Journal article
The "dirty work" of last responders: Occupational stigma risk and protective factors
Journal of occupational and environmental hygiene, Vol.21(3), pp.145-151
03/03/2024
DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2024.2302481
PMID: 38363742
Abstract
Last responders constitute an occupational category that includes all those who are involved in the postmortem care of deceased persons and their families. The work of last responders is often considered "dirty work" and, as a result, stigmatized. Last responders are aware of this stigma, and stigma consciousness has been associated with negative health outcomes. Despite the wide acknowledgment of stigma among last responders, specific risk, or protective factors for experiencing stigma have not been investigated. This paper aims to identify determinants of stigma among last responders in the United States. The data for this study were obtained from a national cross-sectional survey of last responders. The survey included a measure of stigma and multiple sociodemographic characteristics. A hurdle model was used to assess the association between the characteristics of last responders and their perceived stigma. Respondents were predominantly male (55.1%), White non-Hispanic (90.2%), and employed full-time (96%). Seventy-seven percent reported having experienced at least one form of occupation-related stigma. There was no significant association between the experience of stigma and any socio-demographic variables. The experience of stigma is nearly ubiquitous among last responders->75% of last responders in the sample experienced at least one form of stigma. Another aspect of its ubiquitous nature is the lack of evidence that stigma was experienced differentially across sex, race/ethnicity, employment type, and length of years as a last responder. Interventions are needed to decrease stigma among last responders and to support last responders in managing the consequences of the stigma they experience.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The "dirty work" of last responders: Occupational stigma risk and protective factors
- Creators
- Ramzi Kibbi - University of IowaRima A Afifi - University of IowaHahn Pham - Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IowaDaniel K Sewell - University of IowaPeter P Teahen - Clinical Mental Health Counseling, College of Education, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IowaMark W Vander Weg - Iowa City VA Health Care System
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of occupational and environmental hygiene, Vol.21(3), pp.145-151
- DOI
- 10.1080/15459624.2024.2302481
- PMID
- 38363742
- NLM abbreviation
- J Occup Environ Hyg
- eISSN
- 1545-9632
- Grant note
- DOI: 10.13039/100000030, name: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; DOI: 10.13039/100003786, name: Funeral Service Foundation.
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 02/16/2024
- Date published
- 03/03/2024
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences; Biostatistics; Counselor Education; Injury Prevention Research Center; Public Policy Center (Archive); Community and Behavioral Health; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984559876702771
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