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International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health

Open Access 15-04-2024 | Original Article

Leaders as the targets of workplace bullying - prevalence and outcomes

Authors: Morten Birkeland Nielsen, Mariama Cham Evensen, Sana Parveen, Live Bakke Finne

Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health

Abstract

Purpose

Bullying of leaders is an underexplored topic in organizational research. To fill this knowledge gap, the aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of bullying of leaders and to examine whether holding a formal leadership position influences the relationships between exposure to bullying and the outcomes job satisfaction and depression.

Methods

Data from two separate surveys were employed: (1) A cross-sectional occupation specific sample comprising 678 Norwegian child welfare social workers; (2) A nationally representative probability sample of 1,608 Norwegian employees with two time-points (6 months’ time-lag).

Results

Analyzing multiple indicators of workplace bullying, holding a formal leadership position had no impact on the initial risk of being bullied. Analyses of prospective data showed that leaders report a somewhat stronger increase in levels of bullying over time compared to non-leaders, although the effect size was small. With exception of a small buffering effect on the cross-sectional association between exposure to bullying behaviors and job satisfaction in the second sample, holding a leadership position had no effect on the strength of the association between bullying and outcomes.

Conclusion

The findings show that leaders have the same risk of being bullied and are influenced by bullying in roughly the same manner as non-leaders. Organizational measures and interventions against bullying should therefore consider leaders as a risk group in line with other employees.

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Title: Leaders as the targets of workplace bullying - prevalence and outcomes
Authors: Morten Birkeland Nielsen
Mariama Cham Evensen
Sana Parveen
Live Bakke Finne
Publication date: 15-04-2024
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health
Print ISSN: 0340-0131
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1246
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-024-02066-y

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Leaders as the targets of workplace bullying - prevalence and outcomes

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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