Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

  • Volume 34
  • /
  • Pages.13.1-13.11
  • /
  • 2022
  • /
  • 1225-3618(pISSN)
  • /
  • 2052-4374(eISSN)
The Korean Society of Occupational & Environmental Medicine (대한직업환경의학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Relationship between workplace violence and work-related depression/anxiety, separating the types of perpetrators: a cross-sectional study using data from the fourth and fifth Korean Working Conditions Surveys (KWCS)

  • Na-Rae Lee (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Hospital) ;
  • Sang-Woo Kim (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Hospital) ;
  • Jae-Han Joo (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Hospital) ;
  • Jae-Han Lee (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Hospital) ;
  • June-Hee Lee (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Hospital) ;
  • Kyung-Jae Lee (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Hospital)
  • Received : 2022.01.11
  • Accepted : 2022.05.24
  • Published : 2022.12.31
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Background: Work is an inseparable element of a person's life, and violence in the workplace has various effects on individual workers and companies. While most studies have focused on specific industries, very few studies have investigated the influence of workplace violence by co-workers. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the association between workplace violence and work-related depression/anxiety in various occupations by differentiating the perpetrators of violence as co-workers and clients. Methods: This study was conducted based on data from the 4th and 5th Korean Working Conditions Surveys (KWCS). The experience of workplace violence was classified in terms of the perpetrator: workplace violence by co-workers and that by clients. Work-related depression and anxiety were assessed using questions about health problems related to depression and anxiety and whether the problems were related to work. Descriptive statistics, χ2 tests, and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed using the SPSS 26.0. Results: After adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics (age, education, income, subjective health status) and occupational characteristics (occupation, weekly working hours, type of employment, size of workplace, and shift work), male workers with experience of workplace violence by co-workers were found to be at a higher risk of work-related depression/anxiety (odds ratio [OR], 11.52; 95% confidence interval [CI], 8.65-15.36). The same was confirmed for female workers (OR, 10.89; 95% CI, 7.90-15.02). Conclusions: Employees who experienced workplace violence from co-workers were found to be more vulnerable to work-related depression/anxiety. Continuous contact between the victim and the perpetrator may occur, and the possibility of a secondary assault can frighten the victim. Appropriate prevention and intervention measures that focus on the perpetrators of violence are needed.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

The study used data from the 4th and 5th Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS), which is open to researchers on request.

References

  1. Bereau of Labor Statistics. American time use survey-May to December 2019 and 2020 results. https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/atus.pdf. Updated 2021. Accessed January 3, 2022.
  2. International Labor Office. Work-Related Violence and Its Integration Into Existing Surveys. 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians. Geneva, Switzerland: International Labor Office; 2013.
  3. di Martino V. Relationship Between Work Stress and Workplace Violence in the Health Sector. Workplace Violence in the Health Sector. Geneva, Switzerland: International Labour Office, International Council of Nurses, World Health Organization; 2003.
  4. U.S. Department of Labor OSHA. OSHA Fact sheet workplace violence. https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/factsheet-workplace-violence.pdf. Updated 2002. Accessed January 3, 2022.
  5. Eurofound. Sixth European Working Conditions Survey - Overview Report (2017 Update). Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union; 2017.
  6. Yoo M, Lee S, Kang MY. Gender and educational level modify the relationship between workplace mistreatment and health problems: a comparison between South Korea and EU countries. J Occup Health 2015;57(5):427-37. https://doi.org/10.1539/joh.14-0270-OA
  7. Lanctot N, Guay S. The aftermath of workplace violence among healthcare workers: A systematic literature review of the consequences. Aggress Violent Behav 2014;19(5):492-501. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2014.07.010
  8. Magnavita N, Di Stasio E, Capitanelli I, Lops EA, Chirico F, Garbarino S. Sleep problems and workplace violence: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Neurosci 2019;13:997.
  9. Mento C, Silvestri MC, Bruno A, Muscatello MR, Cedro C, Pandolfo G, et al. Workplace violence against healthcare professionals: a systematic review. Aggress Violent Behav 2020;51:101381.
  10. Kivimaki M, Virtanen M, Vartia M, Elovainio M, Vahtera J, Keltikangas-Jarvinen L. Workplace bullying and the risk of cardiovascular disease and depression. Occup Environ Med 2003;60(10):779-83. https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.60.10.779
  11. Xu T, Magnusson Hanson LL, Lange T, Starkopf L, Westerlund H, Madsen IE, et al. Workplace bullying and workplace violence as risk factors for cardiovascular disease: a multi-cohort study. Eur Heart J 2019;40(14):1124-34. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehy683
  12. Hoel H, Sparks K, Cooper CL. The Cost of Violence/Stress at Work and the Benefits of a Violence/Stress-Free Working Environment. Geneva, Switzerland: International Labour Organization; 2001.
  13. Nyberg A, Kecklund G, Hanson LM, Rajaleid K. Workplace violence and health in human service industries: a systematic review of prospective and longitudinal studies. Occup Environ Med 2021;78(2):69-81. https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2020-106450
  14. Piquero NL, Piquero AR, Craig JM, Clipper SJ. Assessing research on workplace violence, 2000-2012. Aggress Violent Behav 2013;18(3):383-94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2013.03.001
  15. Michie S. Causes and management of stress at work. Occup Environ Med 2002;59(1):67-72. https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.59.1.67
  16. Wheatley D. Stress, anxiety and depression. Stress Med 1997;13(3):173-7. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1700(199707)13:3<173::AID-SMI739>3.0.CO;2-6
  17. Kim JH, Lee N, Kim JY, Kim SJ, Okechukwu C, Kim SS. Organizational response to workplace violence, and its association with depressive symptoms: a nationwide survey of 1966 Korean EMS providers. J Occup Health 2019;61(1):101-9. https://doi.org/10.1002/1348-9585.12025
  18. Kim GH, Lee HS, Jung SW, Lee JG, Lee JH, Lee KJ, et al. Emotional labor, workplace violence, and depressive symptoms in female Bank employees: a questionnaire survey using the K-ELS and K-WVS. Ann Occup Environ Med 2018;30(1):17.
  19. Gong Y, Han T, Chen W, Dib HH, Yang G, Zhuang R, et al. Prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms and related risk factors among physicians in China: a cross-sectional study. PLoS One 2014;9(7):e103242.
  20. Yoo T, Ye B, Kim JI, Park S. Relationship of workplace violence and perpetrators on sleep disturbance-data from the 4th Korean working conditions survey. Ann Occup Environ Med 2016;28:59.
  21. Geoffrion S, Goncalves J, Marchand A, Boyer R, Marchand A, Corbiere M, et al. Post-traumatic reactions and their predictors among workers who experienced serious violent acts: are there sex differences? Ann Work Expo Health 2018;62(4):465-74. https://doi.org/10.1093/annweh/wxy011
  22. Merecz D, Drabek M, Moscicka A. Aggression at the workplace--psychological consequences of abusive encounter with coworkers and clients. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2009;22(3):243-60. https://doi.org/10.2478/v10001-009-0027-2
  23. Shi L, Wang L, Jia X, Li Z, Mu H, Liu X, et al. Prevalence and correlates of symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder among Chinese healthcare workers exposed to physical violence: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open 2017;7(7):e016810.
  24. Aytac S, Dursun S. The effect on employees of violence climate in the workplace. Work 2012;41 Suppl 1:3026-31. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-2012-0559-3026
  25. Tiller JW. Depression and anxiety. Med J Aust 2013;199:S28-31. https://doi.org/10.5694/mja12.10628
  26. Wittchen HU, Kessler RC, Pfister H, Hofler M, Lieb R. Why do people with anxiety disorders become depressed? A prospective-longitudinal community study. Acta Psychiatr Scand Suppl 2000;102(406):14-23. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0902-4441.2000.t01-1-acp28-03.x
  27. Regier DA, Rae DS, Narrow WE, Kaelber CT, Schatzberg AF. Prevalence of anxiety disorders and their comorbidity with mood and addictive disorders. Br J Psychiatry Suppl 1998;173(34):24-8. https://doi.org/10.1192/S0007125000293483
  28. Zbozinek TD, Rose RD, Wolitzky-Taylor KB, Sherbourne C, Sullivan G, Stein MB, et al. Diagnostic overlap of generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder in a primary care sample. Depress Anxiety 2012;29(12):1065-71. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.22026
  29. Gorman JM. Comorbid depression and anxiety spectrum disorders. Depress Anxiety 1996-1997;4(4):160-8. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1520-6394(1996)4:4<160::AID-DA2>3.0.CO;2-J
  30. Boyer P. Do anxiety and depression have a common pathophysiological mechanism? Acta Psychiatr Scand Suppl 2000;102(406):24-9. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0065-1591.2000.acp29-04.x
  31. Ruser JW. Examining evidence on whether BLS undercounts workplace injuries and illnesses. Mon Labor Rev 2008:20-32.
  32. Rosenman KD, Kalush A, Reilly MJ, Gardiner JC, Reeves M, Luo Z. How much work-related injury and illness is missed by the current national surveillance system? J Occup Environ Med 2006;48(4):357-65. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.jom.0000205864.81970.63
  33. World Health Organization. Depression and Other Common Mental Disorders: Global Health Estimates. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2017. 
  34. Renner F, Cuijpers P, Huibers MJ. The effect of psychotherapy for depression on improvements in social functioning: a meta-analysis. Psychol Med 2014;44(14):2913-26. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291713003152
  35. Lenze EJ, Dew MA, Mazumdar S, Begley AE, Cornes C, Miller MD, et al. Combined pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy as maintenance treatment for late-life depression: effects on social adjustment. Am J Psychiatry 2002;159(3):466-8. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.159.3.466
  36. Cerel J, Jordan JR, Duberstein PR. The impact of suicide on the family. Crisis 2008;29(1):38-44. https://doi.org/10.1027/0227-5910.29.1.38
  37. Richards J. Management of Workplace Violence Victims. Geneva, Switzerland: Joint Programme on Workplace Violence in the Health Sector; 2003.
  38. Ministry of Employment and Labor. Workplace harassment judgment, prevention and response manual. https://www.moel.go.kr/policy/policydata/view.do?bbs_seq=20190700773. Updated 2019. Accessed January 6, 2022.