Prevalence of Psychosocial Risk Factors in Selected Industries in Latvia

Abstract

The hypothesis of the study was that psychosocial risk factors are more common in industries involving intellectual work, such as education and public administration (Group 1), rather than in industries like construction, agriculture, and forestry where physical work is more common (Group 2). This hypothesis was confirmed and the important findings were that the most common psychosocial risk factors in Group 1 were staff conflicts, conflicts with managers and clients, also lack of time and having to communicate with clients during the working day. Violence, especially physical and psychological violence was a common risk factor in Group 1; mostly the client caused the violence. In Group 2 the most common psychosocial risk factors were overtime work, conflicts with managers, lack of time and having to communicate with clients during the working day. Overtime work was the most common risk factor in construction, agriculture, and forestry industries.