Association Between Workplace Social Capital and Occupational Injuries and Illnesses: A 1-Year Prospective Cohort Study.

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the relationship between workplace social capital (WSC), and occupational injuries and illnesses. A prospective cohort study was conducted using a questionnaire-based survey in Japan. Overall WSC and its subtypes were divided into three categories (lower, intermediate, and higher). We estimated the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) using logistic regression to investigate the association between WSC and occupational injuries and illnesses. The ORs for occupational injuries and illnesses were significantly lower for the intermediate group (overall: OR = 0.83, CI: 0.72-0.96; bonding: OR = 0.94, CI: 0.80-1.09; bridging: OR = 0.81, CI: 0.70-0.94; linking: OR = 0.74 CI: 0.64-0.86) and the higher group (overall: OR = 0.63, CI: 0.54-0.74; bonding: OR = 0.68 CI: 0.59-0.79; bridging: OR = 0.73 CI: 0.63-0.86; linking: OR = 0.55 CI: 0.47-0.65) compared to the lower group. Bonding, bridging, and linking WSC may help prevent occupational injuries and illnesses.