270542 Coping resources associated with occupational injuries and illnesses in Minority working populations

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Lezah Brown, PhD , Health Sciences Department, Illinois State University, Normal, IL
OBJECTIVE: This research project identifies the extent to which positive coping mechanisms, including perceived social support at work or home, or the negative coping mechanisms, of problem drinking, are associated with occupational injury, illness, or assault (OIIAs). METHODS: Data consists of 2,151 study interviews conducted in English or Spanish from 2003-2004. Statistical methods used included cross tabulation analyses with Pearson's Chi-Square, and logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Perceptions of high levels of social support at work was associated with an increased risk of experiencing an OIIA beyond effects of psychosocial job stressors. Hispanics experienced a greater risk of OIIAs than other race groups. CONCLUSIONS: Hispanic workers experience disparate health outcomes and are at greatest risk of OIIAs compared to other race categories. This cross sectional study showed that increased social support at work was associated with adverse health outcomes.

Learning Areas:
Occupational health and safety

Learning Objectives:
This paper will: 1. Describe the types of social support mechanisms Hispanics and African-American workers perceive as report in association with generalized workplace harassment and job pressure and threat. 2.Discuss why certain social support mechanisms may be utilized by minority workers. 3.Compare occupational injury and illness rates between race groups related to generalized workplace harassment and social support mechanisms in a nationally representative population.

Keywords: Occupational Health, Hispanic

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have published on this data and used this data for my doctoral research and dissertation.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 2082.0: Poster Session: Occupational Health Disparities