Associations between the Worksite Environment and Perceived Health Culture

Abstract

Purpose.

Recognition regarding the importance of health culture in the worksite health promotion literature is growing; however, little empirical evidence exists to guide programmatic or research efforts. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between the health supporting structural features of the workplace and perceived health culture.

Design.

Cross-sectional.

Sample.

Twenty-one worksites with culture data from 2467 employees from Western New York.

Measures.

The Heart Check (HC) and Lifegain Health Culture Audit (LHCA) were used to assess worksite environment and worksite health culture, respectively.

Analysis.

Pearson r was used to examine the associations between HC factors and LHCA mean scores. Multiple linear regression was used to predict LHCA mean scores from selected HC factors.

Results.

Adjusting for age and gender, several significant correlations between HC and LHCA scores were identified, ranging from r = .54 (p < .05) to r = .72 (p <. 001). The HC Environmental Structure factor (HCES) and HC Communication factor (HCC) were significantly correlated to LHCA scores (r = .55 and r = .72, respectively; p < .01) but not to each other. A regression model combining HCES and HCC was found to be predictive of LHCA score (R² = .69, p < .001).

Conclusions.

Modifiable components of the worksite environment are strongly and positively related to employee perceptions of the worksite health culture.