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

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  • Bart Verkuil
  • Serpil Atasayi
  • Marc L Molendijk

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Bart Verkuil & Serpil Atasayi & Marc L Molendijk, 2015. "Workplace Bullying and Mental Health: A Meta-Analysis on Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Data," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(8), pages 1-16, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0135225
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0135225
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    1. Zhenduo Zhang & Li Zhang & Xiaoqian Zu & Tiansen Liu & Junwei Zheng, 2019. "From Neighboring Behavior to Mental Health in the Community: The Role of Gender and Work-Family Conflict," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-15, June.
    2. Georges Steffgen & Philipp E. Sischka & Martha Fernandez de Henestrosa, 2020. "The Quality of Work Index and the Quality of Employment Index: A Multidimensional Approach of Job Quality and Its Links to Well-Being at Work," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-31, October.
    3. Vincenzo Alfano & Tiziana Ramaci & Alfonso Landolfi & Alessandro Lo Presti & Massimiliano Barattucci, 2021. "Gender Patterns in Mobbing Victims: Differences in Negative Act Perceptions, MMPI Personality Profile, Perceived Quality of Life, and Suicide Risk," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-19, February.
    4. Gülüm Özer & Yannick Griep & Jordi Escartín, 2022. "A Matter of Health? A 24-Week Daily and Weekly Diary Study on Workplace Bullying Perpetrators’ Psychological and Physical Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-20, December.
    5. Robyn Considine & Ross Tynan & Carole James & John Wiggers & Terry Lewin & Kerry Inder & David Perkins & Tonelle Handley & Brian Kelly, 2017. "The Contribution of Individual, Social and Work Characteristics to Employee Mental Health in a Coal Mining Industry Population," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(1), pages 1-15, January.
    6. Węziak-Białowolska, Dorota & Białowolski, Piotr & McNeely, Eileen, 2020. "The impact of workplace harassment and domestic violence on work outcomes in the developing world," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    7. Liana S. Leach & Lay San Too & Philip J. Batterham & Kim M. Kiely & Helen Christensen & Peter Butterworth, 2020. "Workplace Bullying and Suicidal Ideation: Findings from an Australian Longitudinal Cohort Study of Mid-Aged Workers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-12, February.
    8. Jos F. Brosschot & Bart Verkuil & Julian F. Thayer, 2018. "Generalized Unsafety Theory of Stress: Unsafe Environments and Conditions, and the Default Stress Response," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-27, March.
    9. Ilaria Buonomo & Caterina Fiorilli & Luciano Romano & Paula Benevene, 2020. "The Roles of Work-Life Conflict and Gender in the Relationship between Workplace Bullying and Personal Burnout. A Study on Italian School Principals," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-17, November.
    10. Peta Miller & Libby Brook & Norman Stomski & Graeme Ditchburn & Paul Morrison, 2020. "Bullying in Fly-In-Fly-Out employees in the Australian resources sector: A cross-sectional study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(3), pages 1-16, March.
    11. Yiqiong Li & Michelle R. Tuckey & Annabelle M. Neall & Alice Rose & Lauren Wilson, 2023. "Changing the Underlying Conditions Relevant to Workplace Bullying through Organisational Redesign," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-27, February.
    12. Cokkie Verschuren & Maria Tims & Annet H. De Lange, 2023. "Beyond Bullying, Aggression, Discrimination, and Social Safety: Development of an Integrated Negative Work Behavior Questionnaire (INWBQ)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(16), pages 1-24, August.
    13. Fernando R. Feijó & Débora D. Gräf & Neil Pearce & Anaclaudia G. Fassa, 2019. "Risk Factors for Workplace Bullying: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-25, May.
    14. Elena Schwarz & Birgitta Schiller & Kathrin Moertl & Katja Weimer & Marlene Eisele & Johanna Kauderer & Falko Papenfuss & Harald Guendel & Michael Hoelzer, 2019. "Long-Term Attitude Change After a Single-Day Manager Training Addressing Mental Health at the Workplace," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-14, December.
    15. Gülüm Özer & Yannick Griep & Jordi Escartín, 2022. "The Relationship between Organizational Environment and Perpetrators’ Physical and Psychological State: A Three-Wave Longitudinal Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-19, March.

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