Sexual harassment in the workplace (SHWP) is highly frequent, with a reported prevalence ranging from 14.5% to 98.8%. It has a significant negative impact, with depression being 2 to 5 times more frequent in victims of SHWP. In turn, depression has a negative economic impact due to absenteeism and low productivity at work, as well as harmful consequences on the workers’ quality of life. Therefore, addressing and preventing SHWP can help reduce the incidence of depression and its negative effects. Policies and interventions, such as codes of conduct and training sessions, can be implemented to prevent SHWP.

Aim:

To review the available evidence on the association between depression and SHWP and identifying the effectiveness and impact of policies and interventions to prevent SHWP and depressive symptoms.

Study design:

Systematic review.

Result:

Meta-analysis results show a combined prevalence of 26% and 2.69 higher risk of depression among workers who experience SHWP, compared to workers who do not experience it.

Variables such as number of harassment experiences and exposure to harassment from people other than coworkers increase this risk.

There is limited evidence regarding the effectiveness of policies and training to prevent SHWP, mostly focused on improvements in workers’ knowledge and attitudes about SHWP. However, there is no evidence regarding its potential impact on preventing depression.

Contact:

Francisco Diez Canseco, MPH

fdiezcanseco@upch.pe