The Relationships of Experiencing Workplace Bullying with Mental Health, Affective Commitment, and Job Satisfaction: Application of the Job Demands Control Model

Nicole M. Steele, Bryan Rodgers and Gerard J. Fogarty
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Nicole M. Steele: School of Demography, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia
Bryan Rodgers: School of Demography, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia
Gerard J. Fogarty: Division of Research and Innovation, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, QLD 4350, Australia

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 6, 1-14

Abstract: There have been very few theoretical models published to understand the relationship between workplace bullying and different outcome variables. Applying the Job Demands Control (JDC) model, this study analyzed workplace bullying alongside ‘traditional’ job stressors of role overload and low job control to determine the relative associations of each with mental health and wellbeing. These relative associations have not been well documented. Data were obtained from an organizational climate questionnaire administered to 21 Australian Defence Force units ( n = 3193). Results indicated that the correlations between bullying and psychological distress ( r = 0.39), job satisfaction ( r = −0.28), and affective commitment ( r = −0.22) were all significant and for some outcomes greater than those involving the traditional job stressors. Furthermore, for each of these three outcomes, bullying contributed incremental variance after controlling for other job demands. These results support earlier claims that workplace bullying requires the same attention given to traditional work stressors. The JDC model provides a strong theoretical base to investigate workplace bullying. Testing against other stressors allows for consideration of the broader context of workplace bullying when managing the workforce.

Keywords: bullying; mobbing; psychological distress; commitment; satisfaction; military (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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