Factors associated with self-rated health among immigrant workers in South Korea: Analyzing the results of the 2020 survey on immigrants' living conditions and labor force

Immigrants' health is an emerging public health issue worldwide. This study aimed to measure immigrant workers' self-rated health and identify the factors affecting it. Data were obtained from the nationwide 2020 Survey on Immigrants' Living Conditions and Labor Force in Korea. The data from 14,277 economically active immigrants who participated in the study were analyzed. Self-rated health was measured using one question and divided into dichotomized categories (good and poor). Multivariate logistic regression with a weighted sampling method was used to investigate associated factors, namely, individual, social, and living and working environment variables, and to evaluate the interaction effects with gender. Overall, 23.0% of the participants showed poor self-rated health. The odds ratios for poor self-rated health were high in participants who reported unmet healthcare needs (OR = 3.07, 95% confidence interval: 3.00-3.13) compared to those who reported other factors, followed by moderate job satisfaction (OR = 2.23, 95% confidence interval: 2.20-2.26) and unsatisfied residential environment satisfaction (OR = 1.80, 95% confidence interval: 1.74-1.86). Significant associations were found between self-rated health and most variables, including the interaction test (gender × residential environment satisfaction, education level, working hours, and length of residence). To enhance immigrants' health status, the Korean government must develop strategies to increase their access to healthcare services and minimize unmet healthcare needs. In addition, working conditions must be improved, specifically regarding long working hours and discrimination; furthermore, immigrants' living environments should be considered.

What Are the Experiences of Emotional Labor and Workplace Violence that Are More Harmful to Health in Korean Workforce?

(1) Background: This study aims to investigate the impact of emotional labor and workplace violence on sleep disturbance, depression, and health status in workers. (2) Methods: Data from 34,742 participants of the 2011–2014 Korean Working Conditions Survey were included in this study. We compared the incidence of sleep disturbance, depression, and health status according to emotional labor and workplace violence and used logistic regression to analyze factors that affect health status. (3) Results: Emotional laborers were more likely to experience sleep disturbance, depression and anxiety, and muscle pain. Workers who have experienced workplace violence were more likely to experience depression and anxiety, abdominal pain, and sleep disturbance. (4) Conclusion: Emotional labor and workplace violence have a grave impact on physical and mental health, with particularly greater effects on mental health. In addition, workplace violence has a greater health impact than emotional labor. The findings of this study suggest the need to implement programs that stabilize and heal workers who have experienced emotional labor and to enforce regulations and policies to protect workers from verbal and physical abuse.

Development and Assessment of a Social Network Service-Based Lifestyle-Modification Program for Workers at High Risk of Developing Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of mortality in the United States. This study examined the cardiovascular disease risk factors and health beliefs of workers for the purpose of developing a social network service (SNS)-based (e.g., Facebook and KakaoTalk) lifestyle-modification program for workers. Participants included 68 hospital workers (aged 25-60 years), with more than two metabolic syndrome or cardiovascular disease risk factors. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: SNS intervention group (n = 23), education-only intervention group (n = 19), or nonintervention group (n = 26). Data were collected to compare changes in risk indicators according to the intervention method and time and analyzed using repeated-measures analyses of variance. Compared to the education and nonintervention groups, the SNS intervention group demonstrated significant improvements in waist circumference, body mass index, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, health promotion behaviors, and self-efficacy. This type of program has potential for allowing occupational health professionals to work with workers to improve lifestyle behaviors that promote health and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Relationships among demands at work, aggression, and verbal abuse among registered nurses in South Korea

BACKGROUND

In order to improve organizational culture and job outcomes, it is important to characterize and better understand the relationship between aggression and verbal abuse among nurses.

PURPOSE

To examine the relationships among demands at work, aggression, and verbal abuse among nurses.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted using survey data from three tertiary hospitals located in South Korea. Sixteen nursing units were selected and 378 nurses' data were used as the final sample. The relationships were examined by multiple linear or logistic regression analyses.

FINDINGS

More than 70% of the nurses had experienced at least 1 type of verbal abuse. Higher physical aggression and hostility were significantly related to greater verbal abuse experience.

CONCLUSION

To prevent the vicious cycle of victims becoming perpetrators, it is necessary to develop and implement concrete strategies to manage verbal abuse and aggression among nurse colleagues.