The impact of workplace sexual harassment on health and quality of life outcomes among flight attendants: a two-wave longitudinal study

We used longitudinal data to prospectively evaluate workplace sexual harassment in relation to health and quality of life among flight attendants. Participants (N = 2,468) were U.S. and Canadian flight attendants who worked as flight cabin crew within the six months prior to completing the Wave 2 survey (median age = 55 years, female = 79%). Our primary analysis used an outcome-wide analytic approach to examine associations of Wave 1 workplace sexual harassment with subsequent health (e.g., injuries, depression symptoms) and quality-of-life (e.g., flourishing, self-rated health) outcomes assessed approximately three years later in Wave 2. Workplace sexual harassment was commonly reported (37% within the past year). Among female crew, sexual harassment was associated with an increase in subsequent anxiety symptoms (OR = 1.55; 95% CI: 1.11, 2.19), fatigue (OR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.87), poorer sleep (OR = 1.46; 95% CI: 1.09, 1.94), reduced flourishing (OR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.45, 0.76), recurrence of sexual harassment (OR = 4.99, 95% CI: 3.39, 7.33), greater work-related musculoskeletal injuries (OR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.01, 2.02), and recent respiratory infections (OR = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.13, 2.15). Sexual harassment was also generally associated with adverse outcomes among male crew, although associations were observed for fewer health indicators and were generally smaller in magnitude with wider confidence intervals. Many associations exhibited dose-response patterns. This study adds to the sparse empirical literature on the longitudinal effects of workplace sexual harassment on health and quality-of-life outcomes. Our findings highlight the need for effective organizational policies and practices to mitigate abuses and their potential impacts.