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Original Article
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The relations among workplace verbal abuse, job stress, and good self-rated health among Korean wage workers: Evidence from the 7th Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS)
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Youngdo Kim, Jung Wook Kim, Jung Ho Yang
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Ann Occup Environ Med 2026;e29. Published online July 14, 2026
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2026.38.e29
[Accepted]
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 Abstract
 PDF
- Background
Workplace verbal abuse has increasingly been recognized as a psychosocial hazard affecting employees’ health. Although its direct psychological consequences have been well documented, the mechanisms through which verbal abuse shapes employees’ self-rated health have been less thoroughly examined. In particular, limited empirical attention has been given to the mediating role of job stress in this relationship. The association between workplace verbal abuse and good self-rated health among Korean wage workers was investigated, and the mediating role of job stress in this relationship was further examined.
Methods
Data were drawn from the 7th Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS), which included a nationally representative sample of 26,427 wage workers aged 20 years or older. Verbal abuse, job stress, and good self-rated health were assessed using structured self-report items. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate associations among verbal abuse, job stress, and good self-rated health, with adjustments made for individual- and occupational/workplace-related covariates.
Results
Workplace verbal abuse was significantly associated with higher odds of job stress (odds ratio [OR]: 1.527; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.300–1.803; p < 0.001) and lower odds of good self-rated health (OR: 0.641; 95% CI: 0.566–0.726; p < 0.001). Mediation analysis indicated that job stress partially mediated the relationship between verbal abuse and good self-rated health, accounting for 2.38% of the total effect (indirect effect: –0.0021; p < 0.001), while the direct effect of verbal abuse remained significant.
Conclusion
Workplace verbal abuse was associated with poorer good self-rated health, both directly and indirectly through job stress. These findings highlight the need for organizational interventions and policy-level strategies aimed at reducing verbal aggression and mitigating occupational stress.
Original Article
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Association between workplace cooperation and depressive symptoms differs according to employment type: the seventh Korean Working Conditions Survey
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Jung Wook Kim, Youngdo Kim, Jung Ho Yang
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Ann Occup Environ Med 2026;e30. Published online July 14, 2026
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2026.38.e30
[Accepted]
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Abstract
PDF
- Background
The relationship between workplace cooperation and mental health has gained increasing attention. However, the extent to which employment type moderates the association between workplace cooperation and depressive symptoms remains underexplored. The present study aimed to investigate the association between workplace cooperation, depressive symptoms, and employment type among South Korean wage workers.
Methods
The present work analyzed data from the seventh Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS), including 25,259 wage workers aged 20 years and older. Employment type was categorized as one of regular-, temporary-, or daily laborer. Workplace cooperation was assessed using a five-point Likert scale item regarding cooperation among colleagues. Depressive symptoms were measured using the World Health Organization (WHO)-5 Well-Being Index. Multivariable logistic and linear regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the association between workplace cooperation and depressive symptoms or the WHO-5 Well-Being Index.
Results
Cooperation was significantly associated with lower odds of depressive symptoms in regular workers (odds ratio [OR]: 0.538; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.498–0.581), temporary workers (OR: 0.666; 95% CI: 0.561–0.790), and daily laborers (OR: 0.479; 95% CI: 0.339–0.679). The association between workplace cooperation and depressive symptoms differed significantly by employment type (interaction p = 0.016 for temporary vs. regular workers): the inverse association was weaker among temporary workers than among regular workers (interaction OR: 1.261; 95% CI: 1.045–1.522), whereas no significant difference was observed between regular workers and daily laborers (interaction OR: 0.912; 95% CI: 0.651–1.279; p = 0.595).
Conclusion
Workplace cooperation was significantly associated with lower odds of depressive symptoms across all employment types, but the magnitude of this protection varies significantly by employment status.
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KSOEM
