The influence of personality traits on the relationship between bullying at work and health complaints

M. Pouwelse; H. Populaire; T. Völlink

Abstract

Bullying at work is widespread and could have negative health outcomes for the employees. Literature about the influence of the personality of the victims is scarce. This online survey among 2650 Belgian government employees (age range 18-65, response rate = 41%, 36 % male, 64 % female) investigated, starting from the Michigan Stress Model, the relationships between the Big Five personality traits, being bullied at the workplace, and physical health complaints. Based on the original definition of Olweus (1993), bullying is defined in this paper as the repeated, systematic, intentional negative behavior of one or more individuals directed at another individual. A distinction was made between person-related bullying, e.g. giving names, insulting and gossiping, and work-related bullying, e.g. giving unreasonable deadlines or too much or too few work. Validated self-report questionnaires were used. Bullying was measured with the Negative Acts Questionnaire (NAQ,a=.92), the personality traits with the NEO-Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI,a= .88 – .94 ), and physical health complaints with the Dutch version (VOEG) of the Questionnaire Research Experienced Health (a=.88). Hierarchical regression analysis showed that both work-related bullying and person-related bullying influence reported physical health negatively. Contrary to our hypothesis the personality traits don’t moderate this relationships. In addition it was found that the personality traits neuroticism and conscientiousness effect the relationship between being bullied and health complaints indirectly (= mediation). In the case of personal bullying there was a full mediation of neuroticism and conscientiousness and in the case of workplace bullying a partly mediation of neuroticism. These results illustrate the need for future studies into the influence of personality traits on victimized employees and show the relevance of the difference between person-related and work-related bullying.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Psychology Abstracts
Subtitle of host publication	Sevent Annual International Conference on Psychology 27 May 2013, Athens, Greece
Editors	Gregory T. Papanikos
Place of Publication	Athens, Greece
Publisher	Athens Institute for Education and Research
Pages	68
Number of pages	1
ISBN (Electronic)	978-960-9549-54-7
Publication status	Published - 2013
Event	7th International Conference on Psychology - Titania Hotel, Athens, Greece Duration: 27 May 2013 → 30 May 2013

Conference

Conference	7th International Conference on Psychology
Country/Territory	Greece
City	Athens
Period	27/05/13 → 30/05/13

Keywords

workplace bullying
personality traits
health complaints

Cite this

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title = "The influence of personality traits on the relationship between bullying at work and health complaints",

abstract = "Bullying at work is widespread and could have negative health outcomes for the employees. Literature about the influence of the personality of the victims is scarce. This online survey among 2650 Belgian government employees (age range 18-65, response rate = 41\%, 36 \% male, 64 \% female) investigated, starting from the Michigan Stress Model, the relationships between the Big Five personality traits, being bullied at the workplace, and physical health complaints. Based on the original definition of Olweus (1993), bullying is defined in this paper as the repeated, systematic, intentional negative behavior of one or more individuals directed at another individual. A distinction was made between person-related bullying, e.g. giving names, insulting and gossiping, and work-related bullying, e.g. giving unreasonable deadlines or too much or too few work. Validated self-report questionnaires were used. Bullying was measured with the Negative Acts Questionnaire (NAQ,a=.92), the personality traits with the NEO-Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI,a= .88 – .94 ), and physical health complaints with the Dutch version (VOEG) of the Questionnaire Research Experienced Health (a=.88). Hierarchical regression analysis showed that both work-related bullying and person-related bullying influence reported physical health negatively. Contrary to our hypothesis the personality traits don{\textquoteright}t moderate this relationships. In addition it was found that the personality traits neuroticism and conscientiousness effect the relationship between being bullied and health complaints indirectly (= mediation). In the case of personal bullying there was a full mediation of neuroticism and conscientiousness and in the case of workplace bullying a partly mediation of neuroticism. These results illustrate the need for future studies into the influence of personality traits on victimized employees and show the relevance of the difference between person-related and work-related bullying.",

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Pouwelse, M, Populaire, H & Völlink, T 2013, The influence of personality traits on the relationship between bullying at work and health complaints. in GT Papanikos (ed.), Psychology Abstracts: Sevent Annual International Conference on Psychology 27 May 2013, Athens, Greece. Athens Institute for Education and Research, Athens, Greece, pp. 68, 7th International Conference on Psychology, Athens, Greece, 27/05/13.

The influence of personality traits on the relationship between bullying at work and health complaints. / Pouwelse, M.; Populaire, H.; Völlink, T.
Psychology Abstracts: Sevent Annual International Conference on Psychology 27 May 2013, Athens, Greece. ed. / Gregory T. Papanikos. Athens, Greece: Athens Institute for Education and Research, 2013. p. 68.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference Abstract/Poster in proceeding › peer-review

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AB - Bullying at work is widespread and could have negative health outcomes for the employees. Literature about the influence of the personality of the victims is scarce. This online survey among 2650 Belgian government employees (age range 18-65, response rate = 41%, 36 % male, 64 % female) investigated, starting from the Michigan Stress Model, the relationships between the Big Five personality traits, being bullied at the workplace, and physical health complaints. Based on the original definition of Olweus (1993), bullying is defined in this paper as the repeated, systematic, intentional negative behavior of one or more individuals directed at another individual. A distinction was made between person-related bullying, e.g. giving names, insulting and gossiping, and work-related bullying, e.g. giving unreasonable deadlines or too much or too few work. Validated self-report questionnaires were used. Bullying was measured with the Negative Acts Questionnaire (NAQ,a=.92), the personality traits with the NEO-Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI,a= .88 – .94 ), and physical health complaints with the Dutch version (VOEG) of the Questionnaire Research Experienced Health (a=.88). Hierarchical regression analysis showed that both work-related bullying and person-related bullying influence reported physical health negatively. Contrary to our hypothesis the personality traits don’t moderate this relationships. In addition it was found that the personality traits neuroticism and conscientiousness effect the relationship between being bullied and health complaints indirectly (= mediation). In the case of personal bullying there was a full mediation of neuroticism and conscientiousness and in the case of workplace bullying a partly mediation of neuroticism. These results illustrate the need for future studies into the influence of personality traits on victimized employees and show the relevance of the difference between person-related and work-related bullying.

KW - workplace bullying

KW - personality traits

KW - health complaints

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M3 - Conference Abstract/Poster in proceeding

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BT - Psychology Abstracts

A2 - Papanikos, Gregory T.

PB - Athens Institute for Education and Research

CY - Athens, Greece

T2 - 7th International Conference on Psychology

Y2 - 27 May 2013 through 30 May 2013

ER -

The influence of personality traits on the relationship between bullying at work and health complaints

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