The impact of workplace violence on the risk of suicide among Chinese correctional personnel: A chain mediation model with insomnia and depression as mediating variables

Background: Prison correctional personnel often experience increased workplace violence (WPV) and higher risk of suicide, but the link between the two is not yet clear. This study aims to explore the specific mediating variables and mediating paths between WPV and suicide. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of 472 Chinese correctional personnel conducted through an online survey. We used the Workplace Violence Scale (WVS), the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), the Chinese version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS), and the revised Beck Suicidal Ideation scale (BSI) to quantify the WPV experienced by subjects and their mental health status. Data analysis, including mediation and network analysis, was performed using SPSS and R software. Results: Presence of insomnia and/or depression mediated the relationship between WPV and suicide risk, which accounted for 36.62% of the total effect. Insomnia alone accounted for 9.87%, depression alone accounted for 12.73%, whereas both put together accounted for 14.03%. Male personnel experienced more WPV than their female counterparts, and WPV in men had a stronger association with suicide risk. Network analysis indicated that daytime dysfunction and downheartedness were important nodes in mediating pathways. Conclusions: Experiencing WPV may lead to an increased risk of suicide among correctional personnel, particularly men, with insomnia and depression mediating the experienced risk. Correctional institutions should take measures to reduce the occurrence of WPV experienced by correctional personnel mitigate the impact of this occupational hazard, and prioritise the mental health of correctional personnel, particularly those already experiencing worrying symptoms.