Review Article

Organizational Justice and Health: Reviewing Two Decades of Studies

Table 1

Organizational justice effects on health: main results.

CategoriesNumber of studiesStudy design (n°)Main results

Mental health40Cross-sectional (19)Lower OJ was associated with a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms, lower mental health, suicidality, tinnitus (pJ and iJ), and higher rates of psychiatric morbidity. High levels of OJ are associated with fewer sleeping problems
Longitudinal (21)Higher justice has been prospectively associated with lower antidepressant medication (pJ) (2-year follow-up), a lower incidence of depression (2-year follow-up), lower odds of sleep problems (2-year, 10- to 16-year, and 4-year follow-ups), lower rates of minor psychiatric morbidity, self-rated health (1-year follow-up), and physical and mental health (1-year, 3-year follow-ups). Some studies found only a short-term effect between OJ and depression, mental health, and sleep difficulties
Cross-sectional (21)High OJ is associated with lower job stress, occupational strain, job burnout, emotional exhaustion, psychological distress, and biological indicators of stress. OJ could work as a moderator of the effect of other stressors on health (e.g., job insecurity, patient-related stress, negative leadership styles, or team climate)

Job stress26Longitudinal (3)Low OJ was associated with higher psychological distress (2-year follow-up) and pJ with higher perceived stress (1 year after). pJ also produced exhaustion-reducing effects
Experimental (2)The low iJ group showed higher cortisol levels (HPA axis activity) compared with the high iJ group. Justice variability: heart rate levels were higher among those in the variable fairness condition, compared with the always-fair and always-unfair conditions

Sickness absence15Cross-sectional (3)Higher levels of pJ and rJ have been associated with higher odds of illness reporting, poorer self-reported work ability, frequent self-reported disability, frequent consultations with a general practitioner, and with a higher risk of medically certified sickness absence spells
Longitudinal (12)High OJ was associated with a lower risk of short- and long-term sickness absence (with different follow-up durations) and a lower risk of disability pensioning (due to depression or to musculoskeletal diseases). Lack of pJ has been associated with refraining from seeking medical care (1-year follow-up)

Physical health14Cross-sectional (9)High OJ has been linked to lower musculoskeletal symptoms, lower rates of chronic pain, lower somatic complaints, a smaller prevalence of some coronary heart disease risk factors, and less substance abuse (alcohol dependence and smoking rates)
Longitudinal (5)High OJ has been associated with lower cardiovascular heart disease incidence and mortality, a lower risk of developing metabolic syndrome, and levels of physiological health (immunoglobulin A levels)
Absenteeism/presenteeism3Cross-sectional (3)Higher OJ has also been related to lower levels of absenteeism and higher rates of presentism due to low back pain (pJ)
Safety at work3Cross-sectional (3)OJ has been associated cross-sectionally with higher safety behaviour, higher compliance with safety policies, and less occupational accident frequency
Effects on the health of third parties2Cross-sectional (2)Low rJ perceived by school staff was related to a higher risk of psychosomatic symptoms and depressive symptoms among pupils. Supervisors’ experience of interactional injustice was linked to subordinates’ higher rates of psychological distress and insomnia

Note. OJ = organizational justice; pJ = procedural justice; iJ = interactional justice; rJ = relational justice.