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Workplace Psychosocial Factors Associated with Work-Related Injury Absence: A Study from a Nationally Representative Sample of Korean Workers

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Abstract

Background

Little is known about the association between psychosocial factors and injury absence in the workplace.

Purpose

This study aims to assess the association of comprehensive workplace psychosocial factors with work-related injury absence among Korean workers.

Methods

The data (n = 7,856) were derived from the First Korean Working Conditions Survey conducted in 2006 with a representative sample (n = 10,043) of the Korean working population. The survey instrument contained questions about hours of work, physical risk factors, work organization, and the effect of work on health/injury. Work-related injury absence was indicated by a dichotomous variable with at least 1 day absence during the preceding 12 months. Logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratio and confidence interval (CI). Incremental adjustments for sociodemographic, health behavior, and occupational confounding variables were employed in the models.

Results

The overall 1-year prevalence of work-related injury absence in this study was 1.37 % (95 % CI, 1.11–1.63 %). Those who experienced violence at work (adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 7.05 (95 % CI, 2.69-18.5)), threat of violence at work (aOR, 4.25 (95 % CI, 1.32–13.64)), low job autonomy (aOR, 1.79 (95 % CI, 1.17–2.74)), and high job strain (aOR, 2.38 (95 % CI, 1.29–4.42) had an increased risk of injury absence, compared with their respective counterparts (p < 0.05). Among all job types, skilled workers in Korea were at a near fourfold risk of work absence due to occupational injuries, compared with managers in low-risk jobs.

Conclusion

Workplace violence and increased job strain were two key workplace psychosocial factors associated with work-related injury absence.

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Acknowledgments

The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The authors also declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Ming-Lun Lu & Naomi G. Swanson

  2. School of Health Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kita-Kyushu, Fukuoka, Japan

    Akinori Nakata

  3. Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, Ajou University, San 5, Woncheon-dong, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon, 443-721, Republic of Korea

    Jae Bum Park

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  1. Ming-Lun Lu
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  2. Akinori Nakata
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  3. Jae Bum Park
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Correspondence to Jae Bum Park.

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Lu, ML., Nakata, A., Park, J.B. et al. Workplace Psychosocial Factors Associated with Work-Related Injury Absence: A Study from a Nationally Representative Sample of Korean Workers. Int.J. Behav. Med. 21, 42–52 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-013-9325-y

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