Psychology doctoral training in work and health.

Abstract

Psychology as a profession has an opportunity and obligation to advocate for and develop healthy work environments. This will require the design and conduct of doctoral-level training in occupational health psychology. A model for training might well be based on the assumptions that there is a viable role for occupational health psychologists trained at the doctoral level for both academic and applied work settings, and that doctoral training would be based on the integration of health psychology and public health. Issues remaining to be addressed in the development of doctoral training programs include appropriate predoctoral training, academic standards, the interdisciplinary nature of faculties, and appropriate settings for training. Future directions in establishing doctoral training in occupational health psychology will best be taken in dialogue with several other professions and institutions that share a common interest in reducing leading work-related diseases and injuries and promoting public health in the workplace.

Work, stress, and well-being

“…First, for professionals, occupational health psychology is a growing discipline within the larger field of psychology (Raymond et al, 1990). There is a need for the academic training of professionals at both the masters and doctoral levels in occupational health psychology and stress management.…”

“…University-based graduate education programs, both at the masters and doctoral levels, prepare professionals for worksite education in occupational health psychology and preventive stress management (Quick, 1988;Raymond, Wood, & Patrick, 1990). These programs need to be grounded in objective knowledge, self-assessment, and skillbased training (Quick, 1990;Stoto, Behrens, & Rosement, 1990;Whetten & Cameron, 1993).…”

Occupational Safety and Health

“…Additionally, they have trained professionals in occupational medicine, occupational nursing, industrial hygiene, safety engineering, occupational health psychology, and other disciplines, primarily from a public health perspective. Raymond, Wood, and Patrick (1990) are generally recognized as the first to apply the term occupational health psychology to the study of work environment factors contributing to employee health and well-being from this multidisciplinary perspective. Since then, the scientific community in the discipline has been growing and institutionalizing.…”

Career Counseling and Psychotherapy: False Dichotomies and Recommended Remedies

“…In contrast to the trends in counseling psychology, an increasingly visible acknowledgement of the importance of work to psychological health and wellbeing can be seen in the broader psychological literature (e.g., Keita & Jones, 1990;Raymond, Wood, & Patrick, 1990;Sauter et al, 1990). Topics such as the effects of unemployment on mental and physical health, occupational stress, and the effects of working conditions such as work load and work pace, job security, and interpersonal relationships on the job are appearing with greater frequency (e.g., Levi, 1990;Sauter et al, 1990).…”