Work

Workplace Bullying and Mental Health: A Meta-Analysis on Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Data

Year: 2015

Type: review

Study designs: Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis

Abstract: BACKGROUND: A growing body of research has confirmed that workplace bullying is a source of distress and poor mental health. Here we summarize the cross-sectional and longitudinal literature on these associations. METHODS: Systematic review and meta-analyses on the relation between workplace bullying and mental health. RESULTS: The cross-sectional data (65 effect sizes, N = 115.783) showed positive associations between workplace bullying and symptoms of depression (r = .28, 95% CI = .23-.34), anxiety (r = .34, 95% CI = .29-.40) and stress-related psychological complaints (r = .37, 95% CI = .30-.44). Pooling the literature that investigated longitudinal relationships (26 effect sizes, N = 54.450) showed that workplace bullying was related to mental health complaints over time (r = 0.21, 95% CI = 0.13-0.21). Interestingly, baseline mental health problems were associated with subsequent exposure to workplace bullying (r = 0.18, 95% CI = 0.10-0.27; 11 effect sizes, N = 27.028). LIMITATIONS: All data were self-reported, raising the possibility of reporting- and response set bias. CONCLUSIONS: Workplace bullying is consistently, and in a bi-directional manner, associated with reduced mental health. This may call for intervention strategies against bullying at work.

Source: PLoS ONE

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0135225

Authors: Bart Verkuil, Serpil Atasayi, Marc L. Molendijk

Institutions: Leiden University, Leiden University Medical Center

Language: English

Topic: Workplace Violence and Bullying

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Decent work and economic growth

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,382