The relationship between psychosocial risks in working life and psychological symptoms

Studies on psychosocial risks in iron and steel factories, which are considered the leading sector of the industry, are quite limited. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the psychosocial risk factors of employees in an iron and steel factory and to understand the relationship between these factors and psychological symptoms. The population of the research consists of 802 employees of an iron and steel factory. An attempt was made to reach the entire universe using the appropriate sampling method. The sample of the research consists of 418 male employees between the ages of 20- 64. BTF, KSE and KOPSOR were used as data collection tools. The research was carried out according to the cross-sectional design. The research was started after obtaining the necessary permissions from the OMU Social Sciences and Humanities Research Ethics Committee. Data was collected through an online survey delivered to employees via text message. SPSS-21 package program and Jamovi 2.3.28 program were used to analyze the data. Since normal distribution was not achieved, nonparametric tests were used to analyze the data. Mann Whitney U Test was used to test whether psychological symptoms and psychosocial risk dimensions differed between groups. Spearman-Brown Rank Difference Correlation Analysis was used to determine whether there was a relationship between psychological symptoms and psychosocial risks. Multivariate Binary Logistic Regression Analysis was used to examine the predictive effect of psychosocial risks on psychological symptoms. It has been found that burnout is associated with psychological symptoms and predicts high psychological symptoms. Emotional demands have been found to be associated with anxiety, depression, and negative self-symptoms and predict high depression symptoms. It has been found that the need to hide emotions is associated with negative self-symptoms and predicts high anxiety and high negative self-symptoms. Workhome conflict has been found to be associated with symptoms of anxiety, depression, negative self, somatization and hostility. It has been found that lack of confidence is associated with depression, somatization and hostility symptoms and predicts high depression symptoms. Job insecurity has been found to predict high levels of depression symptoms. It has been found that lack of role clarity predicts high negative self-esteem and high hostility symptoms. Lack of fairness and respect and lack of predictability have been found to be associated with symptoms of hostility. Current study findings show that psychosocial risks and psychological symptoms are related. Preventing psychosocial risks may be important to protect the mental health of employees.