title: Exposure to psychosocial risks at work in prisons: does contact with inmates matter? A pilot study among prison workers in Spain.
abstract: Research has lately increased its focus on work conditions as predictors of stress among prison workers but only few studies have focused on how the exposure of workers to psychosocial risks vary according to their occupational groups and their contact with inmates. Work psychosocial risks (demands, control and social support) were assessed using the Spanish version of the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire among 164 Spanish prison workers (43 per cent of those surveyed). Regression analysis was used to explore how psychosocial hazards and their combinations (outcome variables) vary according to occupational groups. Results suggest that psychosocial risks were highest among guards that have more contact with inmates. Implications of the findings for policy making and practice application are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Preventive Medicine and Public Health Area, University of Alicante, Spain. alidarwin@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghaddar
authors.affiliation: Preventive Medicine and Public Health Area, University of Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ronda
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Investigación de Análisis de la Mortalidad y Estadísticas Sanitarias, Departamento de Enfermería Comunitaria, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública e Historia de la Ciencia, Universidad de Alicante.
authors.forename: Andreu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nolasco
authors.affiliation: General Administration of Penitentiary Institutions, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Nahum
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Álvares
authors.affiliation: Andalusia School of Public Health, Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Inmaculada
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mateo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011329:Prisoners; D011330:Prisons; D012306:Risk; D013030:Spain
keywords: high-risk jobs; job design; job stress