1. The role of bullying at work in explaining stress and well-being at work Guy Notelaers 1,2 Hans De Witte 1 Stale Einarsen 3 1: Leuven University, Department of Psychology, Research Group on Stress, Health and Well-being, Belgium 2: DIOVA-DIRACT Federal Government, Labour Department, Belgium 3: Bergen University, Department of Psychology, Norway European Congress Work and Organisational Psychology, Istanbul, 2005

2. 0. Outline Review of current research Data & measurement instruments Methodology : how to address this issue Results –Bivariate analysis of consequences of bullying –Multivariate analysis within SEM Discussion

3. 1. Review of current research Strains : –Emotional reactions (Bjorkvist et al., 1994; Rayner, 1999; Zapf, 1999b), –Psychosomatic complaints (Zapf, Knorz & Kulla, 1996, Mikkelsen & Einarsen, 2002b ; Halama & Mökkel, Leymann & Gustafsson, 1996), –Anxiety (Janoff-Bulman, 1992; Bjorkvist et al., 1994; Asforth, 1994; Zapf, 199b, O’Moore, 1998, Mackensen von Astfeld, 2000, Niedl 1996), –Recovery need (Hubert, 2001) –Quality of sleep (Bjorkvist et al., 1994; Zapf, Knorz & Kulla, 1996, Leymann & Gustafsson, 1996) Disorders –General Anxiety Disorder (Leymann & Gustafsson, 1996) –Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (Leymann & Gustafsson, 1996; Romanov, et al., 1996; Bjorkvist, et al., 1994; Einarsen, et al., 1998) –Prolonged Stress Disorder (Mikkelsen & Einarsen, 2001:2002)  Aim: to investigate the relationship between bullying at work and strains.

4. 2. Data During 2003-2004, 4505 questionnaires were collected from 13 companies –Average age of respondents: 40 years (std deviation = 12,5). –Average tenure is eleven years (std deviation = 10,3). –65% private sector / 35% government or government institutions.

5. Educational levelLanguage Basic school2.5Dutch57 Lower secondary9.9French43 Higher secondary29 higher education24 university28Working regime post graduate6.9during the day81 Shift work13 Hours work / weekirregular service5 less than 25 hours5.4nightshift0 between 25 hours and 4063 between 41 and 48 hours20contract more than 48 hours12fixed85 temporary7,2 Other type of contract 5.8 GenderManagerial position female39Yes20 male61No80

6. 3. Measurement instruments Stressors and strains: the VBBA, a 26 dimensional, validated questionnaire (van Veldhoven & Meijman, 1994) Bullying at work: the NAQ, (only 17 items), validated for French and Dutch speaking respondents (Notelaers, et. al, 2004)

7. 4. Methodology Bivariate analysis with total scales from the VBBA and the total item list of the NAQ –Items of the NAQ were not dichomized. Following Mikkelsen & Einarsen (2001;2002) we summed the items … assuming a uni-dimensional measurement (the same holds for the VBBA scales) Multivariate analysis within SEM (Lisrel 8.54) –For modelling purposes the number of items of the NAQ and the VBBA-scales were reduced in LISREL in order to obtain unique factors

8. –Multivariate analysis : research strategy Split half design –One part to explore a model (exploratory phase) –One part to test a model (confirmatory phase) Exploratory analysis –Start is the regression model (Notelaers et al., 2003, 2004) –Interaction between modification indices and stress theories to decide on new paths –Model evaluation by Δ  ² with Δdf (nested models) and AIC / CAIC (non nested models) Confirmatory analysis : see whether model from exploratory analysis fits the data –Exact fit evaluation by  ² with a certain number of df –Approximate fit evaluation by RMSEA

9. 5. Results 5.1. Bivariate analysis - correlation analysis - t-test 5.2. Multivariate analysis - full model - antecedents of bullying - consequences of bullying - antecedents and consequences of bullying and stress 5.3 Conclusion

10. 5.1.1 Bivariate results : correlation matrix bullying at work 1 workload -0,21***1 participation -0,36***0,04**1 role conflict -0,5***0,33***0,32***1 role ambiguity -0,38***0,12***0,49***0,41***1 problems with change at work -0,32***0,33***0,26***0,47***0,34***1 recovery need -0,31***0,44***0,21***0,32***0,22***0,3***1 worrying -0,24***0,35***0,03*0,22***0,13***0,24***0,48***1 sleep quality -0,31***0,25***0,23***0,25***0,19***0,22***0,54***0,44***

11. 5.1.2 Bivariate results t-test SYMP- TOMS OF STRESS ANTE- CE- DENTS OF STRESS AND BULLY- ING

12. Conclusion bivariate analysis Moderate strength of the relationship between bullying and its antecedents and consequences Victims of bullying (operational criterion) report a negative work environment and also an elevated level of strains (LCA approaches show -1 STD)

13. 5.2 Multivariate analysis Full model Fragmentation of the model –Antecedents –Consequences Conclusion

14. 5.2.0 Multivariate analysis of full model(confirmatory step) RMSEA=0.030 Independ. CAIC=122762 Model CAIC = 2466 Saturated CAIC=5483.46 NFI=0.93 CFI=0.93 GFI=0.83 -.44 -. 3 -.08.1.32 -.35 -.12.3.36 -.14.64.07 -.11 -.23.44.2 -.47 -.12.4.22. 39.32 workload role conflict worrying recovery need bullying at work role ambiguit y problems change participat ion level sleep quality

15. 5.2.1 Antecedents of bullying.64.07 -.11 -.23.44.2 -.47 -.12.4.22. 39 workload role conflict bullying at work role ambiguit y problems change participat ion level

16. 5.2.2 Consequences of bullying -.44 -. 3 -.08.32.30.32 worrying recovery need bullying at work sleep quality

17. 5.2.3 Antecedents and consequences of bullying at work (partial picture) -.44 -. 3 -.08.10.32.35 -.12.30.36 -.14 -.11.32 workload worrying recovery need bullying at work participat ion level sleep quality

18. 5.3 Conclusion Bullying at work is explained by ‘role’ problems and by JDC Role conflict is a dominant explanatory variable for bullying Bullying moderates the relationships between role problems and strains Bullying and JD have equal strenght while explaining worrying and recovery need Recovery need and worrying moderates the relationship between bullying and sleep quality

19. Is bullying an extreme stressor? Being a victim of bullying causes extreme stress The process of bullying modelled as a latent variable is has the same importance in explaining strains as the other work characteristics