Aggression und Gewalt am Arbeitsplatz – Der Einfluss von Tätigkeitsgruppen auf die Exposition und die psychische Gesundheit der Beschäftigten

Violence and aggression in the workplace: The influence of occupational groups on exposure and the mental health of employees Objective: This study examines workplace exposure to violence and aggression, focusing on occupational differences in exposure frequency and variations in the relationship between exposure and well-being across occupational groups. Method: Data were collected as part of a psychosocial risk assessment in 21 companies and 34 occupational groups according to ISCO in Germany. Exposure to violence and aggression was measured using a specific subscale of the risk assessment questionnaire, while well-being was assessed using the WHO-5 Index. Pearson correlations, intraclass correlations and linear mixed models were calculated in order to illustrate the relationships. Results: The findings reveal significant differences in the exposure to violence and aggression at the workplace across occupational groups. Police personnel and nursing professionals are particularly frequently exposed. The intraclass correlation coefficient indicates that nearly 40 % of the variance in exposure to violence and aggression can be explained by occupational group differences. Concerning well-being, strong negative correlations with violence and aggression are in particular observed in academic and service professions. Technical and manual professions are particularly affected by physical violence and threats. Conclusion: The study underscores that the effects of violence and aggression on well-being are highly dependent on the occupational group. Occupations involving intensive customer interactions and emotional demands are particularly vulnerable to negative effects. Targeted interventions to reduce occupational exposure and support employees with interactive demands should be tailored to the specific needs of these occupational groups. Keywords: workplace violence – mental stress – occupational group – ISCO – well-being