Purpose This study was aimed to explore the effects of emotional labor and workplace violence on the somatic symptoms of customer service employees in department stores. Methods: Data from a total of 218 subjects were collected from July 21, 2021 to August 10, 2021, using a self-report questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, X2-test, and logistic regression. Results: Among 4 sub-scales of workplace violence, a factor affecting the possibility of the moderate or high severity of somatic symptoms was found to be a risk group in "Experience of psychological and sexual violence from customer” (OR: 2.94). On the other hand, emotional labor did not show a statistically significant effect. In addition, education level, monthly income, subjective health status, and working hours per week were also factors affecting somatic symptoms.
Conclusion In order to reduce the somatic symptoms of customer service employees in department stores, it is necessary to raise the awareness of employers and customers first, and follow-up research is necessary on the development of strategy and systems for the establishment of active and diverse protective devices to protect workers at the organizational level.
Purpose The purpose of this study was to assess insomnia and the quality of sleep, investigate the concordance between objective and self-report sleep patterns, and identify physiological, psychological, and situational factors influencing insomnia and sleep quality among firefighters.
Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted with 103 firefighters in Korea. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 23.0. Descriptive statistics, the independent t-test, and hierarchical logistic regression analysis were performed.
Results: Insomnia was found in 66 (64.1 %) of the total subjects, and the average quality of sleep (PSQI) was 5.65 (SD=2.57). Total sleep time (401.00 minutes) and sleep latency (21.60 minutes) measured using self-reported scales were longer than the ones measured using objective measurements by approximately 48.70 and 17.10 minutes, respectively. Factors related to insomnia included the role as a paramedic (OR=4.28, 95% CI: 1.02~17.92), anxiety (OR=1.12, 95% CI: 1.01~1.24), and sedentary lifestyle (OR=0.85, 95% CI: 0.78~0.94), and factors related to sleep quality were physical illness status (OR=5.17, 95% CI: 1.53~17.51) and social support (OR=0.86, 95% CI: 0.78~0.95).
Conclusion: The results show a high prevalence of insomnia, poor quality of sleep and the discrepancy between objective and subjective sleep patterns among firefighters. To promote sleep quality and health, early screening and treatment of anxiety and physical illness are required. It is necessary to conduct further studies examining the relationship between physical activity level and sleep.
Purpose Workers in special employment relationship (WSERs) are workers in nonstandard employment arrangements who lack worker protection accorded in standard employment arrangements. This study aimed to describe self-rated health (SRH) and depressive symptoms (DS) among Korean WSERs in comparison to regular wage workers (RWW) and identify associations between working conditions and those outcomes. Methods In this study, secondary data analysis using the 5th Korean Working Conditions Survey was used. The sample totaled 29,120, including 1,538 WSERs and 27,564 RWWs. Sociodemographic and work-related characteristics were employed as explanatory variables and SRH and DS as dependent variables. Using multiple logistic regression, the determinants of fair/poor SRH and DS were identified. Results The prevalence rates for fair/poor SRH and DS in WSERs were 25.2% and 28.3%, respectively, and 20.7% and 25.0% in RWWs, respectively. Compared to RWWs, WSERs had 31% (aOR=1.31, 95% CI=1.14~1.49) and 20% (aOR=1.20, 95% CI=1.06~1.36) higher odds of SRH and DS, respectively.
Some factors, such as a lack of rest guarantee and sickness presenteeism, had a larger influence in the WSER than in the RWW group. Conclusion Compared to RWWs, WSERs reported having poorer working conditions and were more likely to report poor general and mental health. Therefore, in Korea, public health policymakers should consider measures to protect the working conditions and health of WSERs, a growing segment of the working population. The study produced new epidemiological evidence regarding the relationships between employment arrangements and health.
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The Effect of Job Demands, Job Resources, and Musculoskeletal Complaints on Presenteeism Among the Dependent Self-employment Workers in Korea Jiyun Kim, Sookja Choi Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine.2022; 64(9): 719. CrossRef
PURPOSE This study attempted to identify regional disparities of self-rated health among Korean wage workers and to investigate the influencing factors on them. METHODS The study subjects were 25,069 workers in 16 regions who were extracted from the 2014 Korean Working Condition Survey (KWCS). A multilevel analysis was conducted by building hierarchical data at individual and regional level. RESULTS In this study, ‘financial autonomy rate’ and ‘current smoking rate’ were identified as regional factors influencing the workers' self-rated health. When the socio-demographic and occupational factors of the workers were controlled, ‘current smoking rate’, a health policy factor, explained the regional disparity of workers' health status. CONCLUSION We found that the health status of workers can be affected by the health behavior level of the whole population in their residential area. In order to improve the health status of working population and to alleviate their regional health inequalities, it is necessary to strengthen macro and structural level interventions.
PURPOSE The purpose of this study is to analyze health status of women working in traditional marketplace and their needs for public healthcare services. METHODS A descriptive survey of 500 women working at three traditional marketplaces was conducted. RESULTS street vendors' health status were much poorer than store merchants'. Furthermore, psychosocial factors like job stress and depression were increased in street venders. Thus, the public healthcare programs required by them included exercise programs (28.2%) and health checkup (26.8%). In addition, 31.2% of the participants reported that they needed visiting nursing care services. The rate of occupational health and safety or employment insurances was as low as 10.8%. CONCLUSION Effective interventions including psychosocial factors for women workers at traditional marketplaces need to be developed based on these results. Also, it is recommended that public health care services such as outreach services and visiting nursing care services for women working at traditional marketplaces be provided. Furthermore, institutional provisions such as insurances for protecting these vulnerable groups' health are needed.
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Development and Effectiveness of a Community Capacity Building Program for the Wellness of Traditional Marketplace Merchants: A Pilot Study Yeojoo Chae, Yeongmi Ha International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2021; 18(22): 12238. CrossRef
Analysis of Levels of Health-related Quality of Life and Its Related Factors of Traditional Market Merchants Keung-Mi Shin, Young-Sil Bae Journal of Korean Academy of Community Health Nursing.2019; 30(4): 437. CrossRef
Depressive Symptom and Related Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study of Korean Female Workers Working at Traditional Markets Won Ju Hwang, Jin Ah Kim, Sally H. Rankin International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2017; 14(12): 1465. CrossRef
Heavy Metal Distribution in Street Dust from Traditional Markets and the Human Health Implications Jin Kim, Jin Park, Won Hwang International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2016; 13(8): 820. CrossRef