When “Harassment” Isn’t Just a Buzzword: The Health Fallout
Two hefty studies—one from the U.S., the other from the heart of Europe—show that sexual harassment and abuse aren’t just uncomfortable; they’re downright dangerous for both body and mind. And the numbers? More alarming than a bad hair day.
Pittsburgh’s Women Face a 5‑in‑1 Reality
- Nearly 20 % of women in a Pittsburgh study reported being sexually harassed.
- About 23 % said they’d endured a sexual assault.
- These folks are 2–3 times more likely to suffer from high blood pressure, high triglycerides, restless nights, depression, or anxiety.
Rebecca Thurston, director of the Women’s Behavioural Health Lab at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, reminds us that this isn’t just a career hiccup; it’s a full‑body crisis. “It messes with your job performance, your quality of life, and, hang on, your physical health too,” she explains.
What the Data Says
- Women who’ve been harassed are 2.36× more prone to high blood pressure.
- They’re also 89 % more likely to suffer from poor sleep.
- And when you add in the findings from the North American Menopause Society, the risk of high triglycerides jumps three times.
In short, a harassment experience fires up a stress hormone cascade that ends up inflaming blood pressure, spiking triglycerides, and keeping you up at night.
And the Assaulted Group?
- Clinical depression: 2.86× higher.
- Clinical anxiety: 2.26× higher.
- Sleep issues: 2.15× higher.
Dr. Mayumi Okuda from New York‑Presbyterian says the same pattern emerges in childhood trauma studies—and we’re seeing it in adults too.
Berlin’s Doctors Get the Wrong Way Around
- All 70 % of male & female doctors in Berlin admitted to being sexually harassed or experiencing misconduct at work.
- Men reported 62 %, women even higher at 76 %.
Some folks might think men can’t be harassed, but Dr. Sabine Oertelt‑Prigione from Radboud University points out: “Men get offended by tailored vulgar speech or direct harassment.”
And the killer of workplace culture? A “strong formal hierarchy” that scoffs at employee participation.
Context Matters
Lori Post from Northwestern University suggests that how the questionnaire was worded could hide the true prevalence—maybe it’s closer to 100 %.
She also muses that Thurston’s figures might have been higher if participants with heart disease weren’t filtered out. The correlation is there; it just got sidestepped.
Bottom Line: Prevention is Key
Okuda stresses the need for a global cultural shift: “We must stop tolerating this behavior. Prevention is the antidote.”
So, whether you’re in Pittsburgh, Berlin, or your own office, remember: harassment is more than a bad perk; it’s a serious health hazard. Let’s fight it, together.
Source: JAMA Internal Medicine
