The double-sided nature of lifestyle-oriented work within the Swedish equine sector : Characteristics and consequences for employee health and well-being

Sammanfattning: This thesis considers the nature of lifestyle-oriented work, i.e. making a livelihood based on leisure interest or personal lifestyle, and focuses on the perspective of employees within the Swedish equine sector. The purpose was to gain an increased understanding of the characteristics of lifestyle-oriented work and the consequences for health and well-being. The thesis has a case study research design with two embedded units, riding schools and trotting stables, and a mixed methodological approach based on questionnaires and interviews. The findings show that employees experienced their work as both important and attractive with loyalty, relations, and stimulation being important factors for work attractiveness (Paper I). The employees found their work meaningful and worked primarily to achieve self-realization and quality of life. Person–environment fit, task significance, and occupational culture emerged as important factors for meaningfulness. However, the work had an inherent duality as the same factors both promoted and challenged the experiences of work attractiveness and meaningfulness (Paper II). The safety climate was found to be relatively good, despite some risk acceptance (Paper III), although the results indicated shortcomings regarding occupational health and safety management (OHSM) (Papers III and IV). Moreover, motivation, management, occupational culture, and resources affect both participation and compliance in OHSM (Paper IV).Lifestyle-oriented work within the equine sector can be described as double-sided, i.e. both satisfying and demanding. The work is characterized by attraction, meaningfulness, prosocial behavior, and a strong occupational culture but also an acceptance of challenging working conditions, overwork and deficient conditions for OHSM. A systematic OHSM, where both health-promoting factors and risk factors are considered, is necessary to enhance employee health and well-being and to create attractive and sustainable employment.