Psychosocial and environmental factors: Influence on work ability among social assistance workers

Abstract

Background: Poor working conditions might impair the health and work ability (WA) of public service workers. Objective: To investigate the association of work ability with environmental and psychosocial factors among workers at Social Assistance Reference Centers in Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Methods: We administered three questionnaires: one to collect sociodemographic data, one for workplace evaluation and the Work Ability Index (WAI). The data were subjected to descriptive analysis and the Mann-Whitney U test. Results: The sample comprised 41 participants, with average age 40 years old (SD=14.83) most of whom had attended higher education (82.9%). The participants reported poor workplace ventilation (75.6%), temperature (78%) and equipment (75.6%). Most participants reported to spend long time sitting (65.9%) and absence of breaks (51.2%). Threats to personal safety (31.7%), personal belongings (53.7%) and aggression by service users (26.8%), escorts or relatives (19.5%) were the psychosocial factors most frequently reported. The average score on WAI was 37.85; 41.5% of participants were rated as with poor or moderate WA. WA was associated with workplace temperature (p=0.015), available material resources (p=0.011), threats to personal safety (p=0.005) and violence between coworkers (p=0.016) or between service users and workers and/or supervisors (p=0.035). Conclusion: The results corroborate the existence of a relationship between working conditions and WA and evidenced association between WA and workplace violence.