Workplace psychosocial factors associated with work-related injury absence: a study from a nationally representative sample of Korean workers.

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.