Determinants of Poor Health among Workers in Criminal Justice, Community and Social Services, and Healthcare: Adverse Childhood Experiences, Workplace Trauma Exposure, and Gender Differences

Abstract

Adverse childhood experiences and workplace trauma exposure are associated with poor health. However, their differential impacts by gender are difficult to assess in studies of organizations with gender imbalances (e.g., law enforcement officers are more likely men whereas social workers are more likely women). Using a community-based participatory research framework, this study examines trauma exposure, mental and physical health, and substance use in an occupationally diverse sample (n = 391). Trauma exposure was high and associated with poor health. Even though women experienced more adversity, they were often more resilient than men. Implications for trauma-informed workplaces are discussed.

Keywords:

• Adverse childhood experiences
• community-based participatory research
• gender differences
• mental health
• occupation-based trauma
• physical health
• substance use
• workplace trauma exposure

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

Notes

1 The survey for the current study asked, “What is your sex/gender?” Response options included “other” and a text-entry option.

Additional information

Funding

Research reported in this submission was financially supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Award Numbers [P20GM104417 and P20GM103474].