Predictors of Workplace Bullying and Cyber-Bullying in New Zealand

Dianne Gardner, Michael O’Driscoll, Helena D. Cooper-Thomas, Maree Roche, Tim Bentley, Bevan Catley, Stephen T. T. Teo and Linda Trenberth
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Dianne Gardner: School of Psychology, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
Michael O’Driscoll: School of Psychology, University of Waikato, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand
Helena D. Cooper-Thomas: School of Psychology, University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
Maree Roche: School of Psychology, University of Waikato, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand
Tim Bentley: School of Management, Massey University, Palmerston North 0745, New Zealand
Bevan Catley: School of Management, Massey University, Palmerston North 0745, New Zealand
Stephen T. T. Teo: School of Management, RMIT University, Melbourne 3001, Australia
Linda Trenberth: Griffith Business School, Griffith University, Queensland 4111, Australia

IJERPH, 2016, vol. 13, issue 5, 1-14

Abstract: Background : The negative effects of in-person workplace bullying (WB) are well established. Less is known about cyber-bullying (CB), in which negative behaviours are mediated by technology. Drawing on the conservation of resources theory, the current research examined how individual and organisational factors were related to WB and CB at two time points three months apart. Methods : Data were collected by means of an online self-report survey. Eight hundred and twenty-six respondents (58% female, 42% male) provided data at both time points. Results : One hundred and twenty-three (15%) of participants had been bullied and 23 (2.8%) of participants had been cyber-bullied within the last six months. Women reported more WB, but not more CB, than men. Worse physical health, higher strain, more destructive leadership, more team conflict and less effective organisational strategies were associated with more WB. Managerial employees experienced more CB than non-managerial employees. Poor physical health, less organisational support and less effective organisational strategies were associated with more CB. Conclusion : Rates of CB were lower than those of WB, and very few participants reported experiencing CB without also experiencing WB. Both forms of bullying were associated with poorer work environments, indicating that, where bullying is occurring, the focus should be on organisational systems and processes.

Keywords: conservation of resources; bullying; cyber-bullying (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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