Objectives: To compare psychosocial work conditions and health status between public and private sector employees and to examine if psychosocial work conditions explained the health differences.
Methods: Two thousand four hundred fourty one public and 15,589 private sector employees participated in a cross-sectional survey. Psychosocial work hazards, self-rated health (SRH), and burnout status were assessed by questionnaire.
Results: As compared with private sector employees, public sector employees reported better psychosocial work conditions and better SRH, but higher risk of workplace violence (WPV) and higher levels of client-related burnout. Regression analyses indicated that higher psychosocial job demands, lower workplace justice, and WPV experience were associated with poor SRH and higher burnout. The public-private difference in client-related burnout remained even with adjustment of psychosocial work factors.
Conclusion: Greater risks of WPV and client-related burnout observed in public sector employees warrant further investigation.