**4. Discussion**

*Occupational Wellbeing*

**Year (reference category: 2008)**

**Gender (reference category: female)**

**Level of education (reference category: university)**

**Marital status (reference category: single)**

**Work schedule (reference category: part time)**

**General health status (reference category: poor)**

**Alcohol use (reference category: no)**

*Std. Error, standard error.*

**Psycho-social support/depression (reference category: no)**

**Occupation (reference category: manager)**

**Age (reference category: 15–24)**

**Variables Elasticity (%) Std. Error**

 −18.8 0.118 **−12.4 0.100** −25.3b 0.111 −23.8b 0.117

Male 78.9a 0.105

25–34 −22.0c 0.128 35–44 −49.0a 0.142 45-54 −69.6a 0.154 55-64 −116.8a 0.21 65+ −118.2a 0.302

Did not finish school/illiterate 33.1 0.224 Primary school 52.4a 0.175 Secondary school 42.9b 0.178 High school 46.5a 0.164

Married 7.7 0.105

Full time 7.0 0.163

Professional occupational group worker 43.4 0.263 Technician 68.5a 0.248 Office worker −0.71 0.309 Service employee and sale representative 60.4a 0.222 Qualified agricultural worker 108.4a 0.228 Artist 141.2a 0.214 Facility and machinery operator 99.9a 0.244 Non-qualified Job worker 121.1a 0.221

Very good −62.4a 0.146 Medium −23.1 0.148

Yes 47,6a 0.134

Yes 27,6a 0.081

*Elasticity estimates for socio-demographic and economic factors that influence whether individuals experience* 

**140**

**Table 3.**

*work accidents.*

*a p < .01. b p < .05. c p < .10.*

Work accidents remain important worldwide. Work accidents and diseases influence the whole country economically, socially, and psychologically. 286.068 work accidents occurred in Turkey in 2016. 1405 people died in these work accidents [9]. The loss of these people exerted great pressure on the country, both socially and economically. In addition, even if these accidents did not result in loss of life, the workers being unable to work as a result of their injuries, their inability to continue their work for a long time, or scars they have because of these accidents psychologically depress individuals, apart from economic problems. For this reason, it is of great importance to determine the causes of work accidents and to try to prevent these accidents by concentrating on their causes [6].

The aim of this study was to investigate the factors affecting work accidents of individuals that resulted in injuries in the last 12 months in which the survey was conducted in Turkey. As a result of the analysis, the variables of gender, age, education, occupation, health, psycho-social support/depression, and alcohol use were detected statistically significant.

According to study findings, men have more work accidents than women. Similar results can be found in many studies in the literature [26, 27]. In addition, it was detected in some studies that men are more likely to experience fatal work accidents [28]. This situation can be explained with the fact that men work more in dangerous jobs that require physical power than women.

According to the results of the analysis, it was found that the age range that had the most work accidents was 25–34, while the age range that had the least accidents was 65+. Although the physical activity of workers decreased as they get older, their increased experience was effective in decreasing work accidents with age. In this context, there are many studies showing that work accidents are most common in the 25–44 age range and least common in the 65+ age range [12, 13, 29–31]. In some studies, the 16–24 age range was found to be the age group where work accidents occurred most frequently [26, 32]. There are also studies indicating that the 35–45 age range is the age group that most frequently experiences fatal work accidents [28].

It was detected that the probability of having a work accident decreases with an increase in the level of education. This may be due to the fact that workers who have a low level of education work in low-profile and risky jobs, or it may be due to individuals having an incomplete understanding risk factors due to a lack of education [31, 33, 34]. In addition, individuals who had not received vocational training were more likely to experience work accidents. Therefore, individuals should undergo specific training before starting to work, and, basic work-related safety measures should be taught [35]. In addition, the fact that individuals did not have sufficient work-related training increased the risk of fatal accidents. One out of every five deaths in construction workers and 95% of the deceased workers were uneducated people [28]. Workers receiving professional training to improve their job competencies and increase their job-related knowledge had an important role in preventing work accidents. In addition, developing a safety culture with training activities and the integration of these activities into corporate culture will make safety a reality at each level [36]. Also, as job safety and health training become more appealing, individuals will receive three times more information, thus considerably reducing work accidents. Applied, student-centered, and participatory training activities should be therefore put into practice [37].

It was detected that individuals working in lower level jobs were more exposed to work accidents. This may arise from the risk and safety awareness of the employees. It is expected that this result arises from the fact that those who work in jobs requiring more strength have generally received less education and people who work in upper-level positions, such as managers, will have a certain awareness, due to

their education. There is a strong relationship between safety awareness and risks experienced [38]. For this reason, improving the safety awareness of individuals is of utmost importance. Accordingly, it is vital that individuals receive training in risk management and the use of personal protective equipment [39].

It was detected in the study that people who had received psycho-social support/ had experienced depression had more work accidents. It has been demonstrated in several studies that stressful living conditions increase the probability of having a work accident. It has been demonstrated that situations affecting the personal life of individuals, such as being unable to consume adequate food, a suffocating work life, and environmental problems, increase the risk of work accidents [33, 40–42]. Stress and pressure can have different consequences on the probability of men or women to experience work accidents. While stress caused by a lack of organizational support in women is a major reason for them to experience work accidents, this situation was not applicable to men experiencing work accidents [43]. Accordingly, individuals' low level of social support from their workplace and stress increased work accidents. It has also been reported in similar studies that women are more affected by workload and stress [44, 45]. However, the fact that individuals experience the pressure of the requirements of high productivity also increases the likelihood of work accidents because individuals can display dangerous behaviors due to this pressure [46]. All these behaviors and stress trigger further depression.
