Physical assaults among education workers: findings from a statewide study.

Abstract

Enumerate and describe physical assaults occurring to Pennsylvania education workers. A cross-sectional survey was mailed to a random sample of 6450 workers, stratified on gender, occupation, and region. Logistic regression was used to examine risk factors for physical assault. During the 2009-2010 school year, 309 of 2514 workers were assaulted 597 times. Special education teachers, urban workers, and those in their first 3 years of employment were at an increased risk. Most assaults did not lead to medical care or time away from work; however, those assaulted were significantly more likely to find work stressful, have low job satisfaction, and consider leaving the education field (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=2.5 [95% CI=1.5 to 4.1]; AOR=2.4 [95% CI=1.5 to 3.9]; AOR=10.7 [95% CI=4.1 to 28.1]). Although education workers experienced few serious physical assaults, the impact of this violence was considerable.