Maintaining the Well-being of Employees – Results of a Randomized Intervention Based on the Model of Selection, Optimization and Compensation.

Abstract

Background: Available studies show that action strategies like selection (S), optimization (O) and compensation (C) (SOC, Baltes and Baltes, 1990) can help to maintain the well-being of employees. Aim of the present study is to assess the effects of a new established SOC-training-program. Methods: A stratified randomized control group design was used. 70 nurses working in a Community hospital (94% women; mean age 43.7 year; SD = 9.6) have been enrolled in the study. 36 nurses formed the intervention group (IG), 34 formed the control group (CG). Based on the SOC-model each participant of the IG selected a goal to cope more effective with an important personal stressor at work (S), developed an action plan to achieve this goal in an optimal way (O), and considered potential alternative strategies to compensate for potential external or internal hindrances (C). Findings: The majority of participants in the IG reported that they transferred SOC strategies in their daily work (about 85%), and were able to translate their personal project successful (about 75%). Pre-post comparisons showed a significant improvement of well-being in the IG compared to the CG over time (p <.05). Discussion: Results suggest that the well-being of employees can be effectively promoted through the SOC-training. In addition, the study yielded important insights about critical success factors of SOC-trainings.