Hälsa som mål och medel. En livsåskådningsanalys av chefers tal om hälsofrämjande arbete på arbetsplatsen

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to describe and analyse the conception of life and how it influences the view of humans as well as the understanding of human health, more specifically the view of leaders and managers working in the field of health care and how it influences their approach to promoting health in the work place. This research was performed as a qualitative study. In total six semi-structured interviews were conducted. The material in the study has been analysed on the basis of the philosophical theory of Anders Jeffner as well as former studies and definitions of health done by other scientists such as Kjell Kallenberg, Gerry Larsson and Wilhelm Kardemark. The result of this study shows that the informants believe that there is a clear line to where the responsibility of the employees’ health begins and where it ends, however the outcome of my interviews clearly display an ambiguity on this matter. The conclusion in my study is that human relationships seem to be the main factor impacting health, but that the choice of how to work with health promoting activities is mainly influenced by the values and ideals of the existing culture at the work place.