Background: The working environment in mental health wards has been shown to have profound effects on the health and work stability of mental health workers. Despite an apparent need for regular measurement of work environment, development of short and reliable instruments for such measurements has been largely neglected. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Working Environment Scale-10 (WES-10).
Methods: During the period 1990 through 2000, a total of 640 staff members on 42 wards for psychotic patients completed the WES-10. To establish the number of subscales, a factor analysis was carried out. The internal consistency of the subscales was calculated as Cronbach's alpha. We also collected data concerning satisfaction with the ward, its patients and staff, and for how long the respondents had worked and expected to continue to work at the ward.
Results: We identified four subscales named: Self Realization, Workload, Conflict and Nervousness. The psychometric properties of the subscales proved to be acceptable. All the subscales were significantly correlated with at least one satisfaction item, and/or the time the staff expected to continue at the ward. Most notably, the Self Realization subscale was strongly correlated to general satisfaction with the ward, and to the time the staff expected to work on the ward in the future, while Conflict was strongly negatively correlated with liking for staff.
Conclusion: The WES-10 appears to measure four clinically meaningful subscales. It seems well suited for use in further research and for evaluation of clinical milieus.