TY - JOUR

T1 - The Demand-Control model and work-related threats and violence

T2 - Short- and long-term associations

AU - Andersen, Lars Peter

AU - Biering, Karin

AU - Høgh, Annie

AU - Gadegaard, Charlotte Ann

AU - Conway, Paul Maurice

PY - 2020

Y1 - 2020

N2 - BACKGROUND: Work-related violence and threats are frequent in human service sectors. Although previous studies have identified several psycho-social work environmental risk factors for work-related violence and threats, the research domain still remains mainly descriptive and non-theoretical in nature. OBJECTIVE: Using the Job-Demands-Control model we analysed the relationship between the psycho-social work environment and work-related threats and violence. METHOD: Using a two-wave (2011 and 2015) longitudinal study of 2678 participants, we analysed the main and interactive effects of quantitative demands and job control on exposure to work-related violence and threats. RESULTS: High work demands and low job-control were associated with elevated risk of work-related threats in 2011 and in 2015. The associations of work demands and job control and work-related violence were mixed. There were not statistically significant interaction effects between high demands and low job control on neither work-related violence nor threats. CONCLUSION: In sectors where work-related threats and violence are likely to occur, risk prevention may also require improving the work conditions for employees, more specifically by reducing work-demands and increasing job control for instance by differentiating between important and less important work demands and by implementing self-autonomous work-teams may be a way to increase job control.

AB - BACKGROUND: Work-related violence and threats are frequent in human service sectors. Although previous studies have identified several psycho-social work environmental risk factors for work-related violence and threats, the research domain still remains mainly descriptive and non-theoretical in nature. OBJECTIVE: Using the Job-Demands-Control model we analysed the relationship between the psycho-social work environment and work-related threats and violence. METHOD: Using a two-wave (2011 and 2015) longitudinal study of 2678 participants, we analysed the main and interactive effects of quantitative demands and job control on exposure to work-related violence and threats. RESULTS: High work demands and low job-control were associated with elevated risk of work-related threats in 2011 and in 2015. The associations of work demands and job control and work-related violence were mixed. There were not statistically significant interaction effects between high demands and low job control on neither work-related violence nor threats. CONCLUSION: In sectors where work-related threats and violence are likely to occur, risk prevention may also require improving the work conditions for employees, more specifically by reducing work-demands and increasing job control for instance by differentiating between important and less important work demands and by implementing self-autonomous work-teams may be a way to increase job control.

KW - Job-Demands-Control model

KW - Longitudinal study

KW - Work-related violence and threats

U2 - 10.3233/WOR-203111

DO - 10.3233/WOR-203111

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 32116275

AN - SCOPUS:85082146354

VL - 65

SP - 573

EP - 580

JO - Work: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment & Rehabilitation

JF - Work: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment & Rehabilitation

SN - 1051-9815

IS - 3

ER -