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Adolescents' experience with workplace aggression: school health implications
Carolyn R Smith1, Bonnie S Fisher, Gordon L Gillespie
11College of Nursing, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
Summary
Adolescent workers exposed to workplace aggression proposed responses similar to peer bullying. Schools should educate teens on handling aggression in all settings, including jobs.
Area of Science:
- Adolescent Health
- Occupational Health
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Aggression exposure is a significant health concern for adolescents in the U.S.
- Exposure occurs in homes, schools, communities, and increasingly, workplaces.
- Understanding adolescent responses to workplace aggression is crucial for developing targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore proposed responses of adolescent employees to hypothetical workplace aggression.
- To identify patterns and themes in how young workers perceive and plan to address aggressive incidents.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study involving 30 adolescent employees aged 16-18.
- Semistructured interviews used to gather responses to hypothetical workplace aggression scenarios.
- Conventional content analysis applied to identify themes in participant responses.
Main Results:
- Adolescent employees' proposed responses to workplace aggression mirror those used for peer bullying and teen dating violence.
- Participants demonstrated an awareness of aggression but required guidance on appropriate workplace conduct.
- Identified themes included seeking support, direct confrontation, and avoidance.
Conclusions:
- Adolescent responses to workplace aggression are comparable to other forms of aggression.
- Education and training in schools are vital for equipping adolescents with appropriate aggression response strategies.
- School health professionals can play a key role in addressing workplace aggression and guiding future research.
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