title: Prevalence of Self-Reported Work-Related Injuries and Their Association with Psychological Symptoms in General Working Population of Taiwan.
abstract: Objectives This study investigated the prevalence of self-reported work-related injuries across occupational groups and examined their association with the risk of psychological symptoms in general working population of Taiwan. Methods Data from a national survey conducted in 2013 of a representative sample of general working people of Taiwan was analyzed, consisting of 12,528 male and 8396 female workers aged 25~65 years. Information about work-related injuries including work-related disease occurred over the previous 12 months prior to the survey was obtained by a standardized questionnaire. The presence of psychological symptoms was assessed by the Brief Symptom Rating Scale (BSRS). Also obtained were participants' socio-demographic characteristics, working hours, job control, psychological job demands, physical job demands and job insecurity. Results Over a year, 14.91 % of male and 11.53 % of female working people had experienced work-related injuries. Workers with lower educational level, manual workers, the self-employed as well as employers of small enterprise were at higher risks for work-related injuries. Findings from multivariate logistic regression analyses with adjustment of gender, age, working hours and psychosocial work conditions showed that employees with experiences of work-related injuries over the past year were at a substantially higher risk for psychological symptoms (OR = 2.42) as compared to employees who had no experiences of work-related injuries. Conclusion A sizable proportion of workers are affected by work-related injuries and these workers are at higher risk for psychological symptoms. The psychosocial consequences of work-related injuries deserve further investigation and interventions.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Policy and Management, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, 17 Xu-Zhou Road, 10055, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Pei-Hua
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Policy and Management, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, 17 Xu-Zhou Road, 10055, Taipei, Taiwan. ycheng@ntu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Yawen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D010054:Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Injury; Psychological symptoms; Survey; Work-related