Industrial and Organizational Psychology Studies

The Relationship Between Psycho-Social Workplace Factors and Job Performance in Employees of Medical Equipment Industry: A Canonical Correlation Study

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

Pedram Mohajerzadeh 1
Noori Kaabomeir 2

1 MA Student in Psychology, Khayyam University, Mashhad, Iran

2 Department of Psychology, Binaloud Institute of Higher Education, Mashhad, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22055/jiops.2025.49295.1480
Abstract
Introduction
The workforce is the most valuable knowledge capital of an organization, and improving human performance is the most critical step in enhancing an organization’s efficiency. Employees engage in work for various reasons, including fulfilling basic needs, earning income, maintaining psychological and physical activity, social interactions, competence, and self-esteem. However, negative interactions between working conditions and employees can lead to psychological and behavioral issues, such as fatigue, reduced quality of life, absenteeism, burnout, and decreased job performance. Considering these challenges, the present study examines the relationship between psycho-social workplace factors and job performance in employees of the medical equipment industry.
 
Method
This research follows a descriptive-correlational design. The study population consisted of employees from medical equipment companies in Mashhad in 2024, with a sample of 120 employees selected through convenience sampling method. The participants included 76 males and 44 females, with an average age of 29.9 years. Job tenure varied among participants: 14 employees had less than one year of experience, 86 had between one and five years, and 20 had more than five years. Employees worked in different departments, including production (47.5%), quality control (25%), packaging (14.2%), and administration (13.3%). Job Performance Questionnaire (Hersey & Goldsmith, 2003), which assesses seven subscales (ability, clarity, support, incentive, evaluation, validity, and work environment). Copenhagen Psycho-Social Questionnaire (2019), measuring five dimensions: work demands, work organization and job contents, interpersonal relations and leadership, work-individual interface, and social capital. Data were analyzed using canonical correlation analysis in SPSS-27.
 
Results
The findings indicated a significant relationship between psycho-social workplace factors and job performance. The canonical correlation coefficient (R² = 0.80, F = 6.08, p < 0.0001) showed that 80% of the variance in job performance was explained by psycho-social workplace factors. The highest structural coefficients were observed for clarity (0.90) and social capital (0.87), indicating their substantial impact.Regression analysis identified work organization and job contents, social capital, and interpersonal relations and leadership as the most influential predictors of job performance subcomponents. Among them, social capital (β=0.63) had the strongest association with job performance.
 
Discussion
The results highlight the critical role of psycho-social workplace factors in shaping employees' job performance. The findings suggested that organizations should focus on enhancing social capital, work clarity, and leadership quality to improve performance. Additionally, workshops and interventions aimed at strengthening workplace support systems are recommended to promote employee well-being and efficiency.ر

Keywords

Psycho-social workplace factors
job performance
social capital
workplace leadership
Abolghasemi, A., Moradisoroush, M., Narimani, M., & Zahed, A. (2011). The relationship between personal initiative, religious orientation, and organizational social capital and workers' job performances in the productive centers. Knowledge & Research in Applied Psychology, 12(43), 86–94.  (Persian) https://sanad.iau.ir/Journal/jsrp/Article/892064
Afshari, D., Amini, P., Jafari, B., & Akbari, G. (2021). Investigating the relationship between psychosocial factors with productivity of a food distribution industry employees. Iran Journal of Ergonomics, 9(1), 75–86. (Persian) https://doi.org/10.30699/jergon.9.1.75
Aminian, M., Dianat, I., Miri, A., & Asghari-Jafarabadi, M. (2016). The Iranian version of the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ) for assessment of psychological risk factors at work. Health Promotion Perspectives, 7(1), 7–13. (Persian)  https://doi.org/10.15171/hpp.2017.03
Arassi, M., Mohammadi, H., Motamedzade, M., Kamalinia, M., Mardani, D., & Mohammadi Beiragani, M. (2014). The association between psychosocial factors and occupational accidents among Iranian drilling workers. Iran Journal of Ergonomics, 2(1), 36–45. (Persian) http://journal.iehfs.ir/article-1-63-fa.html
Aryaie, M., Bagheri, D., Vakili, M. A., Bakhsha, F., Jafari, S. Y., & Karimi, S. (2015). Prevalence of pain due to musculoskeletal disorders and its relationship to psychosocial risk factors in the personnel of organizations in Gorgan. Journal of Research in Developmental Nursing & Midwifery, 12(2), 44–50. (Persian)  http://nmj.goums.ac.ir/article-1-777-fa.html
Baniasadi, M., & Rabbani, Z. (2022). The moderating role of psychological capital in the effect of performance appraisal policies on job satisfaction, turnover, and performance among the employees of automotive companies in Tehran. Knowledge & Research in Applied Psychology, 23(1), 199–211. https://journals.iau.ir/article_691868.html [In Persian]
Bereyhe Bereyhi, H., & Mombeini, I. (2022). The relationship of transformational leadership with job well-being, perceived occupational success and adaptive performance of employees. Industrial and Organizational Psychology Studies, 9(1), 187–202. (Persian) https://doi.org/10.22055/jiops.2023.42407.1314
Bliese, P. D., Edwards, J. R., & Sonnentag, S. (2017). Stress and well-being at work: A century of empirical trends reflecting theoretical and societal influences. Journal of Applied Psychology, 102(3), 389–402. https://doi.org/10.1037/apl0000109
Burr, H., Berthelsen, H., Moncada, S., Nübling, M., Dupret, E., Demiral, Y., ... & Pohrt, A. (2019). The third version of the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire. Safety and Health at Work. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shaw.2019.10.002
Golparvar, M., Adibi, Z., Madanifar, S. Z., & Abdoli, F. (2015). The role of psychosocial needs in the link between job stressors and positive behavioral performance in the workplace. Management Productivity, 9(34), 111–137. (Persian)  https://journals.iau.ir/article_519540.html
Hanfstigel, B., Andreitz, I., Muller, F. H., & Thomas, A. (2010). Are self-regulation and self-control mediators between psychological basic needs and intrinsic teacher motivation? Journal of Educational Research Online, 2(2), 55–71. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/256196723
Heidari, H., & Karimi Yazd Abadi, M. (2023). The mediating role of job satisfaction in the relationship between organizational intelligence and organizational performance. Industrial and Organizational Psychology Studies, 10(2), 372–359. (Persian) https://doi.org/10.22055/jiops.2023.44448.1366
Hersey, P., & Goldsmith, M. (1980). A situational approach to performance planning. Training and Development Journal, 34(11), 38–45. https://www.scirp.org/reference/referencespapers?referenceid=2590581
Hoboubi, N., Choobineh, A., Keshavarzi, S., Kamari Ghanavati, F., & Khalife, M. (2016). Investigating the association of work-related psycho-social factors on neck disorders among office personnel of Shiraz University of Medical Science. Iran Occupational Health Journal, 13(1), 91–98. (Persian) http://ioh.iums.ac.ir/article-1-1427-fa.html
Huang, G. D., Feuerstein, M., Kop, W. J., Schor, K., & Arroyo, F. (2003). Individual and combined impacts of biomechanical and work organization factors in work-related musculoskeletal symptoms. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 43(5), 495–506. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.10204
Katou, A. A., Koupkas, M., & Triantafillidou, E. (2022). Job demands–resources model, transformational leadership and organizational performance: A multilevel study. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, 71(7), 2704–2722. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPPM-01-2021-0030
Kuşcu Karatepe, H., Tiryaki Şen, H., & Türkmen, E. (2022). Predicting work performance and life satisfaction of nurses and physicians: The mediating role of social capital on self-efficacy and psychological resilience. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 58(4), 2542–2551. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppc.13057
Lee, D. Y., & Jo, Y. (2023). The job demands–resource model and performance: The mediating role of employee engagement. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1194018. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1194018
Mirsaraji, M. (2013). Investigating the effect of emotional intelligence on job performance of employees of General Directorate of Health Insurance of Tehran Province. Health Insurance Journal, 17(52), 53-62. (Persian) https://www.magiran.com/p1245228
Murphy, K. R., & Shiarella, A. H. (1997). Implications of the multidimensional nature of job performance for the validity of selection tests: Multivariate frameworks for studying test validity. Personnel Psychology, 50(4), 823–854. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6570.1997.tb00714.x
Poosti, M., & Farhadi, H. (2022). Relationship between psychosocial needs and job performance in Iranian automotive-industries employees: Examining the moderating role of mood. Knowledge & Research in Applied Psychology, 23(2), 146–157. (Persian)  https://journals.iau.ir/article_694959.html
Rothmann, S., Scholtz, P. E., Rothmann, J. C., & Fourie, M. (2002). The relationship between individual variables and work-related outcomes. International Council for Small Business, 47th World Conference, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Şahin, S., & Yozgat, U. (2024). Work–family conflict and job performance: Mediating role of work engagement in healthcare employees. Journal of Management & Organization, 30(4), 931–950. https://doi.org/10.1017/jmo.2021.55
Steers, R. M., & Sánchez‐Runde, C. J. (2017). Culture, motivation, and work behavior. In The Blackwell Handbook of Cross‐Cultural Management (pp. 190–216). Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781405164047.ch10
Stöllman, Å., Svartengren, M., Lampa, E., & Nyman, T. (2025). The influence of psychosocial factors on productivity when implementing new office designs – A longitudinal explorative study in the Swedish public sector. BMC Public Health, 25(1), 1894. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22190-0
Vosoughi Niri, A., Rohollahi, A., & Mohamad Hossein, H. (2016). The effect of job stress on general health and job performance on air traffic controllers (ATC). Iran Occupational Health Journal, 13(1), 47–57. (Persian)  http://ioh.iums.ac.ir/article-1-1354-fa.html
Yaghoubi, M., Javadi, M., Rakhsh, F., & Bahadori, M. (2013). A study of determining factors affecting the performance of nurses based on the ACHIEVE model in selected hospital of Isfahan (Iran). Journal of Education and Health Promotion, 2(49), 1-5. https://doi.org/10.4103/2277-9531.119038
Abolghasemi, A., Moradisoroush, M., Narimani, M., & Zahed, A. (2011). The relationship between personal initiative, religious orientation, and organizational social capital and workers' job performances in the productive centers. Knowledge & Research in Applied Psychology, 12(43), 86–94.  (Persian) https://sanad.iau.ir/Journal/jsrp/Article/892064
Afshari, D., Amini, P., Jafari, B., & Akbari, G. (2021). Investigating the relationship between psychosocial factors with productivity of a food distribution industry employees. Iran Journal of Ergonomics, 9(1), 75–86. (Persian) https://doi.org/10.30699/jergon.9.1.75
Aminian, M., Dianat, I., Miri, A., & Asghari-Jafarabadi, M. (2016). The Iranian version of the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ) for assessment of psychological risk factors at work. Health Promotion Perspectives, 7(1), 7–13. (Persian)  https://doi.org/10.15171/hpp.2017.03
Arassi, M., Mohammadi, H., Motamedzade, M., Kamalinia, M., Mardani, D., & Mohammadi Beiragani, M. (2014). The association between psychosocial factors and occupational accidents among Iranian drilling workers. Iran Journal of Ergonomics, 2(1), 36–45. (Persian) http://journal.iehfs.ir/article-1-63-fa.html
Aryaie, M., Bagheri, D., Vakili, M. A., Bakhsha, F., Jafari, S. Y., & Karimi, S. (2015). Prevalence of pain due to musculoskeletal disorders and its relationship to psychosocial risk factors in the personnel of organizations in Gorgan. Journal of Research in Developmental Nursing & Midwifery, 12(2), 44–50. (Persian)  http://nmj.goums.ac.ir/article-1-777-fa.html
Baniasadi, M., & Rabbani, Z. (2022). The moderating role of psychological capital in the effect of performance appraisal policies on job satisfaction, turnover, and performance among the employees of automotive companies in Tehran. Knowledge & Research in Applied Psychology, 23(1), 199–211. https://journals.iau.ir/article_691868.html [In Persian]
Bereyhe Bereyhi, H., & Mombeini, I. (2022). The relationship of transformational leadership with job well-being, perceived occupational success and adaptive performance of employees. Industrial and Organizational Psychology Studies, 9(1), 187–202. (Persian) https://doi.org/10.22055/jiops.2023.42407.1314
Bliese, P. D., Edwards, J. R., & Sonnentag, S. (2017). Stress and well-being at work: A century of empirical trends reflecting theoretical and societal influences. Journal of Applied Psychology, 102(3), 389–402. https://doi.org/10.1037/apl0000109
Burr, H., Berthelsen, H., Moncada, S., Nübling, M., Dupret, E., Demiral, Y., ... & Pohrt, A. (2019). The third version of the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire. Safety and Health at Work. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shaw.2019.10.002
Golparvar, M., Adibi, Z., Madanifar, S. Z., & Abdoli, F. (2015). The role of psychosocial needs in the link between job stressors and positive behavioral performance in the workplace. Management Productivity, 9(34), 111–137. (Persian)  https://journals.iau.ir/article_519540.html
Hanfstigel, B., Andreitz, I., Muller, F. H., & Thomas, A. (2010). Are self-regulation and self-control mediators between psychological basic needs and intrinsic teacher motivation? Journal of Educational Research Online, 2(2), 55–71. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/256196723
Heidari, H., & Karimi Yazd Abadi, M. (2023). The mediating role of job satisfaction in the relationship between organizational intelligence and organizational performance. Industrial and Organizational Psychology Studies, 10(2), 372–359. (Persian) https://doi.org/10.22055/jiops.2023.44448.1366
Hersey, P., & Goldsmith, M. (1980). A situational approach to performance planning. Training and Development Journal, 34(11), 38–45. https://www.scirp.org/reference/referencespapers?referenceid=2590581
Hoboubi, N., Choobineh, A., Keshavarzi, S., Kamari Ghanavati, F., & Khalife, M. (2016). Investigating the association of work-related psycho-social factors on neck disorders among office personnel of Shiraz University of Medical Science. Iran Occupational Health Journal, 13(1), 91–98. (Persian) http://ioh.iums.ac.ir/article-1-1427-fa.html
Huang, G. D., Feuerstein, M., Kop, W. J., Schor, K., & Arroyo, F. (2003). Individual and combined impacts of biomechanical and work organization factors in work-related musculoskeletal symptoms. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 43(5), 495–506. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.10204
Katou, A. A., Koupkas, M., & Triantafillidou, E. (2022). Job demands–resources model, transformational leadership and organizational performance: A multilevel study. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, 71(7), 2704–2722. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPPM-01-2021-0030
Kuşcu Karatepe, H., Tiryaki Şen, H., & Türkmen, E. (2022). Predicting work performance and life satisfaction of nurses and physicians: The mediating role of social capital on self-efficacy and psychological resilience. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 58(4), 2542–2551. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppc.13057
Lee, D. Y., & Jo, Y. (2023). The job demands–resource model and performance: The mediating role of employee engagement. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1194018. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1194018
Mirsaraji, M. (2013). Investigating the effect of emotional intelligence on job performance of employees of General Directorate of Health Insurance of Tehran Province. Health Insurance Journal, 17(52), 53-62. (Persian) https://www.magiran.com/p1245228
Murphy, K. R., & Shiarella, A. H. (1997). Implications of the multidimensional nature of job performance for the validity of selection tests: Multivariate frameworks for studying test validity. Personnel Psychology, 50(4), 823–854. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6570.1997.tb00714.x
Poosti, M., & Farhadi, H. (2022). Relationship between psychosocial needs and job performance in Iranian automotive-industries employees: Examining the moderating role of mood. Knowledge & Research in Applied Psychology, 23(2), 146–157. (Persian)  https://journals.iau.ir/article_694959.html
Rothmann, S., Scholtz, P. E., Rothmann, J. C., & Fourie, M. (2002). The relationship between individual variables and work-related outcomes. International Council for Small Business, 47th World Conference, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Şahin, S., & Yozgat, U. (2024). Work–family conflict and job performance: Mediating role of work engagement in healthcare employees. Journal of Management & Organization, 30(4), 931–950. https://doi.org/10.1017/jmo.2021.55
Steers, R. M., & Sánchez‐Runde, C. J. (2017). Culture, motivation, and work behavior. In The Blackwell Handbook of Cross‐Cultural Management (pp. 190–216). Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781405164047.ch10
Stöllman, Å., Svartengren, M., Lampa, E., & Nyman, T. (2025). The influence of psychosocial factors on productivity when implementing new office designs – A longitudinal explorative study in the Swedish public sector. BMC Public Health, 25(1), 1894. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22190-0
Vosoughi Niri, A., Rohollahi, A., & Mohamad Hossein, H. (2016). The effect of job stress on general health and job performance on air traffic controllers (ATC). Iran Occupational Health Journal, 13(1), 47–57. (Persian)  http://ioh.iums.ac.ir/article-1-1354-fa.html
Yaghoubi, M., Javadi, M., Rakhsh, F., & Bahadori, M. (2013). A study of determining factors affecting the performance of nurses based on the ACHIEVE model in selected hospital of Isfahan (Iran). Journal of Education and Health Promotion, 2(49), 1-5. https://doi.org/10.4103/2277-9531.119038
Industrial and Organizational Psychology Studies
Volume 12, Issue 2
July 2025
Pages 51-64

  • Receive Date 22 March 2025
  • Revise Date 31 May 2025
  • Accept Date 30 June 2025

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