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Employees who give higher ratings for workplace social capital (WSC) have lower rates of occupational injury or illness at one-year follow-up, reports a study in the July issue of the
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
Three subtypes of WSC – bonding, bridging, and linking social capital – may help prevent work-related health issues, according to the new research by Tomohisa Nagata, PhD, of University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan, and colleagues.
In 2022, the researchers sent a validated WSC questionnaire to 11,000 employees at Japanese companies. Survey questions addressed three subtypes of social capital:
- Bonding – referring to relationships between members of the same social structure
- Bridging – relationships across social structures, such as workplace teams
- Linking – relationships between workplace teams and management
In 2023, participants completed a follow-up questionnaire regarding occupational injuries and illnesses. Rates of these outcomes were compared for employees reporting, high, intermediate, and low WSC, including total and WSC subtype scores.
Employees with high total WSC scores had lower rates of occupational illness or injury at follow-up: a 37% reduction, compared to those with low WSC scores. High scores for all three subtypes were linked to lower risk, with reductions of 32% for bonding, 27% for bridging, and 45% for linking social capital.
Employees with intermediate total WSC scores had a 17% reduction in occupational illness or injury, compared to those with low WSC scores. Intermediate scores for bridging and linking social capital were also linked to significant reductions in illness and injuries.
The new report is the first prospective study of the relationship between WSC and occupational illness and injury rates. The findings add to previous evidence that higher scores for WSC – relationships that promote cooperation and coordination to accomplish work – may be associated with the effectiveness of workplace safety measures.
Of the three subtypes, linking social capital appears to have the strongest protective effect. Dr. Nagata and colleagues conclude: "Managers need to be aware that promoting trust and cooperation with their subordinates contributes to the prevention of occupational injuries and illnesses."
About the Author
Dr. Nagata may be contacted for interviews at tomohisa(at)med.uoeh-u.ac.jp