What is Occupational Health Psychology?Occupational Health Psychology is a rapidly expanding interdisciplinary field that focuses on the science and practice of psychology in the promotion and development of workplace health- and safety-related initiatives. Occupational Health Psychology (OHP) researchers and practitioners draw from the domains of public health, preventive medicine, nursing, industrial engineering, law, epidemiology, and psychology (industrial-organizational, social/health, and clinical) to develop sound theory and practice for protecting and promoting the safety, health, and well being of individuals in the workplace and improving the quality of work life. Research in Occupational Health Psychology focuses on the work environment, the individual, and work/life balance. The National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety OHP Website Milestones in the History of Occupational Health Psychology1966 | U.S. Public Health Service recognizes work organization and stress as developing occupational safety and health concerns. | 1970 | The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) Act of 1970 charges NIOSH with the responsibility for investigating behavioral factors and stress as etiologic agents for occupational disease and injury. | 1977 | A report on Work in America is commissioned by Elliot Richardson, Secretary of Health Education and Welfare. | 1988 | NIOSH recognizes psychological disorders as leading occupational health risk. | 1990 | APA and NIOSH begin partnership to promote the new area of occupational health psychology. | 1990 | APA/NIOSH international conference on Work and Well-Being is held in Washington, DC. | 1991 | OHP field is formally acknowledged in the American Psychologist. | 1992 | APA/NIOSH international conference on Stress in the ‘90s is held in Washington, DC. | 1993 | APA and NIOSH enter into a cooperative agreement to fund post/doctorial training in OHP. | 1994-1997 | APA and NIOSH fund seven postdocs in occupational health psychology. | 1994 | The Journal of Occupational Health Psychology is founded. | 1995 | APA/NIOSH international conference on Work, Stress, and Health is held in Washington, DC. | 1996 | NIOSH places work organization among its highest research priorities. | 1997 | APA and NIOSH enter into a cooperative agreement to fund the development of graduate-level-curricula in OHP. | 1998-2001 | APA and NIOSH fund 11 universities to develop and implement OHP graduate curricula. | 1999 | APA/NIOSH international conference on Work, Stress, and Health is held in Baltimore, MD. | 2000 | International Coordinating Group for Occupational Health Psychology is established. | 2001 | Twenty-eight OHP stakeholders convene to discuss the future of training efforts in OHP |
Science Directorate of the American Psychological Association. (2002). Psychological Science Agenda, 15 (1), 5. |
