The Work, Health and Performance (WHP) programme examines work behaviour in the increasingly dynamic and technological context of work and organizations. Our ambition is to conduct innovative, solid and sound research on work, health and performance, aiming to have a significant theoretical and societal impact. The WHP programme includes researchers with diverse expertise and a shared mission to promote healthy working and responsible work practices.
Work, Health and Performance
Research group
Research
Our theoretical goal is to advance our understanding of work behaviour and underlying cognitive, affective and motivational mechanisms at a fundamental level by integrating perspectives from different (psychological) disciplines. Our applied goal is to understand and positively influence determinants, processes and outcomes of healthy working and responsible work practices that are sustainably applicable in a rapidly changing and increasingly digital society.
Two research lines
Our research programme comprises two interrelated research lines.
Healthy working
Healthy and sustainable working has become increasingly relevant over the past years, with personnel shortages, an ageing work population, and rapid technological changes in work and organisations as key drivers. The psychology of healthy working offers many research opportunities that contribute to healthy and sustainable work practices in different sectors and target groups. We aim to better understand determinants and processes underlying employee well-being, health and sustainable employability, and to contribute innovatively to healthy work design, healthy work conditions and policies that promote healthy working. The central topics we are currently studying within this line of research are stress, fatigue, recovery, sleep, flexibility in work, hybrid work practices, worktime control, work-life balance, physical (in)activity, healthy working in elderly care, and digital technology and health.
Technology at work
Many aspects of work have been digitalized over the past decades, bringing opportunities such as handling complex information more effectively. But there are also concerns related to for example bureaucratization, cybersecurity and privacy, performance pressure, and the erosion of competences. For employees, technology can function both as a valuable resource and as a source of demands. While digital tools are often expected to increase efficiency, they may also conflict with other important work values and contribute to stress. In our research, we examine how people make choices about using digital technologies in their work, situated within broader work design; and how this technology use shapes cognitive and affective aspects of work, ultimately influencing employee well‑being. This research is embedded in the interdisciplinary Technology at Work group at iHub and aligns with the sector plan theme The Human Factor in New Technologies.
Research methods
Our research in both lines of investigation is characterized by a multi-method approach. We conduct longitudinal field studies, surveys, experience sampling methods, intervention and implementation studies, and lab experiments. We combine self-report measures with objective behavioural and psycho-physiological measurements. We encourage and use open science practices. We value and contribute to (interdisciplinary) team science, and we collaborate intensively with scientific and applied partners.
Our team
Members of the WHP group have national and international standing, and serve on various editorial positions for high-quality journals in the field. In our group, we strive to create a healthy, open, constructive, vibrant and inclusive work culture, in which team science is strongly encouraged. The group meets regularly for inspiring research meetings.
Events
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Contact information
Location
Visiting address
Thomas Van Aquinostraat 46525GD Nijmegen
Postal address
Postbus 91046500HE NIJMEGEN