Helsefremmende arbeidsmiljø i skolen. Aspervika skole - en kvalitativ undersøkelse

Abstract

This master thesis has a health promoting perspective. We have used a case study to analyse Aspervika skole’s adaptation of HSE regulations and the school’s psychosocial environment. We have done so by applying theory related to healthy work environments as well as materials from research performed by NOA, Arbeidstilsynet, and IRIS on this topic. We have also performed our own survey and referenced/based our findings on other documents and relevant literature. The data collection was done through focus-group interviews and individual interviews. Our respondents were chosen based on their positions. We also used supplementary data in the form of documented studies and previous literature. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed, analysed and interpreted. The following research questions will be used to characterize the work environment for teaching staff and the management: 1. Has Aspervika skole worked systematically to create a health- promoting and meaningful work situation for the employees? 2. Has the school made use of what Antonovsky defined as salutogenesis to encourage this? 3. Can the teaching staff and the management at Aspervika skole be described as what Antonovsky defines as an SOC-strong group? Our thesis is limited to the potential health-promoting factors in the respondent´s work environment at Aspervika skole. We have concentrated on the physical, mental, and social health of the teachers and the management for the creation of a work environment that agrees with the HSE regulations. We claim to have found connections between health-promoting factors and the work environment for the teaching staff and the management at Aspervika skole. The findings are supported by studies by Sandnes municipality’s Department of Education, document studies, (such as empirical analysis, other surveys on employee satisfaction, statistics on sickness absence,) and relevant theoretical and empirical literature. We conclude there are similarities between what is recognized as “good HSE culture” and what Antonovsky classifies as salutogenesis.