Affiliations: Research Centre for Occupational Health &
Working Life, 110 Reykjavik, Iceland | Faculty of Nursing, University of Iceland, Reykjavik,
Iceland | Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Iceland,
Reykjavik, Iceland
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Holmfridur K. Gunnarsdottir, M.Sc.,
Ph.D., Research Centre for Occupational Health & Working Life,
Bildshoefdi 16, 110 Reykjavik, Iceland. Tel.: +354 550 4600; Fax: +354 550
4610; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Health-related lifestyle, harassment at work, and self-assessed
health of female flight attendants in comparison to that of female nurses and
female primary school teachers were surveyed. A higher proportion of flight
attendants than nurses or teachers were smokers, 26% vs. 15% and 17%
respectively; and consumed alcohol at least once a week, 40% vs. 21% and
16%. Repeated sexual harassment at work was more common among the flight
attendants, 31% vs. 8% and 4%; whereas bullying, physical violence
and threats were less prevalent among the flight attendants (12%) than among
nurses (19%). Flight attendants were on average somewhat taller, but weighed
on average less, 63.8 kg vs. 72.4 kg and 72.7 kg respectively. Repeated
exposure to sexual harassment, bullying, violence and threats was related to
less physical and psychological well-being in all the groups. Teachers scored
on average significantly lower than did the flight attendants on general health
and physical well-being, while nurses did not.
