Nancy Krieger|Jarvis T. Chen|Pamela D. Waterman|Cathy Nelson Hartman|Anne M. Stoddard|Margaret Quinn|Glorian Sorensen|Elizabeth M. Barbeau
The inverse hazard law: Blood pressure, sexual harassment, racial discrimination, workplace abuse and occupational exposures in US low-income black, white and Latino workers
Harvard University|Harvard University|Harvard University|State Street (United States)|New England Research (United States)|New England Research Institutes|University of Massachusetts Lowell|Harvard University|Dana-Farber Cancer Institute|State Street (United States)
research societal determinants health suggests existence inverse hazard law define accumulation health hazards tends vary inversely power resources populations affected yet little empirical research systematically investigated topic including relation workplace exposures accordingly designed united health study greater boston area massachusetts 20032004 investigate joint distribution health implications workplace occupational hazards dust fumes chemical noise ergonomic strain social hazards racial discrimination sexual harassment workplace abuse focusing blood pressure health outcome found among 1202 lowincome multiracialethnic working class participants cohort 40 lived us poverty line 79 reported exposure least one social hazard 82 least one highexposure occupational hazard sexual harassment least common social hazard associated elevated systolic blood pressure sbp among women workers contrast statistically significant associations detectable additional highly prevalent social occupational hazards sbp however find suggestive evidence association sbp response unfair treatment implying context high exposure differential susceptibility exposure matters results interestingly contrast prior findings cohort found associations selfreported experiences racial discrimination two health outcomes psychological distress cigarette smoking likely explanations contrasting findings include differential etiologic periods pathways involving somatic health mental health health behaviors b high prevalence adverse exposures limiting ability detect significant associations clarified inverse hazard law understand health inequities research needed contrasts exposures health status populationwide among inequitably exposed