Abstract
BACKGROUND: Threats and violence at work are major concerns for employees in many human service sectors. The prevention of work-related violence is a major challenge for employees and management.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to identify prospective associations between psycho-social work environment and work-related threats and violence in four high risk human service sectors.
METHODS: Questionnaire data was collected from 3011 employees working at psychiatric wards, in the elder sector, in the Prison and Probation Service and at Special Schools. Associations between psycho-social work environment and work-related violence and threats were then studied using a one-year follow-up design and multilevel logistic regression analyses.
RESULTS: The analyses showed that quantitative demands, high emotional demands, low level of influence over own work-situation, low predictability, low rewards at work, low role clarity, many role conflicts, many work-family conflicts and low organizational justice had statistically significant associations with high levels of work-related threats. Furthermore, high emotional demands, low predictability, low role clarity, many role conflicts, many work-family conflicts, low supervisor quality and low support from nearest supervisor had statistically significant associations with high levels of work-related violence. Finally, across the four sectors both similar and different associations between psycho-social work environment and work-related violence and threats were found.
CONCLUSION: The results of the study underline the importance of including the psycho-social work environment as a supplement to existing violence prevention methods and interventions aimed at reducing work-related violence and threats.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to identify prospective associations between psycho-social work environment and work-related threats and violence in four high risk human service sectors.
METHODS: Questionnaire data was collected from 3011 employees working at psychiatric wards, in the elder sector, in the Prison and Probation Service and at Special Schools. Associations between psycho-social work environment and work-related violence and threats were then studied using a one-year follow-up design and multilevel logistic regression analyses.
RESULTS: The analyses showed that quantitative demands, high emotional demands, low level of influence over own work-situation, low predictability, low rewards at work, low role clarity, many role conflicts, many work-family conflicts and low organizational justice had statistically significant associations with high levels of work-related threats. Furthermore, high emotional demands, low predictability, low role clarity, many role conflicts, many work-family conflicts, low supervisor quality and low support from nearest supervisor had statistically significant associations with high levels of work-related violence. Finally, across the four sectors both similar and different associations between psycho-social work environment and work-related violence and threats were found.
CONCLUSION: The results of the study underline the importance of including the psycho-social work environment as a supplement to existing violence prevention methods and interventions aimed at reducing work-related violence and threats.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Work: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment & Rehabilitation |
| Volume | 59 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Pages (from-to) | 141-154 |
| Number of pages | 14 |
| ISSN | 1051-9815 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2018 |
Keywords
- Risk factors
- Structural level
- Workplace threats
- Workplace violence
