Associations Between Workplace Violence, Mental Health, and Physical Health among Korean Workers: The Fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey

2021 ◽  
pp. 216507992110238
Author(s):  
Hae Ran Kim
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Shift Work ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Workplace Violence ◽  
Physical Violence ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Verbal Abuse ◽  
Safety Education ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

Background: Workplace violence (WPV) is a global public health problem and a threat to the health of Korean workers. This study assessed the prevalence and risk factors of WPV and its association with mental and physical health among Korean workers. Methods: Data obtained for 50,205 respondents to the Fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey were utilized for this study. Verbal abuse, threats, physical violence, and sexual harassment were assessed individually and as a composite for “any WPV.” Workers were characterized by education, income, shift work status, access to a health and safety education program, work sector and overall health. Descriptive analyses and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the prevalence of WPV and its association with mental and physical health. Findings: Overall, 5.6% of workers reported experiencing one of four forms of WPV. The prevalence of verbal abuse, threats, physical violence, and sexual harassment were 4.9%, 0.7%, 0.2%, and 1.1%, respectively. Most perpetrators were customers. Prevalence of WPV was associated with lower education level, poor health status, long working hours, shift work, and no experience of health and safety education; 9.0% of service workers experienced violence. Workers who had experienced WPV were more likely to experience anxiety, sleep-related problems, depressive symptoms, back pain, headache/eye strain, and overall fatigue. Conclusions/Applications to Practice: Workplace violence is a serious occupational and public health concern in Korea. These results suggest managing WPV may improve workers’ well-being and that violence-prevention strategies, policies, and regulations should be implemented across most industries.

scholarly journals Reducing Assaults Against Staff Using Body-Worn Cameras (BWCs) in Railway Stations

2018 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 76-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barak Ariel ◽  
Mark Newton ◽  
Lorna McEwan ◽  
Garry A. Ashbridge ◽  
Cristobal Weinborn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Workplace Violence ◽  
Physical Violence ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Railway Stations ◽  
Major Health ◽  
Diffusion Of Benefits ◽  
And Control ◽  
Official Records

Workplace violence is a major health and safety phenomenon. We investigate whether body-worn cameras (BWCs) can achieve a cost-effective reduction of assaults. We conducted a randomized controlled trial with train stations exposed to the highest recorded assault rates against staff in England and Wales. Treatment members of staff were equipped with BWCs and control staff were unexposed to BWCs. Official records of assaults against treatment and control staff as well as against any employee at the station complexes are used as outcome measures. Results suggest 47% significant overall reduction in the odds of assaults against BWCs-equipped staff at treatment versus controls locations—or approximately two versus four assaults, on average, per station. In addition, we found a 26% significant reduction in assaults against all employees in the treatment versus control station complexes—9 versus 12 assaults, on average, per station—suggesting that BWCs have a spatial diffusion of benefits effects. We estimate that BWCs can reduce at least 3,000 working days per year lost because of physical violence at work. We conclude that BWCs provide substantial benefits for staff health and safety to those who are equipped with the devices as well as to staff in the vicinity of BWC-equipped employees.

scholarly journals Perceived mental health, wellbeing and associated factors among Nepali migrant and non-migrant workers: A qualitative study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hridaya Raj Devkota ◽  
Bishnu Bhandari ◽  
Pratik Adhikary
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Migrant Workers ◽  
Health Condition ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Physical Work ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

AbstractBackgroundPoor mental health and illness among the working population have serious socio-economic and public health consequences for both the individual and society/country. With a dramatic increase in work migration over the past decades, there is recent concern about the health and wellbeing of migrant workers and their accessibility to healthcare services in destination countries. This study aimed to explore the mental health and wellbeing experiences of Nepali returnee-migrants and non-migrant workers, and identify their perception on the risk factors for poor health and health service accessibility for them.MethodsThis qualitative study was conducted among Nepali migrant and non-migrant workers in February 2020. Four focus group discussions (n=25) and 15 in-depth interviews were conducted with male non-migrant and returnee migrant workers from Gulf countries and Malaysia. The discussions and interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, translated into English and analysed thematically.ResultMigrant workers reported a higher risk of developing adverse mental health conditions than non-migrant workers. In addition, fever, upper respiratory infection, abdominal pain, ulcer, and occupational injuries were common health problems among both migrant and non-migrant workers. Other major illnesses reported by the migrant workers were heat burns and rashes, snake-bites, dengue, malaria, gallstone, kidney failure, and sexually transmitted diseases, while non-migrants reported hypertension, diabetes, and heart diseases. Adverse living and working conditions including exploitation and abuse by employers, lack of privacy and congested accommodation, language barriers, long hours’ hard physical work without breaks, and unhealthy lifestyles were the contributing factors to migrant workers’ poor mental and physical health. Both migrant and non-migrants reported poor compliance of job conditions and labor protection by their employers such as application of safety measures at work, provision of insurance and healthcare facilities that affected for their wellbeing negatively. Family problems compounded by constant financial burdens and unmet expectations were the most important factors linked with migrant workers’ poor mental health condition.ConclusionBoth migrant and non-migrant workers experienced poor mental and physical health condition largely affected by their adverse living and working conditions, unmet familial and financial needs and adherence to unhealthy life styles. It is needed to ensure the compliance of work agreement by employers and promotion of labor rights in relation to worker’s health and safety. In addition, policy interventions on raising awareness on occupational health risk and effective safety training to all migrant and non-migrant workers are recommended.

Workplace violence against physicians and medical students in west part of Iran

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 116-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdorrahim Afkhamzadeh ◽  
Amjad Mohamadi Bolbanabad ◽  
Bayan Moloudi ◽  
Hossein Safari ◽  
Bakhtiar Piroozi
Keyword(s):  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Workplace Violence ◽  
Physical Violence ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Verbal Abuse ◽  
Teaching Hospitals ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to survey the prevalence of exposure to workplace violence (WPV) including physical violence, verbal abuse, bullying as well as its related factors among physicians and medical students attending teaching hospitals of Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences (KUMS). Design/methodology/approach This is a descriptive analytic as well as a cross-sectional study which was carried out on all physicians (general and specialists) and medical students attending teaching hospitals of KUMS in 2014. Overall, 400 participated in this study and data were gathered using a standard questionnaire. Then, data were analyzed using SPSS 20, χ2 and Fisher’s exact tests as well as univariate and adjusted logistic regression. Findings The prevalence of physical violence, verbal abuse and bullying among medical students was reported 4.5, 59 and 0.8 percent, respectively. In addition, the prevalence of these violence among general practitioners was 6.9, 72.4 and 0 percent, respectively. Moreover, 11.5, 42.3 and 3.8 percent of specialists had experienced physical violence, verbal abuse and bullying, respectively. Patients and their relatives were the main sources of the violence. Based on the results of multivariate logistic regression, male sex (AOR=2.60, CI: 1.56–4.32) and having shift work (AOR=3.13, CI: 1.67–5.84) were the most significant risk factors for total WPV. Originality/value The WPV experienced by physicians and medical students attending teaching hospitals of MUK is high. Health sector authorities should develop and implement proper strategies and interventions aiming at reducing or preventing from incidence of WPV.

scholarly journals Relationships between nurses’ experiences of workplace violence, emotional exhaustion and patient safety

2020 ◽  
pp. 174498712096020
Author(s):  
Sinhye Kim ◽  
Celeste Mayer ◽  
Cheryl B Jones
Keyword(s):  
Patient Safety ◽  
Emotional Exhaustion ◽  
Workplace Violence ◽  
Physical Violence ◽  
Patient Safety Culture ◽  
Healthcare Research ◽  
Verbal Abuse ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Academic Medical Centre ◽  
Safety Perceptions

Background The rising rate of workplace violence in hospitals is a serious concern. While leading organisations recommend implementing interventions to address workplace violence, little is known about the workplace violence relationship between patients and visitors, and how it affects nurses’ emotional exhaustion and their perceptions of patient safety. Aims The study’s purpose was to understand the status of workplace violence in hospitals and the relationships between nurses’ experiences of workplace violence, emotional exhaustion, and perceptions of patient safety. Methods This cross-sectional analysis used data from a survey conducted at a large academic medical centre using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture plus additional measures of workplace violence and emotional exhaustion. Results Nurses reported more occurrences of verbal violence than physical violence. Nurses’ experiences of workplace violence negatively affect nurses’ emotional exhaustion and patient-safety perceptions. Moreover, nurses’ emotional exhaustion mediated the relationship between verbal abuse and patient-safety perceptions. Conclusions Interventions to reduce nurses’ emotional exhaustion and strengthen resilience can mitigate the negative effects of verbal abuse and to some extent the effects of physical violence.

Safety and work-related stress: developing a risk index to comply with Italian law (D. Lgs. 81/2008)

RISORSA UOMO ◽  
2009 ◽  
pp. 69-86
Author(s):  
Mario Magnani ◽  
Gaetano Andrea Mancini ◽  
Vincenzo Majer
Keyword(s):  
Physical Health ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Risk Index ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Factorial Structure ◽  
Internal Reliability ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Italian Law ◽  
Related Stress ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

- Despite the recent proliferation of tools to detect the sources of stress, relatively little research has been conducted about well-being indicators in order to comply with the law and to assess the person's fit to the observed context. This work aims to present a tool for quickly detecting the working conditions. The OPRA Risk Index shows excellent factorial structure and a satisfactory internal reliability. It provides an estimate of risk based on the score of some literature-relevant indicators and can be used to make a first assessment as well as to discriminate effectively between perceptions of climate, sources of risk, burnout, engagement, and mental and physical health.

scholarly journals Prevalence of workplace violence against healthcare workers: a systematic review and meta-analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 76 (12) ◽  
pp. 927-937 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianxin Liu ◽  
Yong Gan ◽  
Heng Jiang ◽  
Liqing Li ◽  
Robyn Dwyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Workplace Violence ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Physical Violence ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Verbal Abuse ◽  
Epidemiological Evidence ◽  
The Past ◽  
Nurses And Physicians ◽  
Health Institutions

We aim to quantitatively synthesise available epidemiological evidence on the prevalence rates of workplace violence (WPV) by patients and visitors against healthcare workers. We systematically searched PubMed, Embase and Web of Science from their inception to October 2018, as well as the reference lists of all included studies. Two authors independently assessed studies for inclusion. Data were double-extracted and discrepancies were resolved by discussion. The overall percentage of healthcare worker encounters resulting in the experience of WPV was estimated using random-effects meta-analysis. The heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic. Differences by study-level characteristics were estimated using subgroup analysis and meta-regression. We included 253 eligible studies (with a total of 331 544 participants). Of these participants, 61.9% (95% CI 56.1% to 67.6%) reported exposure to any form of WPV, 42.5% (95% CI 38.9% to 46.0%) reported exposure to non-physical violence, and 24.4% (95% CI 22.4% to 26.4%) reported experiencing physical violence in the past year. Verbal abuse (57.6%; 95% CI 51.8% to 63.4%) was the most common form of non-physical violence, followed by threats (33.2%; 95% CI 27.5% to 38.9%) and sexual harassment (12.4%; 95% CI 10.6% to 14.2%). The proportion of WPV exposure differed greatly across countries, study location, practice settings, work schedules and occupation. In this systematic review, the prevalence of WPV against healthcare workers is high, especially in Asian and North American countries, psychiatric and emergency department settings, and among nurses and physicians. There is a need for governments, policymakers and health institutions to take actions to address WPV towards healthcare professionals globally.

scholarly journals Associations between Workplace Violence, Mental Health and Physical Health among Korean Employees: The Fifth Korea Youth Working Conditions Survey (2017)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hae Ran Kim
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Workplace Violence ◽  
Occupational Injury ◽  
Service Industry ◽  
Sleep Problems ◽  
Working Hours ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Industry Experience

Abstract Background This study assessed workplace violence experiences among Korean employees and its influence on mental and physical health.Methods Using the 2017 Fifth Korea Youth Working Conditions Survey, 50,205 workers were analyzed. Experiences of workplace violence were assessed across four categories: verbal violence, unwanted sexual attention, threatening behavior, and humiliation. Mental health included anxiety, sleep problems, depressive symptoms, and physical health included hearing loss/dermatological problems, back pain, limbs myalgia, headache/eye stain, occupational injury, and overall fatigue.Results Experience of workplace violence was more common among workers with poor health (subjectively measured), chronic disease, long weekly working hours, shift work, or jobs in the service industry. Experience of workplace violence was associated with increased anxiety, sleep problems, depression symptoms, and physical health problems.Conclusions Prevention of workplace violence is essential to improve the health of workers.

scholarly journals Mental and Physical Well-being of People Working in Helping Professions, Employed in Youth Educational Centres and Sociotherapy Centres

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justyna Szrajda ◽  
Ewa Sygit Kowalkowska ◽  
Magdalena Weber-Rajek ◽  
Marcin Ziółkowski ◽  
Alina Borkowska
Keyword(s):  
Physical Health ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Sense Of Self ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Helping Professions ◽  
Low Mood ◽  
Physical Health Problems ◽  
Mental Well Being ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

AbstractRepresentatives of helping professions are particularly exposed to occupational stress. The aim of the study was to evaluate mental and physical well-being, as well as their correlates and predictors in a group of employees working at youth educational centres and sociotherapy centres. A total of 96 employees working at youth educational centres and sociotherapy centres in Kujawsko-Pomorskie voivodeship took part in the study. The following psychometric tools were used: the Psychosocial Working Conditions Questionnaire, the Mini-COPE, the LOT-R, and the GSES. The results obtained indicate that people working in helping professions experience mental and physical health problems. Only 3% of the subjects declared they sleep all night. Over 40% and over 35% of the subjects estimate they suffer from low mood and irritation episodes, respectively, rather frequently or continually. Subjects with poorer mental health are more likely to use Helplessness, Avoidance behaviours, or Turning to religion to cope with stress. The strongest predictor of mental well-being is the sense of self-efficacy. Whereas, the strongest predictor of physical well-being is the ability to cope with stress by giving into the feeling of Helplessness. The study demonstrated poor mental and physical well-being of the subjects. A statistically significant correlation was found between sex and the level of mental and physical health. Employees working at youth educational centres and sociotherapy centres with better mental and physical well-being had a stronger sense of self-efficacy and a higher level of life optimism. Hence, the sense of self-efficacy is a predictor for better mental well-being.

scholarly journals Exploring the beliefs and perceptions of spending time in nature among U.S. youth

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Astrid N. Zamora ◽  
Marika E. Waselewski ◽  
Abby J. Frank ◽  
Jack R. Nawrocki ◽  
Aspen R. Hanson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Public Health Challenge ◽  
Qualitative Responses ◽  
Mental And Physical Health ◽  
Hispanic White

Abstract Purpose The prevalence of poor mental health continues to rise among youth; however, large-scale interventions to improve mental and physical health remain a public health challenge. Time spent in nature is associated with improved health among youth. This study aimed to assess youth experiences with nature and the self-perceived impact on their mental and physical health among a nationwide sample of US youth. Methods In September 2020, five open-ended questions that aimed to assess perceptions regarding nature were posed to 1174 MyVoice youth, aged 14–24 years. Qualitative responses were analyzed using thematic analysis, and data were summarized using descriptive statistics. Results The mean (SD) age of the 994 respondents (RR = 84.7%) was 18.9 (2.7) years; 47.4% were female, and 57.4% Non-Hispanic White. Among youth, many felt that spending time in nature positively impacted their mental health, with 51.6% mentioning that it made them “feel calm when I am out in nature”; 22.1% said that it relieved stress or “reduces my anxiety,” and 17.1% felt that being in nature positively impacted their physical health and “makes me feel more active and in shape.” However, 7.0% said it negatively impacted their health, such as “It makes me feel isolated.” Most youth (87.8%) want to spend more time in nature, with 22% mentioning barriers (i.e., busy schedules, built environment, and COVID-19) impeding them from doing so. Conclusions Youth in our sample generally report feeling physically and mentally better when spending time in nature and want to spend more time in nature. Public health policies and practices that eliminate barriers and actively support time spent outside may be a feasible and acceptable practice to promote overall well-being among youth.

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