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Workplace bullying: individual hostility, poor work environment or both? Exploring competing explanatory models in a
Malgorzata Gamian-Wilk1, Brita Bjorkelo2, Eva Gemzoe Mikkelsen3
1Institute of Psychology Faculty in Wroclaw Social Behavior Research Center, SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Wroclaw, Poland. mgamian@swps.edu.pl.
Summary
A poor work environment predicts workplace bullying, which in turn increases individual hostility. Addressing workplace conditions is crucial for preventing bullying and its negative interpersonal effects.
Area of Science:
- Organizational Psychology
- Occupational Health Psychology
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Workplace bullying research often examines individual dispositions (vulnerability hypothesis) and work environment factors (work environment hypothesis).
- Previous studies explored these factors individually or combined, but a longitudinal study differentiating their unique contributions was lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To longitudinally investigate the unique contributions of work environment factors and individual hostility to workplace bullying.
- To test Affective Events Theory in predicting workplace bullying over time.
Main Methods:
- A two-wave survey was conducted with a 6-month time lag among 152 employees across 7 workplaces.
- Data analyzed the predictive roles of work environment and individual hostility on bullying occurrence.
Main Results:
- Work environment factors significantly predicted subsequent bullying exposure.
- Bullying at Time 1 was linked to a poorer work environment at Time 2.
- Bullying exposure correlated with increased individual hostility over time.
- Poor working conditions at Time 1 predicted individual hostility at Time 2.
Conclusions:
- A negative work environment fosters workplace bullying.
- Workplace bullying can escalate interpersonal hostility among employees.
- Interventions should prioritize improving work environment factors to mitigate bullying.
Keywords:
CausalityHostilityLongitudinal studyReverse causal effectsVulnerabilityWork environmentWorkplace bullyingMore Related Videos
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