Work environment characteristics of environmental epidemiologists and mental health conditions – A cross sectional survey among ISEE members

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIM Working environment (verbal/physical abuse, threats, difficulties of publishing due to other than scientific interests, political interests) of environmental epidemiologists (EEs) is largely unknown. The aim of this study was to assess; a) working environment factors b) health situation of EEs and 3) associations between working environment and health situation of EEs. METHODS A cross-sectional survey among the ISEE members was conducted in February 2022. We assessed socio-demographics (age, gender, education), employment status, working environment and stress, depression, and anxiety. Descriptive statistics were conducted with the full sample at baseline to characterize employment status and employment related events (past and current). In addition to descriptive statistics, we explored the associations between working conditions and mental health conditions by calculating multiple linear regression analyses. RESULTS Majority of the participants (N=442) were females and from North America (316, 47% followed by Europe (139, 21%). As regards to work most were faculty members (298, 50%) and assistant or associate professors (270, 47%) with main areas of research of air pollution (187, 37%), chemicals (151, 30%) and climate change (75, 15%). Almost half of participants reported verbal abuse (246, 46%) and one-fifth threats of physical abuse at the workplace. Research was reported to be forbidden to get published by 11%. Increasing age was inversely associated with depression, anxiety and stress symptoms. Verbal and threats of physical abuse and difficulties to disseminate results were related to increased levels of depression, anxiety and stress symptoms. Political pressure was not related to increased levels of mental health conditions. CONCLUSIONS Study findings suggest that a comprehensive workplace prevention program accompanied by research identifying scientists job stress in different workplaces is critical. To prevent exposures and improve the mental health conditions of EEs, workplace violence prevention procedures at the organizational and at the societal level are needed.