Perceived Discrimination and Workplace Violence among School Health Teachers: Relationship with School Organizational Climate

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship of the school organizational climate with perceived discrimination and the workplace violence among school health teachers. Methods: The research design was a cross-sectional study. The subjects of the study were 350 school health teachers with more than one year of teaching experience. Data were collected online using a questionnaire. Research variables are general characteristics, organizational climate, perceived discrimination, and workplace violence. The relationship between organizational climate and perceived discrimination and the relationship between organizational climate and workplace violence were analyzed using regression analysis. Results: The score for organizational climate of health teachers was 3.10 out of 5 points, the score for perceived discrimination was 2.85 out of 5 points, and the experience rate of workplace violence was 16.9%. School organizational climate was related to both workplace violence and perceived discrimination. The subcomponents of organizational climate affecting perceived discrimination of health teachers were interrelationship and the level of compensation. The subcomponents of organizational climate affecting workplace violence of health teachers were interrelationship and autonomy. Conclusion: The improvement of the school's organizational climate can reduce the level of workplace violence and discrimination against health teachers. It is important to establish an appropriate evaluation system for health teachers and to recognize the role and expertise of health teachers. In addition, it is necessary for school administraters to actively support health teahcers and to create an organizational climate where they can be friendly and communicative.