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Sexual harassment and generalized workplace abuse among university employees: Prevalence and mental health correlates

Author

Listed:
  • Richman, J.A.
  • Rospenda, K.M.
  • Nawyn, S.J.
  • Flaherty, J.A.
  • Fendrich, M.
  • Drum, M.L.
  • Johnson, T.P.

Abstract

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Richman, J.A. & Rospenda, K.M. & Nawyn, S.J. & Flaherty, J.A. & Fendrich, M. & Drum, M.L. & Johnson, T.P., 1999. "Sexual harassment and generalized workplace abuse among university employees: Prevalence and mental health correlates," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 89(3), pages 358-363.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:1999:89:3:358-363_3
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    Cited by:

    1. Krieger, Nancy & Chen, Jarvis T. & Waterman, Pamela D. & Hartman, Cathy & Stoddard, Anne M. & Quinn, Margaret M. & Sorensen, Glorian & Barbeau, Elizabeth M., 2008. "The inverse hazard law: Blood pressure, sexual harassment, racial discrimination, workplace abuse and occupational exposures in US low-income black, white and Latino workers," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 67(12), pages 1970-1981, December.
    2. Cokkie Verschuren & Maria Tims & Annet H. De Lange, 2023. "Beyond Bullying, Aggression, Discrimination, and Social Safety: Development of an Integrated Negative Work Behavior Questionnaire (INWBQ)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(16), pages 1-24, August.
    3. Levia Levia & Gurvinder Kaur, 2023. "Targets’ Coping Responses to Workplace Bullying with Moderating Role of Perceived Organizational Tolerance: A Two-Phased Study of Faculty in Higher Education Institutions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-18, January.
    4. Margaret Hodgins & Patricia Mannix McNamara, 2019. "An Enlightened Environment? Workplace Bullying and Incivility in Irish Higher Education," SAGE Open, , vol. 9(4), pages 21582440198, December.
    5. Yuh-Jin Chung & Woo-Chul Jung & Hyunjoo Kim & Seong-Sik Cho, 2017. "Association of Emotional Labor and Occupational Stressors with Depressive Symptoms among Women Sales Workers at a Clothing Shopping Mall in the Republic of Korea: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-9, November.
    6. Nataliya Nerobkova & Soo Young Kim & Eun-Cheol Park & Jaeyong Shin, 2022. "Workplace Mistreatment and Health Conditions Prior and during the COVID-19 in South Korea: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-11, October.
    7. Shannon, Candice A. & Rospenda, Kathleen M. & Richman, Judith A., 2007. "Workplace harassment patterning, gender, and utilization of professional services: Findings from a US national study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 64(6), pages 1178-1191, March.
    8. Ali Afsharian & Maureen Dollard & Emily Miller & Teresa Puvimanasinghe & Adrian Esterman & Helena De Anstiss & Tahereh Ziaian, 2021. "Refugees at Work: The Preventative Role of Psychosocial Safety Climate against Workplace Harassment, Discrimination and Psychological Distress," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-14, October.
    9. Claudia Benavides Espinoza & George Cunningham, 2010. "Observers’ Reporting of Sexual Harassment: The Influence of Harassment Type, Organizational Culture, and Political Orientation," Public Organization Review, Springer, vol. 10(4), pages 323-337, December.

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