Sexual harassment and generalized workplace abuse among university employees: prevalence and mental health correlates. Am J Public Health 1999 Mar;89(3):358-63
Date
03/17/1999Pubmed ID
10076485Pubmed Central ID
PMC1508597DOI
10.2105/ajph.89.3.358Scopus ID
2-s2.0-0032979310 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 265 CitationsAbstract
OBJECTIVES: This study hypothesized that interpersonal workplace stressors involving sexual harassment and generalized workplace abuse are highly prevalent and significantly linked with mental health outcomes including symptomatic distress, the use and abuse of alcohol, and other drug use.
METHODS: Employees in 4 university occupational groups (faculty, student, clerical, and service workers; n = 2492) were surveyed by means of a mailed self-report instrument. Cross-tabular and ordinary least squares and logistic regression analyses examined the prevalence of harassment and abuse and their association with mental health status.
RESULTS: The data show high rates of harassment and abuse. Among faculty, females were subjected to higher rates; among clerical and service workers, males were subjected to higher rates. Male and female clerical and service workers experienced higher levels of particularly severe mistreatment. Generalized abuse was more prevalent than harassment for all groups. Both harassment and abuse were significantly linked to most mental health outcomes for men and women.
CONCLUSIONS: Interpersonally abusive workplace dynamics constitute a significant public health problem that merits increased intervention and prevention strategies.
Author List
Richman JA, Rospenda KM, Nawyn SJ, Flaherty JA, Fendrich M, Drum ML, Johnson TPAuthor
Michael Fendrich PhD Professor in the Emergency Medicine department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdultFemale
Humans
Least-Squares Analysis
Logistic Models
Male
Mental Health
Middle Aged
Occupational Health
Occupations
Prevalence
Sex Distribution
Sexual Harassment
Socioeconomic Factors
Stress, Psychological
Substance-Related Disorders
Surveys and Questionnaires
United States
Universities
Workplace
