Citation

Finne LB, Knardahl S, Lau B. Scand. J. Work Environ. Health 2011; 37(4): 276-287.

Affiliation

National Institute of Occupational Health, NO-0033 Oslo, Norway. live.b.finne@stami.no.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Finland Institute of Occupational Health)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

21373722

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Using a prospective design, the objective of this study was to determine the relationship between workplace bullying and mental distress. METHODS: Altogether, 1971 Norwegian employees, recruited from 20 organizations, answered questions regarding workplace bullying and mental distress at both baseline and follow-up. Baseline data were gathered between 2004-2006, and follow-up data were gathered between 2006-2009. The time-lag between baseline and follow-up was approximately two years for all the respondents in all the organizations. The factors measured in the study were individual characteristics, mental distress measured with the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL-10), self-reported workplace bullying measured with a single item from the General Nordic Questionnaire for Psychological and Social Factors at Work (QPSNordic) and job demands and job control assessed by QPSNordic. RESULTS: A hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis [β=0.05, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.03-0.17] and a repeated measures ANOVA [F(3,1965)=38.37; partial η (2)=0.06] showed that workplace bullying predicted mental distress. Furthermore, a multiple binary logistic regression analysis [odds ratio (OR) 2.30, 95% CI 1.43-3.69] showed that mental distress was a predictor of bullying. CONCLUSIONS: We found support for the notion that self-reported workplace bullying is a predictor of mental distress two years later. Bullying had an independent effect on mental distress after adjusting for job demands and job control. Mental distress was also found to be a predictor of bullying, indicating that the reverse relationship is also important.

Language: en