course-details-portlet

PSY3137 - Psychology and Economics of Worker Health

About

New from the academic year 2024/2025

Examination arrangement

Examination arrangement: Assignment
Grade: Letter grades

Evaluation Weighting Duration Grade deviation Examination aids
Assignment 100/100

Course content

The course offers a holistic view of worker health from the perspective of occupational health psychology and work environment economics. The course addresses the complex links between work, health, and performance. Though theoretically anchored, this course prepares students to support and promote worker health and productivity.

The course has two main modules: Occupational Health Psychology and Work Environment Economics. Equipped with knowledge in both domains, students who complete the course are prepared to promote and drive beneficial transformations in workplaces and enhance workers' health, thereby boosting organizational performance.

Module 1: Occupational Health Psychology

This module focuses on worker health from a psychological perspective. The module addresses both mental health and physical health and deals with topics such as absenteeism, presenteeism, return to work, performance, mistreatment at work, organizational justice, and conflict at work. A multilayer approach coordinating individual and organizational/environmental levels of analysis is developed.

Module 2: Work Environment Economics

This module focuses on worker health from an economic perspective, exploring the economic implications of employee well-being. The economic rationale for enhancing working conditions and their effect on productivity and health will be discussed. The module will also apply economic principles to evaluate work-related health issues through case studies that include cost-benefit analyses, productivity assessment, and the establishment of healthy work environments.

Learning outcome

Learning outcomes

Knowledge:

  • The student has an advanced understanding of worker health.
  • The student has thorough knowledge of the (psychological and physical) features of worker health.
  • The student has a deep understanding of the economic underpinnings and implications of worker health.
  • They can analyze the topic in relation to various aspects including absenteeism, presenteeism, return to work, performance, mistreatment at work, organizational justice, and conflict at work.
  • The student can describe and reflect on methods and models for analyzing the effects and benefits of interventions on worker health (including for e.g., mental disorders, musculoskeletal disorders) and organizational outcomes (e.g., performance, productivity loss, turnover).

Skills:

  • The student possesses analytical skills to explore the complex psychosocial and economic dynamic that shapes today’s workplace (e.g., cost-effectiveness analysis).
  • The student can estimate the cost benefits or effectiveness of health policies and interventions aimed at promoting worker health.
  • The student can critically review and assess the factors that influence organizational investment in workers' health.
  • The student can propose changes and interventions based on economic evaluation from a corporate perspective.

General competence:

  • The student possesses a comprehensive understanding of worker health, encompassing micro (individual), meso (organizational), and macro (economic) levels.
  • The student can apply their knowledge and skills in workplaces to respond to occupational health challenges.
  • The students can apply their knowledge and skills to new areas to answer new research questions.
  • The students can reflect, collaborate, and communicate on academic issues.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures

Collaborative training/workshops

Group discussions

Project work and oral presentations

Compulsory assignments

  • Collaborative training (workshop)
  • Project work and oral presentation

Further on evaluation

For the project, students will identify a work-related health issue, suggest an intervention using knowledge from the modules, and discuss motivating organizations to invest in worker health. Students can work alone or in groups but must declare their contribution during the presentation. Students are required to present the project work orally.

Specific conditions

Admission to a programme of study is required:
Psychology (MPSY)

Required previous knowledge

Admission to a program of study is required: the Master's program in Work and Organizational Psychology

More on the course

No

Facts

Version: 1
Credits:  7.5 SP
Study level: Second degree level

Coursework

Term no.: 1
Teaching semester:  SPRING 2025

Language of instruction: Norwegian

Location: Trondheim

Subject area(s)
  • Psychology
Contact information
Course coordinator: Lecturer(s):

Department with academic responsibility
Department of Psychology

Examination

Examination arrangement: Assignment

Term Status code Evaluation Weighting Examination aids Date Time Examination system Room *
Spring ORD Assignment 100/100

Submission
2025-05-05


14:00

Room Building Number of candidates
  • * The location (room) for a written examination is published 3 days before examination date. If more than one room is listed, you will find your room at Studentweb.
Examination

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