of Workplace Violence on Distress by Security Guards

Introduction: Workplace violence is widely recognized as an occupational health risk for employees in many organizations and it can damage their psychological health. Securitty guards are at comparably high risk of violent incidents. Objective: This aim of this work was to evaluate the association of non-physical form of workplace violence with distress among security guards and in what way does it affect mental health of the security guards. Methods: The cross-sectional study involved 250 security guards in Tuzla Canton and was conducted anonymously using the Questionnaire about violence at work. Results: Threats and intimidation as a form of non-physical violence in the last 12 months experienced 32.4% participants, whereas exposition to verbal assault reported 18.8% study participants. Due to exposure to different forms of violence at work, respondents feel consequences to mental health such as easily get angry and frustrated, insomnia and become harsh and insensitive. Study participants also become violent towards their family members and become harsh and insensitive which leads toward depression. Non-reporting of violence was also a concern, main reasons were lack of reporting procedure, previous experience of no action taken and fear of the consequences. Conclusion: There is association between violence and mental health of the security guards and it is necessary to take prevention actions at the organizational and individual level on time to protect workers and provide safer workplace environment.