority on physical health and well-being.The findings presented are based on qualitative research methods and their research criteria.This assessment serves as a foundation for new approaches to health management within the international work context in South Africa. It also contributes to a paradigm shift from pathogenetic to salutogenetic concepts of health and well-being within the South African organizational work context.The article produces new insights into the qualitative health concepts of South African managers and expatriates and contributes to promoting salutogenesis in organization within South Africa.

Perspectives of female leaders on sense of coherence and mental health in an engineering environment

“…In their opinion, a healthy organisation is also built by means of the following: happiness (five), mutual support (four), relaxation techniques (four) leisure time (three) and spending time with one's children and grandchildren (three), as well as sticking to deadlines, thinking positively and using relaxation techniques (two) and listening to music (one). This research thus supports the current literature which highlights the fact that female leaders include physical, social, psychological and emotional factors in their view of 'healthy organisations' (Mayer & Boness, 2011a) and see themselves as a whole person (Davies et al, 2003).…”

“…Often, research regarding occupational health still mainly relates to men and male employees and has not yet addressed gender-specific conditions (Ruiz-Cantero et al, 2007). Mayer and Boness (2011a) highlight that definitions in health research often include physical, social and psychological (mental) dimensions. In this article, health is defined as a comprehensive concept, including the emotional, intellectual, spiritual, occupational, social and physical dimensions of individuals as whole persons (Davies, Davies & Heacock, 2003).…”

The Sense of Coherence and Its Measurement

“…He later widened the perspective (Antonovsky, 1987) with sense of coherence also conceived at the family level. Recent research shows that the sense of coherence concept and measurement also can be applied in organizations such as a workplace (Bauer & Jenny, 2012;Bringsén, 2010;Bringsén, Andersson & Ejlertsson, 2009;Forbech & Hanson, 2013;Graeser, 2011;Mayer & Krause, 2011;Mayer & Boness, 2011;Nilsson, Andersson, Ejlertsson, & Troein, 2012;Orvik & Axelsson, 2012;Vogt, Jenny & Bauer, 2013 Research that examines and discusses salutogenesis and the sense of coherence at a societal level is sparse. Braun-Lewensohn and Sagy (2011) report findings from studies using an instrument adapted for societal sense of coherence (Sense of Community Coherence), which contains seven questions describing how the individual experiences the society in terms of comprehensibility, manageability, and meaningfulness.…”

‘You have to keep your head on your shoulders’: A systems psychodynamic perspective on women leaders

“…Two researchers conducted the interviews and established themselves within the field as 'external, independent researchers' (Babbie & Mouton, 2006, p. 520;Mayer & Boness, 2011), whilst establishing contact with HERS members and building trustful relationships. Interviews were conducted either via Skype or through face-to-face interactions.…”