The role of hardiness in the bullying-mental health relationship.

Background: Workplace bullying has consistently been found to predict mental health problems among those affected. However, less attention has been given to personal dispositions as possible moderators in this relationship. Aims: To investigate the moderating role of individual hardiness in the relationship between exposure to bullying behaviours and symptoms of anxiety and depression, respectively, assuming that high hardiness, being an individual stress resilience factor, acts as a buffer in these relationships. Methods: Survey data were gathered in 2016-17, among land-based employees in a Norwegian oil and gas company. Participants completed a questionnaire electronically via a link sent to their work e-mail. The PROCESS macro SPSS supplement was used to analyse the proposed relationships, with mean-centred variables. Results: Altogether, 275 participated in the study (46% response rate). High hardiness acted as a buffer in the bullying-anxiety relationship, in that hardy individuals did not experience increased levels of anxiety when facing bullying behaviours. Low levels of hardiness, on the other hand, acted as an enhancement factor, in that the bullying-anxiety relationship was strengthened for this group. Contrary to expectations, hardiness did not act as a buffer in the bullying-depression relationship. Conclusions: Hardy individuals were less likely to report anxiety in response to bullying than non-hardy workers, a finding with important practical implications. Yet, regardless of who is affected, managers should focus on good strategies to intervene when bullying is detected, and stress resilience training should be considered as part of these strategies.

Prospective relationships between workplace sexual harassment and psychological distress.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to workplace sexual harassment (SH) has been associated with impaired mental health, but longitudinal studies confirming the relationship are lacking. AIMS: To examine gender differences in prospective associations between SH and psychological distress. METHODS: Baseline questionnaire survey data were collected in 2005 in a representative sample of Norwegian employees. Follow-up data were collected in 2007. SH was measured with the Bergen Sexual Harassment Scale. Psychological distress was measured with the 25 item Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL-25) with cases of psychological distress defined as having a mean score of <1.75. Variables were measured at both baseline and follow-up. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyse data. RESULTS: Response rates were 57% in 2005 and 75% in 2007 when the final cohort comprised 1775 respondents. After adjusting for baseline distress and age, exposure to SH at baseline was associated with psychological distress at follow-up among women [odds ratio (OR): 2.03; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.2-3.39] but not men (OR: 1.32; 95% CI: 0.72-2.43). Baseline distress was significantly related to SH at follow-up among men (OR: 3.03; 95% CI: 1.74-5.26) but not women (OR: 1.15; 95% CI: 0.69-1.92). CONCLUSIONS: The study found that SH contributed to subsequent psychological distress among women. Workplace measures against SH would be expected to lead to a reduction in mental disorders. The finding that psychological distress predicts SH among men may indicate either a vulnerability factor or a negative perception mechanism.

Harassment in the workplace and the victimization of men.

Harassment and victimization among male workers were studied in a sample of 460 industrial workers, supervisors and managers within a Norwegian marine engineering industry. The results indicated that aggression and harassment are significant problems in this organizational setting. On a weekly basis, 7% of the men reported being subjected to at least one of the following behaviors from coworkers or supervisors: ridicule and insulting teasing, verbal abuse, rumors and gossips spread about themselves, offending remarks, recurring reminders on blunders, hostility or silence when entering a conversation, or the devaluing of one's effort and work. As many as 22% reported being subjected to one or more of these acts at least monthly. Although such acts and conducts are common and experienced by most organization members now and then, they may significantly impair psychological health and well-being as well as overall job satisfaction when occurring consistently and systematically. Significant correlations were found between exposure to harassment and both job satisfaction and psychological health and well-being. Strong correlations were found between exposure to harassment and dissatisfaction with co-worker interaction.