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International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health

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01-12-2010 | Original Article

Associations between psychological distress, workplace accidents, workplace failures and workplace successes

Authors: Michael F. Hilton, Harvey A. Whiteford

Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health | Issue 8/2010

Abstract

Purpose

This study investigates associations between psychological distress and workplace accidents, workplace failures and workplace successes.

Methods

The Health and Work Performance Questionnaire (HPQ) was distributed to employees of 58 large employers. A total of 60,556 full-time employees were eligible for analysis. The HPQ probed whether the respondent had, in the past 30-days, a workplace accident, success or failure (“yes” or “no”). Psychological distress was quantified using the Kessler 6 (K6) scale and categorised into low, moderate and high psychological distress. Three binomial logistic regressions were performed with the dependent variables being workplace accident, success or failure. Covariates in the models were K6 category, gender, age, marital status, education level, job category, physical health and employment sector.

Results

Accounting for all other variables, moderate and high psychological distress significantly (P < 0.0001) increased the odds ratio (OR) for a workplace accident to 1.4 for both levels of distress. Moderate and high psychological distress significantly (P < 0.0001) increased the OR (OR = 2.3 and 2.6, respectively) for a workplace failure and significantly (P < 0.0001) decreased the OR for a workplace success (OR = 0.8 and 0.7, respectively).

Conclusions

Moderate and high psychological distress increase the OR’s for workplace accidents work failures and decrease the OR of workplace successes at similar levels. As the prevalence of moderate psychological distress is approximately double that of high psychological distress moderate distress consequentially has a greater workplace impact.

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Title: Associations between psychological distress, workplace accidents, workplace failures and workplace successes
Authors: Michael F. Hilton
Harvey A. Whiteford
Publication date: 01-12-2010
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health / Issue 8/2010
Print ISSN: 0340-0131
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1246
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-010-0555-x

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

Associations between psychological distress, workplace accidents, workplace failures and workplace successes

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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