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

Abstract #113330

J.L. Lumpkin, MSPH(c), HPEB Department, USC Arnold School of Public Health, 800 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29208, 803/898-0351, lumpkijl@dhec.sc.gov, Deborah Parra-Medina, PhD, Norman J. Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, 800 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29208, Suzanne Swan, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Barnwell College on Pendleton Street, Columbia, SC 29208, and Ken W. Watkins, PhD, Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, University of South Carolina, Norman J. Arnold School of Public Health, Columbia, SC 29208.

Female frontline workers in anti-violence agencies are often an overlooked worker sub-population under high stress. The purpose of this research is to conduct a descriptive study of mental and physical health status of frontline workers in rape crisis centers and domestic violence programs in South Carolina. Subjects were employees of 22-member service agencies of the statewide anti-violence coalition. Respondents were 97% female, age 17-70, ~66% Caucasian, ~25% African-American, and ~9% other. Over half provide 20 hours or more frontline service/week, and over 50% experienced violence. The research instrument was a self-administered "Employee Health Survey," including questions related to health conditions and behaviors, employment and violence history, and five proven scales measuring mental, physical status. The survey was piloted by volunteer subjects 10/04. Surveys were distributed in a coalition meeting and by mail and were administered in the workplace 11/04. Over 60%, 223 of 355 distributed surveys were returned 12/04. Using a sample(n) = 218, the data is currently being analyzed for population characteristics, frontline worker physical health and mental health status, and violence and secondary traumatic stress experience. Findings will be reported in thesis defense 3/05. Preliminary qualitative observations indicate overweight/obesity, depression, social supports, and violence appear to be significant factors. Results will be described in presentation if selected. Incorporating mental and physical status in this population study provides a model to encourage better self-care in stressful occupations and more holistic approaches for health care among providers.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of presentation, the participants will be able to

• Name 4 lifestyle indicators and 4 mental health measures to assess female workers in stressful occupations.
• Recognize potential link between experience of Intimate Partner Violence and Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS) in frontline worker populations to better understand health risk.
• Describe a holistic approach to assessing health status of frontline working women in high stress occupations.

Keywords: Violence, Workplace Stressors

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.