Objectives: To investigate the association between workplace bullying and change of job/unemployment, and to investigate whether psychological stress reactions constitute a potential pathway linking workplace bullying and change of job/unemployment.
Methods: We used questionnaire data on workplace bullying and psychological stress reactions and register data on change of job/unemployment. We applied a multiple pathway approach to estimate the proportion of the association between workplace bullying and subsequent change of job/unemployment that was potentially mediated by psychological stress reactions.
Results: Workplace bullying was associated with risk of change of job (odds ratio [OR] = 1.35; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06–1.72; 24% potentially mediated by psychological stress reactions) and unemployment (OR = 4.90; 95% CI: 3.18–7.55; 19% potentially mediated by psychological stress reactions).
Conclusion: Workplace bullying has important consequences for labor market outcomes. Psychological stress reactions may play a vital role in this process.
Department of Public Health (Drs Nabe-Nielsen, Grynderup, Garde, Ms Török, Dr Hansen); Department of Psychology (Drs Conway, Hogh), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen K; The National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen Ø (Drs Clausen, Garde, Hansen); Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Frederiksberg and Bispebjerg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen NV (Dr Bonde); Research Unit of Clinical Epidemiology, Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M (Dr Kaerlev); Center for Clinical Epidemiology, Odense University Hospital, Odense C (Dr Kaerlev), Denmark.
Address correspondence to: Kirsten Nabe-Nielsen, PhD, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, 1014 Copenhagen K, Denmark (nabe@sund.ku.dk).
Funding: This work was supported by The Danish Working Environment Research Fund (Grant Number 20130023294) and the Danish Council for Independent Research (Grant Number 1319–00092). The funding organs played no role in the collection of data, formulation of study hypothesis, analyses, or interpretation of findings.
Conflict of Interests: None declared.
