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Exploring Adolescent Employees' Perceptions of Safety from Workplace Violence

Smith, Carolyn R.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1353949993

Abstract Details

2012, PhD, University of Cincinnati, Nursing: Nursing - Doctoral Program.
One setting where violence exposure among adolescents may occur, yet has received little attention, is the workplace. With nearly six million U.S. adolescents age 16-19 employed, researchers need to understand from the adolescent employee viewpoint any perceived safety risks from violence so appropriate interventions can be developed. Purpose: The specific aims of the study were to (a) explore adolescent employees’ perceptions of safety as it relates to WPV and (b) describe how adolescent employees’ perceptions of safety affect stress, anxiety, and productivity while at work. Methods: A qualitative dominant mixed methods design was used to analyze data from a convenience sample of adolescents employed by a retail chain of ice cream stores in one Midwestern city. Surveys and individual interviews were conducted to study adolescent employees’ perceptions of safety as it relates to WPV. Analysis consisted of simple descriptive statistics (survey data), conventional content analysis (interview data), and mixed analysis using data displays to reanalyze qualitative themes for differences based on variables of WPV exposure and gender. Results: Thirty non-Hispanic Caucasian adolescents (20 females, 10 males) ages 16-18 comprised the sample. Fifty percent (n = 15) reported WPV exposure and 40% (n = 12) received WPV training in their current job. Participants expressed positive and mixed perceptions of safety as it relates to WPV. Most participants recalled experiencing negative stress responses after exposure to WPV and half felt their ability to work was impacted. Environmental factors and presence of others in the workplace informed perceptions of safety. Nearly all male participants (90%; n = 9) reported positive perceptions of safety compared with 60% (n = 12) of females. Nearly all participants desired further WPV education and training though a few males expressed “everything is fine.” Proposed responses to future WPV varied based on the relationship with the perpetrator and type of violence and were associated with adolescent employees’ perceptions of safety. Conclusion: Adolescent employees’ perceptions of safety as it relates to WPV are informed by overall safety of the work environment and presence of others and associated with proposed responses to future WPV. Health care professionals, employers, schools, and parents should collaborate to foster a healthy view of occupational safety issues among adolescents including what should not be considered “just part of the job.”
Gordon Gillespie, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Theresa Beery, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Bonnie Sue Fisher, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Donna Gates, Ed.D., R.N., F.A.A.N. (Committee Member)
199 p.
Nursing
workplace violence; adolescence; occupational safety; violence;

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Smith, C. R. (2012). Exploring Adolescent Employees' Perceptions of Safety from Workplace Violence [Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1353949993

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Smith, Carolyn. Exploring Adolescent Employees' Perceptions of Safety from Workplace Violence. 2012. University of Cincinnati, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1353949993.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Smith, Carolyn. "Exploring Adolescent Employees' Perceptions of Safety from Workplace Violence." Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati, 2012. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1353949993

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1353949993
552
© 2012, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.