4 0.50–4.17 4.97 1.32–17.7      Moderate 3.3 1.13–9.73 3.29 0.80–13.5      Severe 19.7 4.34–89.6

30.475 5.14–180.2     Perception of the employer’s response  Adequate     –   –    No employer     7.04 1.73–28.7 8.12 1.62–40.7  Inadequate     3.88 1.21–12.4 2.53 0.66–9.69 Previous experience of violence and job with high risk and awareness of violence  No/other jobs     –        No/high risk and awareness of violence jobs     8.30 1.43–48.1 8.49 1.28–56.3  Yes/other jobs     0.68 0.21–2.24 0.62 0.16–2.42  Yes/high risk and awareness of violence jobs     0.88 0.20–3.90 0.55 0.10–3.20 Discussion We found a strong association, in a multivariable model controlling for gender, between signs AS1842856 datasheet of initial psychological distress and the severity of consequences several months after a workplace violence event. Although we did not find a direct effect of gender in the multiple regression analyses,

initial symptoms of psychological distress were more prevalent and severe for women than for men. Moreover, among victims in high violence risk and awareness of violence occupations, more severe consequences were recorded for those who had no prior experience of violence. We also Foretinib mouse found that a perceived lack of support from the employer tended to increase the severity of consequences. Our results are consistent with previous studies in other countries which have indicated that psychological selleck screening library consequences of workplace violence can be serious (Hogh and Viitasara 2005; Tarquinio et al. 2004; Wieclaw et al. 2006). Our findings are also comparable to those from a study by Mueller and Tschan (2011) which showed that the experience of workplace violence resulted in fear of violence, impaired psychological and physical wellbeing, and irritability. Similarly, Rogers and Kelloway (1997) found that fear of future violence following PD0325901 exposure to occupational violence predicted psychological well-being, somatic symptoms and intent to leave

the organization. However, in light of our qualitative study results (De Puy et al. 2012), the severity of the consequences of workplace violence seem to be explained by a broader set of circumstances than fear of future violence. Our qualitative results indicate that unresolved financial and psychological sequels of the past violent event seem sometimes to weigh more on the victims than the fear of future violence. For instance, several of our respondents reported important financial constraints associated with the loss of their job because of the violent event. Others, although they had retired or made a transition to a job with less exposure to violence, reported lasting psychological conditions that suggest post-traumatic stress disorders or depression. Contrary to some previous research (LeBlanc and Kelloway 2002), we did not find evidence that internal workplace violence resulted in more negative outcomes than external violence.