Does type of provider matter for staff well-being? A cross-sectional study of residential care home workers’ job demands and resources

• BACKGROUND: Marketisation trends have introduced new elements in residential care homes, potentially related to the psychosocial work environment and well-being of care workers. OBJECTIVE: This study examines differences in job demands and resources across public, outsourced, and private residential care home providers and their associations with care workers’ burnout, job satisfaction, and turnover intentions. METHODS: Data from 253 care workers across 19 residential care homes in three municipalities were analysed using a cross-sectional design, with a 45.3% response rate. We applied the Job Demands-Resources theory and the Copenhagen psychosocial questionnaire, conducting analyses of variance to assess differences and multiple regressions using Generalised Estimating Equations, accounting for the nested structure of the data. RESULTS: Our findings were mixed, with job demands and resources differing across provider types. Outsourced care workers reported higher emotional demands than public sector ones, while private providers offered greater autonomy and supervisor support than public ones. Outsourced workers rated higher levels of burnout than those in public settings, although this difference was non-significant after adding other factors to the model. Statistically significant differences in burnout levels were observed between municipalities. Private care workers reported higher job satisfaction than public ones. About 60% of respondents sometimes or more frequently considered leaving their jobs. Public care workers reported higher turnover intentions than those working for for-profit providers. CONCLUSIONS: This study contributes to understanding how provider type, job demands, and resources relate to care workers' well-being. Further comparative research could help clarify the impact of municipal differences versus provider types.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Sociologi -- Socialt arbete (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Sociology -- Social Work (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Assistant Nurses; Burnout

Psychological; Job Satisfaction; Nursing Homes; Ownership; Personnel Turnover; Psychological Well-Being; Working Conditions

Health-Promoting Work

Hälsofrämjande arbete

Publikations- och innehållstyp

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