Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #113007

Kacy Allen-Bryant, RN, BSN, University of Kentucky College of Nursing, 509 CON/HSLC, Lexington, KY 40536, 859-492-6250, ukbv@aol.com, Susan Westneat, MA, Dept. of Preventive Medicine & Environmental Health, University of Kentucky, 1141 Red Mile Road, Suite 102, Lexington, KY 40504-9842, and Debra Gay Anderson, PhD, College of Nursing, University of Kentucky, HSLC #551, Lexington, KY 40536.

Purpose: To compare the prevalence of workplace violence among Caucasian and African-American long-haul truck drivers. The data is taken out of an ongoing study entitled “Workplace Violence in Long-Haul Truckers”. The purpose of the study is to investigate the incidence and distribution of workplace violence among long-haul truckers. Background: An average of 20 workers is murdered each week (NIOSH, 2001). An estimated 18,000 workers per week experience a non-fatal assault (NIOSH, 2001). Almost 13% of fatal occupational injuries experienced by Caucasians are caused by assaults and violent acts; at 23%, the number is nearly doubled for African-American workers (US Dept of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2000). Method: A quantitative survey is currently being conducted with a non-probability sample (N = 1400) recruited at truck shows and truck stops across the U.S. Data is being collected on violence-related variables (e.g. harassment, weapons, assault, psychological strain). Data Analysis is done using descriptive statistics that is compiled as appropriate for the level of measurements of the variables Preliminary Findings: To date, 843 truckers have completed surveys. Of those surveyed, 87.5% are Caucasian, 6.5% are African-American, and 6% are other races. The majority of both groups were male. African-American truckers were more unlikely to be unmarried (53.7% vs 32.55%). When the two groups were compared a significant difference was not found in educational level, income, or experiences of physical assault, sexual assault, and harassment. The African-American truckers were significantly more likely to be victims of robbery. A small sample size is a limitation of this study.

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