Work-unit measures of psychosocial job stressors and onset of bullying: a 2-year follow-up study.

OBJECTIVES: Numerous studies have examined the health consequences of workplace bullying, but little is known about workplace antecedents of workplace bullying. This study examines whether high psychological demands, low levels of justice at work, and low decision latitude increase the occurrence of being bullied or witnessing bullying. METHODS: In 2007, 4489 Danish public employees answered a questionnaire with follow-ups in 2009 (72%) and 2011 (73% of 2009 respondents). We examined the longitudinal association between exposure to job stressors in 2007 and 2009 and bullying in 2009 and 2011, respectively, on an individual and work-unit level. For each working condition (psychological demands, decision latitude, procedural and relational justice), we calculated a mean value. Odds ratios were calculated by logistic regression. RESULTS: Low levels of individual-level relational justice, compared to high levels, were associated with a higher risk of both witnessing episodes of bullying (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.11-2.48) and perceiving oneself as a target of bullying (OR 2.21, 95% CI 1.17-4.16). Low levels of work-unit level relational justice were associated with a higher risk of witnessing bullying (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.04-2.30) but not perceiving oneself as a target of bullying. The other workplace characteristics exhibited no or less consistent associations across the different analytical approaches. CONCLUSION: Low levels of relational justice prospectively predicted the occurrence of workplace bullying within a 2-year period for three out of four methodological approaches, suggesting that relational justice plays a role in the prevention of workplace bullying.

Exposure to workplace violence and threats and risk of depression: a prospective study.

OBJECTIVES: Several studies have examined the health consequences of workplace threats and violence, however, due to methodological issues the epidemiological evidence is limited. The purpose of this study was to examine the prospective association between self-labelled exposure to work-related threats and violence and the risk of depression, measured by a standardized psychiatric interview and new prescriptions of anti-depressive medication. METHODS: Employees were recruited from the Danish PRISME cohort established in 2007 where 4489 Danish public employees answered a postal questionnaire with follow-ups in 2009 and 2011. In all three waves, depression was diagnosed by clinical interviews with the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN). In addition, we ascertained prescription of anti-depressive medication from a national register. Using logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard models, we estimated the association between exposure to threats and violence at baseline and SCAN depression and prescription of anti-depressive medication during two years of follow-up. RESULTS: Self-labelled exposure to work-related threats and violence was associated with a risk of SCAN diagnosed depression two years later, odds ratios (OR) 2.20 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.13-4.28] and OR 2.11 (95% CI 1.05-4.24), respectively, with indication of a dose-response. Self-labelled exposure to work-related threats and violence was associated with prescription of anti-depressive medication in a two-year period, hazard ratios (HR) 2.55 (95% CI 1.47-4.40) and HR 1.47 (95% CI 0.70-3.06), respectively. CONCLUSION: Exposure to work-related threats or violence is associated with an increased risk of depression two years later, measured with a psychiatric interview and register data on prescribed antidepressants.

Work-related exposure to violence or threats and risk of mental disorders and symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective This review aimed to examine systematically the epidemiological evidence linking work-related exposure to violence and threats thereof with risk of mental disorders and mental ill-health symptoms. Methods We searched PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO and Web of Science to identify original studies that provide quantitative risk estimates. The evidence was weighted according to completeness of reporting, potential common method bias, and bias due to differential selection and drop out, selective reporting, and misclassification of exposure and outcome. Results We identified 14 cross-sectional and 10 cohort studies with eligible risk estimates, of which 4 examined depressive disorder and reported an elevated risk among the exposed [pooled relative risk (RR) 1.42, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.31-1.54, I 2=0%]. The occurrence of depressive and anxiety symptoms, burnout and psychological distress was examined in 17 studies (pooled RR 2.33, 95% CI 3.17, I 2=42%), and 3 studies examined risk of sleep disturbance (pooled RR 1.22, 95% CI 1.09-1.37, I2=0%). In most studies, common method bias and confounding could not be ruled out with confidence and strong heterogeneity in most outcome definitions invalidate the strict interpretation of most pooled risk estimates. Conclusion The reviewed studies consistently indicate associations between workplace violence and mental health problems. However, due to methodological limitations the causal associations (if any) may be stronger or weaker than the ones reported in this study. Prospective studies with independent and validated reporting of exposure and outcome and repeated follow-up with relevant intervals are highly warranted.