Casting a Wider Net: An Examination of the Widespread Effects of Occupational Injuries

Although research has explored workplace injuries, injuries tend to be examined from a binary perspective, and the broad ramifications of workplace injuries have yet to be fully explored. In this research, I conduct two studies that extend current knowledge on the outcomes of workplace injuries. Study 1 examines the effects of occupational injuries among injured individuals. Analyses suggest the nature of the occupational injury affects health, stress, and positive and negative work beliefs. Study 2 examines the effects of workplace injuries on romantic partners of injured individuals. Analyses suggest that health, objective burden, relationship satisfaction, and relationship quality of romantic partners are influenced by their partners' occupational injury. In both studies, mediating and moderating relationships are explored. Overall, these findings suggest the nature of the injury matters, and effects of workplace injuries are more widespread than typically addressed. These findings have important implications for research and practice.