Abstract
Objectives: This study aimed to explore the frequency, types and sources of workplace violence among teachers of public junior high schools, and to examine the associations of workplace violence experience with teachers’ mental health, self-rated health and burnout status. Methods: Study participants were 1,059 teachers from 48 public junior high schools. A questionnaire was used to obtain information regarding demographic characteristics, experiences of workplace violence over the previous 12 months, work characteristics, mental health, self-rated health and burnout status. Multi-level analyses were performed to examine the associations between workplace violence and health status. Results: The prevalence rate of having experienced any type of workplace violence over the past year among teachers was 34.0%. Verbal violence ranked as the most commonly experienced type, followed by psychological violence. Sources of verbal violence, physical violence and sexual harassment experienced by teachers came mostly from students, while psychological violence came mainly from colleagues or supervisors. After adjusting for age and gender, teachers with higher workloads and lower workplace justice were found to have a higher risk for workplace violence. Besides, teachers who had experienced workplace violence were found to have poor health and higher burnout.
Conclusion: This study indicated that a sizable proportion of junior high school teachers encountered verbal and physical violence from student and psychological violence from supervisors or colleagues. This study also suggested that experience of workplace violence might affect physical and psychological wellbeing of teachers. Our findings deserve attention and in-depth investigation.
Conclusion: This study indicated that a sizable proportion of junior high school teachers encountered verbal and physical violence from student and psychological violence from supervisors or colleagues. This study also suggested that experience of workplace violence might affect physical and psychological wellbeing of teachers. Our findings deserve attention and in-depth investigation.
Translated title of the contribution | Workplace Violence and Its Associations with Health Among Teachers of Public Junior High Schools |
---|---|
Original language | Chinese (Traditional) |
Pages (from-to) | 37-66 |
Number of pages | 30 |
Journal | 健康促進與衛生教育學報 |
Volume | 51 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jun 2020 |
Keywords
- Mental health
- self-rated health
- burnout
- teachers
- workplace violence