Unpacking the Associations Between Perceived Cultural Support and Employee Health: The Approach of Social Capital.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the associations between workplace culture supporting health and self-rated health through social capital and stress. Structural equation modeling analysis was performed on data from employees of an insurance organization (N = 725). Significant associations were found among participation of sports events, social capital, workplace culture of health, occupational perceived stress, and self-rated health (P < 0.001). The relationship between stress and self-rated health was stronger for employees at lower hierarchical levels than the ones at higher hierarchical levels (P < 0.001). Findings show that social capital and stress are mediators in the association between perceived cultural support and self-rated health. Strong support for health in the culture is associated with positive self-rated health. Well-being strategies focusing on social capital and encouraging healthy behaviors are likely to have increased effectiveness.