148P
Workplace Bullying: An Emerging Concern
Workplace bullying is a global and growing phenomenon that has received little attention in the US. It is defined as the regular and sustained use of aggressive, intimidating negative acts of a bully towards one or more victims who are unable to adequately defend themselves, due to an imbalance of power, that results in psychological or physical harm to the victim and in some cases, to bystanders. Victims of bullying have reported a number of physical, psychological, cognitive, and social effects as a result of bullying behaviors in the workplace including headaches, backaches, insomnia, digestive problems, fatigue, psychosomatic illnesses, stress, depression, lowered self-esteem, humiliation, loss of self-confidence, frustration, anger, confusion, feelings of powerlessness, fear, self-hatred, suicidal and homicidal thoughts, despair, and post-traumatic stress disorders (Ayoka et al., 2003; Bjorkqvist et al., 1994; Cowie et al., 2002; Leymann, 1990; McAvoy & Murtagh, 2003; Mikkelsen & Einarsen 2002, 2002b; Niedhammer, David & Degioanni, 2006), making it a major public health concern.
Methods:
This exploratory study assesses the extent to which 152 social workers in nursing homes from a single Southeastern state were exposed to bullying. Bullying perpetrated by employees of these organizations, as well as clients and their families were considered. Bullying was measured with the Negative Acts Questionnaire, Revised Short Form. Characteristics associated with bullying were measured with the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale and basic demographic and facility level information. Data was analyzed using regression analysis on SPSS version 21.
Results:
Findings revealed a third of those sampled had been exposed to negative acts resembling bullying from other employees and a quarter had been exposed to bullying behaviors from clients and/or their families. This prevalence rate far exceeds the 9% reported by the greater US workforce according to the Workplace Bullying Institute (2010).
A number of characteristics were associated with bullying. In terms of facility level characteristics, larger facilities saw greater levels of bullying behaviors than smaller facilities and not-for-profit/government facilities saw greater levels of bullying than for-profit facilities. In terms of personal level characteristics, females experienced more bullying than males and whites experienced more bullying than nonwhites. Age was also associated with bullying with younger social workers experiencing greater levels of exposure to bullying from clients. Several dimensions of work engagement and burnout were also associated with bullying. Increased depersonalization, emotional exhaustion and lower levels of personal accomplishment and dedication were linked with bullying.
Conclusions & Implications:
Given the nature of our work, all social workers should be educated and trained to recognize workplace bullying, manage relations with workplace bullies and to protect themselves from the harmful biopsychosocial effects of workplace bullying with self-care measures. This research forwards our understanding of social worker exposure to bullying behaviors in the nursing home work environment, but raises questions about social workers in other environments as well. As social work educators, researchers, practitioners and policy makers, greater attention should be directed toward this serious problem in order to protect workers from the detrimental effects of bullies.