Workplace bullying and violence as risk factors for type 2 diabetes: a multicohort study and meta-analysis

Abstract

Aims/hypothesisThe aim of this multicohort study was to examine whether employees exposed to social stressors at work, such as workplace bullying and violence, have an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.MethodsThe study included 45,905 men and women (40–65 years of age and free of diabetes at baseline) from four studies in Sweden, Denmark and Finland. Workplace bullying and violence were self-reported at baseline. Incident diabetes was ascertained through national health and medication records and death registers. Marginal structural Cox models adjusted for age, sex, country of birth, marital status and educational level were used for the analyses.ResultsNine per cent of the population reported being bullied at work and 12% were exposed to workplace violence or threats of violence. Bullied participants had a 1.46 (95% CI 1.23, 1.74) times higher risk of developing diabetes compared with non-bullied participants. Exposure to violence or threats of violence was also associated with a higher risk of diabetes (HR 1.26 [95% CI 1.02, 1.56]). The risk estimates attenuated slightly when taking BMI into account, especially for bullying. The results were similar for men and women, and were consistent across cohorts.Conclusions/interpretationWe found a higher risk of incident type 2 diabetes among employees exposed to bullying or violence in the workplace. Further research is needed to determine whether policies to reduce bullying and violence at work may reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes in working populations. Research on the mechanisms is also highly warranted.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s00125-017-4480-3) contains peer-reviewed but unedited supplementary material, which is available to authorised users.

Japanese Clinical Practice Guideline for Diabetes 2019

“…[Q21‐8] How much do psychosocial factors, such as stress and working environments, contribute to the onset of type 2 diabetes? Mental stress 32 and depressive tendencies (depression) 33,34 are associated with an increased risk of diabetes. Poor working environments 35–39 or social environments 40,41 may constitute an important risk factor for type 2 diabetes. …”

Workplace bullying and workplace violence as risk factors for cardiovascular disease: a multi-cohort study

“…directly causing a higher level of saliva dehydroepiandrosterone and a lower level of saliva cortisol. 2 These hormones may have a direct impact on heart rate and blood pressure, subsequently leading to hypoperfusion and increased cerebral blood flow pulsatility. 1 Physiological stress response may be closely related to emotional distress and behavioural changes, 11,12 indirectly contributing to the elevated level of blood pressure and a greater progressions in intima-media thickness.…”

“…Adverse psychosocial working conditions, including job strain, effortreward imbalance, and long working hours are associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). 1 Other potentially severe workplace stressors such as bullying and violence are associated with a moderately higher risk of type 2 diabetes, 2 but their status as risk factors for CVD remains unclear.…”

Associations between Workplace Violence, Mental Health and Physical Health among Korean Employees: The Fifth Korea Youth Working Conditions Survey (2017)

“…Participants were more likely to report workplace violence if they had poor health, chronic disease, longer weekly working hours, performed shift work, or were employed in the service industry. Also, negative moods such as fear or stress, resulting from workplace violence can lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease [21] or exacerbate chronic health problems such as depression [8,22]. Longer working hours and shift work were occupational risk factors for violence among Korean workers [18].…”