Risk Factors for Work-Related Violent Victimization

• Published in: Epidemiology (Cambridge, Mass.) Mass.), 1997-07, Vol.8 (4), p.408-413
• Main Authors: Klein, Patti J., Gerberich, Susan G., Gibson, Robert W., Maldonado, George, Kruttschnitt, Candace, Larntz, Kinley, Renier, Colleen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Assault; Biological and medical sciences; Case-Control Studies; Confidence Intervals; Crime statistics; Crime victims; Crime Victims - statistics & numerical data; Criminal justice; Databases, Factual; Female; Health Surveys; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Medical sciences; Metropolitan statistical areas; Middle Aged; National crime surveys; Occupational Exposure - statistics & numerical data; Odds Ratio; Predisposing factors; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Public health; Rape - statistics & numerical data; Risk Factors; Sex Factors; Socioeconomic Factors; United States - epidemiology; Victimology; Violence; Violence - ethnology; Violence - statistics & numerical data; Violent crimes
• ISSN: 1044-3983; 1531-5487
• DOI: 10.1097/00001648-199707000-00010

This case-control study used the National Crime Victimization Survey database (a national sample of housing addresses) to examine sociodemographic risk factors for becoming a victim of work-related robbery and assault. Cases (N = 267) reported having been violently victimized in the previous 6 months. Controls (N = 1,783) were chosen from all nonvictims of violent crime at the end of the 6-month period. Risk factors varied by type of victimization, and differences were evident between men and women. Men less than 45 years of age had an increased risk for assault [odds ratio (OR) = 2.0-2.7], compared with those 55 years of age and older; and those with a family income of less than $40,000 had an increased risk for assault (OR = 1.7-1.9), compared with those having a family income of $50,000 or more. We found a decreased risk for those with a high school education (OR = 0.6), compared with those with some college education. For women, an increased risk was seen for ages 16-18 years (OR = 3.3) and 25-34 years (OR = 2.3), compared with those 55 years of age or older. Women who were divorced or separated (OR = 4.4) and never-married (OR = 2.1) were at higher risk than women who were married. We found a decreased risk for nonwhites (OR = 0.5), compared with whites.