Effectiveness of a workplace wellness program for adolescents and young adults

Workplace health promotion programs for adolescents and young adults are understudied and underutilized. This study evaluated an 8-session facilitator-led workplace wellness program for young employees (N = 676) aged 16 to 24. The intervention combined didactic methods with small-group discussions and skills-based activities to foster employees’ personal and interpersonal skills including communication, decision-making, stress management, and time management. Twenty sites from a large supermarket chain were randomized to an intervention or control condition. Surveys at baseline and at 6- and 18-months post intervention assessed job satisfaction, health and work performance, healthcare utilization, and symptoms of depression and stress. Based on these domains, latent class analysis identified high and low functioning individuals. Participants in the intervention group had 1.5 the odds to be classified as high functioning at the two follow-ups, relative to controls, as indicated by better job satisfaction and health and work performance, and less healthcare utilization and fewer symptoms of depression and stress. These findings indicate the potential of the intervention to increase wellness and positive performance outcomes in young employees. Findings suggest that implementation of evidence-based health promotion programs for youth in the workplace can be an effective strategy for improving public health.