Open AccessOrganizational response to workplace violence, and its association with depressive symptoms: A nationwide survey of 1966 Korean EMS providers
Author(s) -
Kim JiHwan,
Lee Nagyeong,
Kim Ja Young,
Kim Soo Jin,
Okechukwu Cassandra,
Kim SeungSup
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of occupational health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.664
H-Index - 59
ISSN - 1348-9585
DOI - 10.1002/1348-9585.12025
Subject(s) - medicine , depressive symptoms , confounding , workplace violence , depression (economics) , verbal abuse , occupational safety and health , suicide prevention , physical abuse , psychiatry , injury prevention , poison control , clinical psychology , domestic violence , medical emergency , cognition , pathology , economics , macroeconomics
Objectives This study investigated whether organizational responses modified the associations between experiencing violence and depressive symptoms among emergency workers. Methods A nationwide survey of 1966 Korean emergency medical service (EMS) providers was analyzed. Experience of workplace violence (ie, physical violence, verbal abuse) was classified into four groups based on the victims’ reporting and organizational responses: (i) “Not experienced,” (ii) “Experienced, not reported,” (iii) “Experienced, reported, responded by organization,”and (iv) “Experienced, reported, not responded by organization.” Depressive symptoms were assessed by 11‐item version of the Centers for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Results Compared to “Not experienced” group, physical violence was significantly associated with depressive symptoms among EMS providers responding “Experienced, not reported” (PR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.37, 2.03) and “Experienced, reported, not responded by organization” (PR: 2.58, 95% CI: 1.75, 3.82), after adjusting for confounders. No significant difference was detected for workers responding “Experienced, reported, responded by organization” group (PR: 1.45, 95% CI: 0.87, 2.41). Similar trends were observed in the analysis with verbal abuse. Conclusions Our findings suggest that organizational responses could play a critical role in mitigating depressive symptoms among EMS providers who experience violence at work.