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Conceptual Approaches to Occupational Health and Wellness: An Overview

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Handbook of Occupational Health and Wellness

Part of the book series: Handbooks in Health, Work, and Disability ((SHHDW))

Abstract

As will be discussed in this chapter, there is an ever-growing body of clinical research evidence related to the field of occupational health and wellness. Part of this is due to the fact that we are in the midst of rapid global economic growth, with the attendant complex international and financial systems that produce an array of potentially significant problems, such as environmental and occupational hazards/diseases, worker safety and compensation issues, as well as psychosocial stress. The increase in clinical research in these areas has also produced numerous conceptual models/approaches to try to account for phenomena such as stress–illness relationships, individual differences in resiliency and productivity, and cross-cultural factors that affect occupational health and wellness. We will introduce the reader to some of these models in this chapter. Before doing so, a brief historical overview of events that have led to the development of this ever-expanding field will be provided.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, USA

    Robert J. Gatchel Ph.D., ABPP

  2. West Coast Spine Restoration Center, 6177 River Crest Dr. #A, Riverside, CA, 92507, USA

    Nancy D. Kishino OTR, CVE

Authors
  1. Robert J. Gatchel Ph.D., ABPP
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  2. Nancy D. Kishino OTR, CVE
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Correspondence to Robert J. Gatchel Ph.D., ABPP .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Arlington, S. Nedderman Drive 501, Arlington, 76019-0528, Texas, USA

    Robert J. Gatchel

  2. , Dept of Educational and Counseling Psych, University of British Columbia, Main Hall 2125, Vancouver, V6T 1Z4, British Columbia, Canada

    Izabela Z. Schultz

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Gatchel, R.J., Kishino, N.D. (2012). Conceptual Approaches to Occupational Health and Wellness: An Overview. In: Gatchel, R., Schultz, I. (eds) Handbook of Occupational Health and Wellness. Handbooks in Health, Work, and Disability. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4839-6_1

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