The Role of Harassment in the Mental Well-being of Local Public Health Professionals and Its Relationship With an Intent to Leave Their Organization During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Authors

Timothy C. McCall, National Association of County and City Health Officials, Washington, District of Columbia (Drs McCall and Alford, Mss Cunningham, Hall, and Royster); and Department of Clinical Research and Leadership, The George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia (Dr McCall).
Aaron A. Alford
Margaret C. Cunningham
Kellie Hall
Jordan Royster

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

10-12-2022

Journal

Journal of public health management and practice : JPHMP

DOI

10.1097/PHH.0000000000001655

Abstract

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, news and nationwide survey efforts have reported harassment and bullying among local health officials, departments, and personnel, concurrent to a shortage of public health staff in the United States. We examined a nationally representative sample of local public health professionals (LPHPs) from the 2021 Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey (PH WINS) data set to explore reported experiences with harassment, threats, and bullying; self-rated mental and emotional well-being; and intent to leave an organization. Results indicated that experience of harassment was negatively associated with ratings of mental and emotional health and positively associated with an intent to leave an organization. We discuss implications and recommendations to mitigate these risks for the nation's local public health workforce.

APA Citation

McCall, Timothy C.; Alford, Aaron A.; Cunningham, Margaret C.; Hall, Kellie; and Royster, Jordan, "The Role of Harassment in the Mental Well-being of Local Public Health Professionals and Its Relationship With an Intent to Leave Their Organization During the COVID-19 Pandemic" (2022). GW Authored Works. Paper 1782.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/1782

Department

Clinical Research and Leadership