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Lund I, Moan IS, Halkjelsvik T. Alcohol-related sexual harassment in the workplace: A between and within industry analysis. Drug Alcohol Rev 2023; 42:1764-1772. [PMID: 37580956 DOI: 10.1111/dar.13736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Sexual harassment as a political/legal issue was revitalised by the #MeToo movement in 2017. We estimate the prevalence and development of alcohol-related sexual harassment (ASH) across industries over the years 2015 to 2021, including potential changes from 2017, and assess differences in the risk of ASH according to industry- and individual-level characteristics. METHODS Based on annual surveys (2015-2021) among employees in 21 Norwegian industries (observations N = 11,512, individuals N = 6353). Age range 20-69 years, 48% women. Associations between ASH and industry- and individual-level demographics, work autonomy, work-related drinking and intoxication were estimated in linear probability models RESULTS: ASH prevalence was 6% between 2015 and 2021 and varied between 4% and 13% across industries. Men showed a gradual increase in ASH from 2015 to 2021. The was no significant trend among women or a change after #MeToo. Industries with older employees, more women and frequent intoxication at work-related occasions had more ASH, while those with more highly educated employees had less. At the individual level, frequent work-related drinking occasions, tendency to get intoxicated at these occasions, being a woman and younger age were associated with more ASH. We found no individual- or industry-level association between work autonomy and ASH. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Annually, 6% of Norwegian employees experience alcohol-related sexual harassment in work-related settings. The risk of ASH is higher among employees who are young, female, frequently drink and drink to intoxication at work-related events, and that work in industries with older employees, more women, less formal education and frequent intoxication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingeborg Lund
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Drugs, Oslo, Norway
| | - Inger Synnøve Moan
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Drugs, Oslo, Norway
| | - Torleif Halkjelsvik
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Drugs, Oslo, Norway
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Blindow KJ, Thern E, Hernando-Rodriguez JC, Nyberg A, Magnusson Hanson LL. Gender-based harassment in Swedish workplaces and alcohol-related morbidity and mortality: A prospective cohort study. Scand J Work Environ Health 2023; 49:395-404. [PMID: 37356106 PMCID: PMC10782510 DOI: 10.5271/sjweh.4101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The study investigated experiences of different types of work-related gender-based harassment (GBH), specifically sexual and gender harassment, as risk factors for alcohol-related morbidity and mortality (ARMM). METHODS Information about experiences of (i) sexual harassment (SH-I) and (ii) gender harassment (GH-I) from inside the organization and (iii) sexual harassment from a person external to the organization (SH-E) were obtained from the Swedish Work Environment Survey 1995-2013, a biannual cross-sectional survey, administered to a representative sample of the Swedish working population. The survey responses from 86 033 individuals were connected to multiple registers containing information about alcohol-related diagnoses, treatment, or cause of death. Cox proportional hazard models were fitted to assess hazard ratios (HR) of incident ARMM during a mean follow-up of eight (SH-I and GH-I) and ten (SH-E) years. RESULTS A higher prospective risk estimate of ARMM was found among participants who reported experiences of SH-E [HR 2.01, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.61-2.52], GH-I (HR 1.33, CI 1.03-1.70), or SH-I (HR 2.37, CI 1.42-3.00). Additional analyses, distinguishing one-time from reoccurring harassment experiences, indicated a dose-response relationship for all three harassment types. Gender did not modify the associations. Under the assumption of causality, 9.3% (95% CI 5.4-13.1) of the risk of ARMM among Swedish women and 2.1% (95% CI 0.6-3.6) among Swedish men would be attributable to any of the three types of GBH included in this study. CONCLUSIONS Experiences of GBH in the work context may be a highly relevant factor in the etiology of ARMM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrina J Blindow
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
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Parveen S, Birkeland Nielsen M, Endresen Reme S, Finne LB. Exposure to Client-Perpetrated Violence in the Child Welfare Service: Prevalence and Outcomes Using Two Different Measurement Methods. J Interpers Violence 2023; 38:5963-5992. [PMID: 36269025 PMCID: PMC9969493 DOI: 10.1177/08862605221127216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
This study compared how two different measurement methods of client-perpetrated violence influence findings on prevalence rates and mental health outcomes in a probability sample of 660 Norwegian public sector child welfare workers. Using a single-item self-labeling approach, 15.4% reported exposure to physical violence, and 19.3% reported exposure to threats. Using a 15-item behavioral experience inventory, the prevalence rates ranged from 4.4% to 65.7%. A comparison of these methods uncovered a high number of false negatives when using the single-item approach as 62.2% of those who indicated that they had not experienced any workplace violence when answering the single-item questions reported being exposed 1 to 2 times when responding to the behavioral inventory. Results based on the behavioral inventory further revealed that the most frequently occurring actions in the child welfare service were direct and indirect forms of threats (24.5%-65.7%), while the least reported behaviors were threats and violence including objects (4.4.%-9.1%). Although client-perpetrated violence was significantly associated with mental health problems (e.g., symptoms of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress [PTS]) for both assessment methods, the magnitude of the effect sizes differed from η2 = .000 to η2 = .121. These findings highlight that the use of different measurement methods for workplace violence has significant consequences for the assessment of prevalence rates, as well as on results of associated outcomes. Consequently, the decision on how to assess workplace violence has practical implications for uncovering how prominent the issue is, as well as the way in which this negative workplace exposure is subsequently addressed and counteracted. Therefore, both scholars and the child welfare service, and similar fields in which workplace violence frequently occurs, should take these findings into consideration for future assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sana Parveen
- National Institute of Occupational
Health, Oslo, Norway
- University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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Sterud T, Marti AR, Degerud EM. Adverse social behaviour at work and health-related employment exit: a prospective population-based four-wave survey. Eur J Public Health 2023; 33:74-79. [PMID: 36477796 PMCID: PMC9898012 DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckac179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The level of evidence for various aspects of adverse social behaviour (ASB) at work as risk factors for exit from employment due to health problems or diseases is inconclusive. METHODS We obtained data from four consecutive surveys (2006/09/13/16) of the general population of Norway. Respondents who were interviewed in two consecutive surveys and employed at the first survey time point constituted the sample (n = 17 110 observations). We investigated associations of self-reported exposure to ASB (i.e. experiencing sexual harassment, bullying or violence/threats in the first survey) and health-related employment exit (i.e. individuals reporting exit from employment due to health problems or disease between two consecutive surveys) by means of mixed-effect logistic regression. RESULTS The prevalence of ASB and health-related employment exit was 10.8% (n = 1853) and 2.6% (n = 440), respectively. Adjusted for age, sex, level of education, occupation and weekly work hours, sexual harassment, bullying and violence/threats were associated with an increased risk of exit from employment. The odds ratios (ORs) for the association between exposure to any of the three aspects of ASB and employment exit was 1.78 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.33-2.38]; the estimated corresponding population attributable risk was PAR% = 7.32 [95% CI 2.67-12.27]. Further adjustment of mental distress attenuated the observed association between exposure to any ASB and exit from employment (OR = 1.45 [95% CI 1.07-1.95], i.e. a reduction of 42% in the OR). CONCLUSIONS ASB at work increases the risk of health-related exit from employment in the Norwegian workforce.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Sterud
- Department of Occupational Health Surveillance, National Institute of Occupational Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Andrea R Marti
- Department of Occupational Health Surveillance, National Institute of Occupational Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Eirik M Degerud
- Department of Occupational Health Surveillance, National Institute of Occupational Health, Oslo, Norway
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Castellini G, Consonni D, Costa G. Conflicts in the workplace, negative acts and health consequences: evidence from a clinical evaluation. Ind Health 2023; 61:40-55. [PMID: 35296597 PMCID: PMC9902267 DOI: 10.2486/indhealth.2021-0283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Interpersonal conflicts at workplace are increasing in relation to high competitiveness and pressures at work, mainly connected with labor market globalization. Their manifestation is multifaceted in relation to different working conditions and they not only hinder health, performance, and job satisfaction, but can also harm people's rights and dignity. The study analyses issues related to work conflicts and adverse health consequences in 1,493 workers who approached a hospital service for work-related stress and harassment over a 3-year period. The subjects were examined according to a broad protocol covering working conditions, sources of conflict and negative actions suffered, and resulting impact on health status. Many critical conditions were reported in all occupational sectors with some differentiation in relation to gender (women more at risk) and employment status. Higher qualified levels were more exposed to experiencing severe personal adversities aimed at their progressive expulsion or resignation, with consequent higher risk of chronic adjustment disorders, while lower levels reported more stressful conditions in terms of interpersonal disputes and greater interference in the home-work interface. The study can provide useful indications for a better understanding of workplace conflicts in order to set up the most appropriate actions to manage and prevent them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna Castellini
- Occupational Health Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Italy
| | - Dario Consonni
- Epidemiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Italy
| | - Giovanni Costa
- Postgraduate School of Occupational Medicine, University of Milano, Italy
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Kinjo A, Kuwabara Y, Fujii M, Okada T, Shimogawa K, Minobe R, Maesato H, Higuchi S, Osaki Y. Alcohol's harm to others in Japan: Different rates for different relationships to the drinker in a 2018 national survey. Drug Alcohol Rev 2023; 42:456-466. [PMID: 36471634 DOI: 10.1111/dar.13589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION No study in Japan has investigated alcohol's harm to others (AHTO). Therefore, this study aimed to reveal the situation of AHTO in Japan and examine the factors associated with it based on the relationship with the drinker. METHODS A cross-sectional population-based survey was performed in 2018 with 2121 men and 2507 women. Respondents were asked questions about factors such as verbal or physical aggression, being forced to drink alcohol, sexual harassment and their relationship with the drinker. Binomial logistic regression was performed to quantify the associations of AHTO with participants' socio-demographic status and drinking patterns. RESULTS The lifetime experience of AHTO was 24.7% for men and 19.3% for women. AHTO from the father and co-workers were the most common in and outside the home, respectively. The frequency of AHTO from the spouse or co-workers showed no significant difference for abstainers and drinkers. However, AHTO from the father was more commonly reported among drinkers and those with Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test scores ≥8 points than abstainers. Of those who experienced AHTO, 24.5% of men and 27.6% of women, and 6.1% of men and 12.9% of women were profoundly affected by it in and outside the home, respectively. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS One in five Japanese residents experienced AHTO in their life, and the characteristics associated with AHTO differed according to the affected individual's relationship with the drinker. Continued monitoring of AHTO and measures aimed at reducing alcohol-related harm that include AHTO should be promoted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aya Kinjo
- Division of Environmental and Preventive Medicine, Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan
| | - Yuki Kuwabara
- Division of Environmental and Preventive Medicine, Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan
| | - Maya Fujii
- Division of Environmental and Preventive Medicine, Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan
| | - Tomomi Okada
- Division of Environmental and Preventive Medicine, Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan
| | - Ko Shimogawa
- Division of Environmental and Preventive Medicine, Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan
| | - Ruriko Minobe
- National Hospital Organization Kurihama Medical and Addiction Centre, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Maesato
- National Hospital Organization Kurihama Medical and Addiction Centre, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Susumu Higuchi
- National Hospital Organization Kurihama Medical and Addiction Centre, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Yoneatsu Osaki
- Division of Environmental and Preventive Medicine, Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan
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Farley S, Mokhtar D, Ng K, Niven K. What influences the relationship between workplace bullying and employee well-being? A systematic review of moderators. Work & Stress 2023. [DOI: 10.1080/02678373.2023.2169968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Farley
- Sheffield University Management School, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Daniella Mokhtar
- Centre for Research in Psychology & Human Well-being, The National University of Malaysia, Ampang, Malaysia
| | - Kara Ng
- Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Karen Niven
- Sheffield University Management School, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
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Burr H, Balducci C, Conway PM, Rose U. Workplace Bullying and Long-Term Sickness Absence-A Five-Year Follow-Up Study of 2476 Employees Aged 31 to 60 Years in Germany. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19:ijerph19127193. [PMID: 35742441 PMCID: PMC9222956 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19127193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Objectives: The aim was to investigate workplace bullying as a risk factor for five-year occurrence of long-term sickness absence (LTSA) in a representative cohort of employees in Germany. Methods: In the German Study on Mental Health at Work (S-MGA) (n = 2476), episodes of long-term sickness absence (LTSA) between baseline and follow-up were assessed in the follow-up interview. Workplace bullying was measured in the baseline interview using a hybrid approach, which combines the behavioural experience and self-labelling methods. Through binomial regressions, the association of baseline level of workplace bullying with first-episode LTSA during follow-up was estimated, adjusting for baseline age, gender, occupational level, smoking status and physical demands at work. Results: Severe bullying heightened the risk for LTSA by approximately 50% (Rate ratio—RR: 1.48, 95% Confidence interval—CI: 1.05; 2.19), while occasional bullying heightened the risk by 15% (RR: 1.15, CI: 0.85; 1.55). When excluding LTSA events occurring in the first 2 years, the associations between bullying and LTSA increased by approximately one third. Conclusions: Workplace bullying seems to be a risk factor for LTSA even when controlling for occupational level, smoking and physical demands at work and when taking possible reverse causality into account. We suggest to investigate effects of LTSA in more settings, to distinguish between occasional and severe bullying and employ longer follow-up intervals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hermann Burr
- Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), Nöldnerstraße 40-42, 10317 Berlin, Germany;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-030-515-484355
| | - Cristian Balducci
- Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat, 5, 40127 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Paul Maurice Conway
- Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 2A, 1165 Copenhagen, Denmark;
| | - Uwe Rose
- Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), Nöldnerstraße 40-42, 10317 Berlin, Germany;
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Sterud T, Marti AR, Degerud E. The Relationship between Workplace Conflicts and Subsequent Physician-Certified Sick Leave: A Prospective Population Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19:6047. [PMID: 35627582 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19106047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
The impact of workplace conflicts on sick leave is largely unknown. We studied the associations between conflicts and physician-certified sick leave in a randomly drawn general working population sample. Eligible respondents were interviewed in 2009, 2013, and 2016 and were registered with an employee relationship ≥50 working days in the national sick-leave register the year following the survey interviews (n = 22,088 observations/13,731 respondents). We used mixed-effects logistic regression models (adjusted for sex, age, education level, occupation and sick leave days) to assess the associations of self-reported conflicts with superiors or colleagues and subsequent physician-certified sick leave of 1–16 days (i.e., low-level sick leave (LLSL)) and more than 16 days (i.e., high-level sick leave (HLSL)). Conflicts with superiors were associated with LLSL (OR = 1.73 95% CI 1.15–2.62) and HLSL (OR = 1.84 95% CI 1.15–2.94). The corresponding ORs for conflicts involving colleagues were weaker and largely non-significant. The population risks of LLSL and HLSL attributable to conflicts with superiors were 1.95% (95% CI 0.55–3.41) and 3.98% (95% CI 2.08–5.91), respectively. Conflicts with superiors appear to be an important risk factor for sick leave among employees. Organizations are well-advised to develop policies and competencies to prevent and manage conflicts at work.
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Blindow KJ, Paulin J, Hanson LM, Johnell K, Nyberg A. Sexual and gender harassment and use of psychotropic medication among Swedish workers: a prospective cohort study. Occup Environ Med 2022; 79:507-513. [PMID: 35273073 PMCID: PMC9304105 DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2021-108087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Objective To estimate the prospective association between the exposure to three types of gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH) and psychotropic medication. Methods Information on three measures of workplace GBVH—sexual harassment (1) from superiors or colleagues, (2) from others (eg, clients) and (3) gender harassment from superiors or colleagues—were retrieved from the biannual Swedish Work Environment Survey 2007–2013 (N=23 449), a representative sample of working 16–64 years old registered in Sweden. The survey answers were merged with data on antidepressants, hypnotics/sedatives and anxiolytics from the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register. Cox proportional hazards analyses with days to purchase as time scale and first instance of medicine purchase as failure event were fitted, adjusted for demographic and workplace factors. Results Workers who reported exposure to gender harassment only (HR 1.2, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.36), to sexual but not gender harassment (HR 1.21, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.40), or to gender and sexual harassment (HR 1.31, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.60) had an excess risk of psychotropics use in comparison to workers who reported neither of the exposures in the past 12 months. We found no interaction between the exposures and gender in the association with psychotropics use. Conclusions Exposure to sexual or gender harassment at the workplace may contribute to the development of mental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Johan Paulin
- Department of public health and caring sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Kristina Johnell
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna Nyberg
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of public health and caring sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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