Occupational wellbeing in a school community—Staff's and occupational health nurses’ evaluations

This study is part of an action research project titled Promotion of School Community Staff's Occupational Wellbeing in Co-operation with Occupational Health Nurses (2001–04), which aims to promote occupational wellbeing by actions that maintain the staff's ability to work in 12 school communities in Eastern Finland. This paper describes occupational health nurses’ and school staff's evaluations of the occupational wellbeing of school community staff and some factors related to it. The study is part of the extensive European Network of Health Promotion Schools (ENHPS) programme, where one aim is to improve staff health and wellbeing in school communities. In any effort to establish and promote occupational wellbeing, it is central to see empowerment as a social and an individual process. It is also important to develop the school culture and to encourage choices that make empowerment possible, but also to recognise the significance of leisure time and family as social capital.