TY - JOUR

T1 - Work-related threats and violence in human service sectors

T2 - The importance of the psycho-social work environment examined in a multilevel prospective study

AU - Andersen, Lars Peter

AU - Høgh, Annie

AU - Biering, Karin

AU - Gadegaard, Charlotte Ann

PY - 2018/1/1

Y1 - 2018/1/1

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - Risk factors

KW - Structural level

KW - Workplace threats

KW - Workplace violence

U2 - 10.3233/WOR-172654

DO - 10.3233/WOR-172654

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 29439372

VL - 59

SP - 141

EP - 154

JO - Work: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment & Rehabilitation

JF - Work: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment & Rehabilitation

SN - 1051-9815

IS - 1

ER -