TY - JOUR

T1 - Workplace sexual and gender-based harassment in Denmark

T2 - a comparison of the self-labelling and behavioural list method

AU - Dahl Nielsen, Maj Britt

AU - Andersen, Alberte Boukaidi

AU - Grundtvig, Gry

AU - Sørensen, Kathrine

AU - Andersen, Josefine Ranfelt

AU - Larsson, Nanna P

AU - Skov, Sofie Smedegaard

AU - Folker, Anna Paldam

AU - Kjær, Susie

AU - Aldrich, Per Tybjerg

AU - Rugulies, Reiner

AU - Clausen, Thomas

AU - H Madsen, Ida E

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - AIM: Knowledge about the prevalence of sexual and gender-based harassment is hampered by disagreements about definitions and measurement methods. The two most common measurement methods are the self-labelling (a single question about exposure to sexual harassment) and the behavioural list method (an inventory of sexually harassing behaviours). The aim of this paper was to compare the self-labelling and the behavioural list methods for measuring sexual harassment and assess the association with depressive symptoms.METHODS: The study is based on a convenience sample of 1686 individuals employed in 29 workplaces in Denmark. Survey data were collected from November 2020 until June 2021 and there were 1000 participants with full data on key variables. We used a linear mixed-effects model to examine the relationship between sexual harassment and depressive symptoms.RESULTS: In total, 2.5% self-labelled as being sexually harassed, while 19.0% reported exposure to at least one type of sexual and gender-based harassment using the behavioural list method. Both groups reported higher levels of depressive symptoms compared with non-exposed employees. The most common types of behaviours were: that someone spoke derogatorily about women/men (11.6%); being belittled because of one's gender or sexuality (4.7%); and unwanted comments about one's body, clothes or lifestyle (4.5%).CONCLUSIONS: The behavioural list method yielded a higher prevalence of sexual and gender-based harassment compared with the self-labelling method. Self-labelling and reporting at least one type of sexual and gender-based harassment was associated with depressive symptoms.

AB - AIM: Knowledge about the prevalence of sexual and gender-based harassment is hampered by disagreements about definitions and measurement methods. The two most common measurement methods are the self-labelling (a single question about exposure to sexual harassment) and the behavioural list method (an inventory of sexually harassing behaviours). The aim of this paper was to compare the self-labelling and the behavioural list methods for measuring sexual harassment and assess the association with depressive symptoms.METHODS: The study is based on a convenience sample of 1686 individuals employed in 29 workplaces in Denmark. Survey data were collected from November 2020 until June 2021 and there were 1000 participants with full data on key variables. We used a linear mixed-effects model to examine the relationship between sexual harassment and depressive symptoms.RESULTS: In total, 2.5% self-labelled as being sexually harassed, while 19.0% reported exposure to at least one type of sexual and gender-based harassment using the behavioural list method. Both groups reported higher levels of depressive symptoms compared with non-exposed employees. The most common types of behaviours were: that someone spoke derogatorily about women/men (11.6%); being belittled because of one's gender or sexuality (4.7%); and unwanted comments about one's body, clothes or lifestyle (4.5%).CONCLUSIONS: The behavioural list method yielded a higher prevalence of sexual and gender-based harassment compared with the self-labelling method. Self-labelling and reporting at least one type of sexual and gender-based harassment was associated with depressive symptoms.

U2 - 10.1177/14034948241228158

DO - 10.1177/14034948241228158

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 38372071

JO - Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, Supplement

JF - Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, Supplement

SN - 1403-4956

ER -