Reported harassment and mental-ill health in a Canadian prospective cohort of women and men in welding and electrical trades

Introduction Experience of psychosocial environments by workers entering trade apprenticeships may differ by gender. We aimed to document perceived harassment and to investigate whether this related to mental ill-health. Methods Cohorts of workers in welding and electrical trades were established, women recruited across Canada and men from Alberta. Participants were re-contacted every six months for up to 3 years (men) or 5 years (women). At each contact they were asked about symptoms of anxiety and depression made worse by work. After their last regular contact participants received a ‘wrap-up’ questionnaire that included questions on workplace harassment. In Alberta respondents who consented were linked to the administrative health database which recorded diagnostic codes for each physician contact. Results 1885 workers were recruited, 1001 in welding trades (447 women) and 884 in electrical trades (438 women). 1419 (75.3%) completed a ‘wrap up’ questionnaire, with 1413 answering questions on harassment. 60% of women and 32% of men reported that they had been harassed. Those who reported harassment had more frequently recorded episodes of anxiety and depression made worse by work in prospective data. In Alberta 1242 were successfully matched to administrative health records. Those who reported harassment were more likely to have a physician record of depression since starting in their trade. Conclusions Tradeswomen were much more likely than tradesmen to recall incidents of harassment. The results from record linkage, and from prospectively-collected reports of anxiety and depression made worse by work, support a conclusion that harassment resulted in poorer mental health. What is important about this paper? In this study we show that the majority of women entering the male-dominated trades of welding and electrical work report harassment, particularly during their apprenticeship, that is largely from co-workers and has a sexual component. Through its longitudinal design and linkage to an administrative health database, the study has reduced the impact of reporting bias and produced credible evidence that reported harassment is associated with anxiety and depression made worse by work and with physician reported depression. There is increasing recognition that workplace harassment of any worker is unacceptable, with obligations on the employer to take action to eliminate it. Evidence of ongoing mental health impacts reinforces this obligation.