The prevalence and impact of exposure to psychosocial risk factors seems to be increasing in labour contexts in general. The assessment and measurement of psychosocial work factors is essential for the improvement of healthy workplaces and should be incorporated into health and safety management programmes. The assessment of psychosocial factors requires the selection of appropriate instruments that respond to the multidimensionality of that construct. The COPSOQ III covers a multitude of theoretical approaches and provides comprehensive information on psychosocial working conditions that may help to deduce actions for their improvement. The use of COPSOQ III in national context needs prior validation studies. In this regard, the paper aims to assess the psychometric properties of the middle version of COPSOQ III as to provide evidence on the validity of this instrument to be used for the Portuguese working population. The validation process comprised a national sample of 7,506 participants that included different occupational sectors based on a cross-sectional study. Construct validity was assessed through Confirmatory Factor Analysis and the internal consistency of the scales was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha. The results revealed a satisfactory reliability and ability of the Portuguese middle version of COPSOQ III (COPSOQ III-PT) to discriminate the psychosocial dimensions. The distribution of the scores of the study sample by each scale and by sex enables a better interpretation of the results based on reference values.

BACKGROUND:The initial lockdown during the pandemic of COVID-19 led to adjustments in working conditions, including extensive use of telecommuting whenever possible, putatively influencing both work-related and home-related stress. OBJECTIVES:Our aim was to measure the impact of teleworking on work-related and home-related during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS:The international study was conducted using an online questionnaire to collect demographic and stress-related data from individuals worldwide during the 2020 pandemic year. Work-related and home-related stress levels were evaluated using an uncalibrated visual analog scale, with a range from 0 (none) to 100 (maximum). RESULTS:A total of 13,537 individuals from 44 countries completed the survey between January and June 2020. A total of 7356 individuals were engaged in professional activities. Of these, 6639 continued to work, of which 2573 carried on as usual and 4066 teleworked. The teleworkers demonstrated a considerably (p < 0.001) lower level of work-related stress (58 ± 31.6) in comparison to those who maintained their usual work schedule (63.6 ± 31.1). However, there was no statistically significant variation in home-related stress between the two groups. The risk of high levels of work-related stress (stress > 80) was multiplied by 1.76 in women (1.54 to 2.01; p < 0.001), by 1.43 (1.27 to 1.61; p < 0.001) for those who did not telework, by 5.31 (4.57 to 6.18; p < 0.001) for those with high levels of home-related stress (stress > 80), and by 1.46 (1.22 to 1.76; p < 0.001) for those from continents outside Europe. Home-related stress is also a risk factor for work-related stress, and vice versa. Sociodemographic risk factors for higher levels of home-related stress were age < 50 years old, women, working < 50 h per week, continents outside Europe, and not teleworking were no longer risk factors. CONCLUSION:Telework emerged as a viable option during the initial phase of the global pandemic. This mode of work was associated with lower levels of work-related stress compared to workers who were required to work in a conventional manner. In terms of home-related stress, telecommuters experienced more stress than those who continued to work as usual.

The impact of psychosocial factors on organizations has been identified nationally and internationally, with a warning about the risks to workers' health (stress, burnout, depression, anxiety, musculoskeletal symptoms...) and the consequences for organizations (loss of productivity, quality, absenteeism, presenteeism...). From a psychosocial risk management perspective, the first step is to identify and characterize the psychosocial risk factors to which workers are exposed and the consequences for their health and safety. After obtaining a rigorous and reliable diagnosis of the risk factors, it is possible to define measures to mitigate and prevent them. This requires psychosocial risk assessment tools that have been validated for Portugal and accepted internationally, which allows for comparability and benchmarking with other countries, or even within the same country, between sectors of activity or other characteristics of the population (type of employment, working hours...). Making data, tools, and instruments available in digital format has also become increasingly important for organizations. Based on this need and the validation of the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ) for Portugal, the Portuguese Observatory of Occupational Psychosocial Factors was created and developed.

Background Despite the potential detrimental consequences for individuals’ health and discrimination from covid-19 symptoms, the outcomes have received little attention. This study examines the relationships between having personally experienced discrimination based on the symptoms of covid-19 (during the first wave of the pandemic), mental health, and emotional responses (anger and sadness). It was predicted that covid-19 discrimination would be positively related to poor mental health and that this relationship would be mediated by the emotions of anger and sadness. Methods The study was conducted using an online questionnaire from January to June 2020 (the Covistress network; including 44 countries). Participants were extracted from the COVISTRESS database (Ntotal = 280) with about a half declaring having been discriminated due to covid-19 symptoms (N = 135). Discriminated participants were compared to non-discriminated participants using ANOVA. A mediation analysis was conducted to examine the indirect effect of emotional responses and the relationships between perceived discrimination and self-reported mental health. Results The results indicated that individuals who experienced discrimination based on the symptoms of covid-19 had poorer mental health and experienced more anger and sadness. The relationship between covid-19 personal discrimination and mental health disappeared when the emotions of anger and sadness were statistically controlled for. The indirect effects for both anger and sadness were statistically significant. Discussion This study suggests that the covid-19 pandemic may have generated discriminatory behaviors toward those suspected of having symptoms and that this is related to poorer mental health via anger and sadness.

A third version of the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ III) was developed internationally aiming to respond to new trends in working conditions, theoretical concepts, and international experience. This article aims to present the preliminary validation studies for the Portuguese middle version of COPSOQ III. This is an exploratory cross-sectional study viewing the cross-cultural adaption of COPSOQ III to Portugal, ensuring the contents and face validity and performing field-testing in order to reduce the number of items and to obtain insight into the data structure, through classic test theory and item response theory approaches. The qualitative study encompassed 29 participants and the quantitative one 659 participants from municipalities and healthcare settings. Content analysis suggested that minor re-wording could improve the face validity of items, while a reduced version, with 85 items, shows psychometric stability, achieving good internal consistency in all subscales. The COPSOQ III Portuguese middle version proved to be a valid preliminary version for future validation studies with various populations, able to be used in correlational studies with other dimensions.

Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has initiated an upheaval in society and has been the cause of considerable stress during this period. Healthcare professionals have been on the front line during this health crisis, particularly paramedical staff. The aim of this study was to assess the high level of stress of healthcare workers during the first wave of the pandemic. Materials and methods The COVISTRESS international study is a questionnaire disseminated online collecting demographic and stress-related data over the globe, during the pandemic. Stress levels were evaluated using non-calibrated visual analog scale, from 0 (no stress) to 100 (maximal stress). Results Among the 13,537 individuals from 44 countries who completed the survey from January to June 2020, we included 10,051 workers (including 1379 healthcare workers, 631 medical doctors and 748 paramedical staff). The stress levels during the first wave of the pandemic were 57.8 ± 33 in the whole cohort, 65.3 ± 29.1 in medical doctors, and 73.6 ± 27.7 in paramedical staff. Healthcare professionals and especially paramedical staff had the highest levels of stress (p < 0.001 vs non-healthcare workers). Across all occupational categories, women had systematically significantly higher levels of work-related stress than men (p < 0.001). There was a negative correlation between age and stress level (r = -0.098, p < 0.001). Healthcare professionals demonstrated an increased risk of very-high stress levels (>80) compared to other workers (OR = 2.13, 95% CI 1.87–2.41). Paramedical staff risk for very-high levels of stress was higher than doctors’ (1.88, 1.50–2.34). The risk of high levels of stress also increased in women (1.83, 1.61–2.09; p < 0.001 vs. men) and in people aged <50 (1.45, 1.26–1.66; p < 0.001 vs. aged >50). Conclusions The first wave of the pandemic was a major stressful event for healthcare workers, especially paramedical staff. Among individuals, women were the most at risk while age was a protective factor.

Introduction: COVID-19 lockdown measures have been sources of both potential stress and possible psychological and addiction complications. A lack of activity and isolation during lockdown are among the factors thought to be behind the growth in the use of psychoactive substances and worsening addictive behaviors. Previous studies on the pandemic have attested to an increase in alcohol consumption during lockdowns. Likewise, data suggest there has also been a rise in the use of cannabis, although it is unclear how this is affected by external factors. Our study used quantitative data collected from an international population to evaluate changes in cannabis consumption during the lockdown period between March and October, 2020. We also compared users and non-users of the drug in relation to: (1) socio-demographic differences, (2) emotional experiences, and (3) the information available and the degree of approval of lockdown measures. Methods: An online self-report questionnaire concerning the lockdown was widely disseminated around the globe. Data was collected on sociodemographics and how the rules imposed had influenced the use of cannabis and concerns about health, the economic impact of the measures and the approach taken by government(s). Results: One hundred eighty two respondents consumed cannabis before the lockdown vs. 199 thereafter. The mean cannabis consumption fell from 13 joints per week pre-lockdown to 9.75 after it (p < 0.001). Forty-nine respondents stopped using cannabis at all and 66 admitted to starting to do so. The cannabis users were: less satisfied with government measures; less worried about their health; more concerned about the impact of COVID-19 on the economy and their career; and more frightened of becoming infected in public areas. The risk factors for cannabis use were: age (OR = 0.96); concern for physical health (OR = 0.98); tobacco (OR = 1.1) and alcohol consumption during lockdown (OR = 1.1); the pre-lockdown anger level (OR = 1.01); and feelings of boredom during the restrictions (OR = 1.1). Conclusion: In a specific sub-population, the COVID-19 lockdown brought about either an end to the consumption of cannabis or new use of the drug. The main risk factors for cannabis use were: a lower age, co-addictions and high levels of emotions.

L’introduction évoque les effets des situations vécues par les personnes « accompagnées » (en difficulté, et prises en charge par des organismes officiels !) (chômage, préretraite, retraite imposée, précarité, petits boulots..), mais aussi les effets sur les personnels en situation de mutation institutionnelle.(burnout, perte de sens, régulations difficiles). Dans le but de mieux comprendre les processus à l’œuvre dans l’évolution et les crises des identités les auteurs évoquent trois concepts utiles: psychologie écologique (affordances et capabilités), sérendipité et catégorisations (des êtres et de leurs pratiques) et leur limite. Les catégories professionnelles sont décrites, leurs composantes ou dimensions mises en évidence, les liens et oppositions entre professionnalisation et dynamique de la personne analysés. Les identités professionnelles sont enfin confrontées aux processus paradoxaux de l’identisation, de l’adaptation et de l’aliénation/ libération de soi.

L’introduction evoque les effets des situations vecues par les personnes « accompagnees » (en difficulte, et prises en charge par des organismes officiels !) (chomage, preretraite, retraite imposee, precarite, petits boulots..), mais aussi les effets sur les personnels en situation de mutation institutionnelle.(burnout, perte de sens, regulations difficiles). Dans le but de mieux comprendre les processus a l’œuvre dans l’evolution et les crises des identites les auteurs evoquent trois concepts utiles: psychologie ecologique (affordances et capabilites), serendipite et categorisations (des etres et de leurs pratiques) et leur limite. Les categories professionnelles sont decrites, leurs composantes ou dimensions mises en evidence, les liens et oppositions entre professionnalisation et dynamique de la personne analyses. Les identites professionnelles sont enfin confrontees aux processus paradoxaux de l’identisation, de l’adaptation et de l’alienation/ liberation de soi.