Workplace Bullying in Academia Creates a Negative Work Environment. An Italian Study

Employee Responsibilities and Rights Journal volume 24, pages261–275(2012)Cite this article

Abstract

Workplace bullying is recognized internationally as a serious problem, but few studies have been conducted in Academia to assess the risk of bullying. A survey was taken in a large-sized Italian university to identify possible relationships between working environment, bullying at work and health. The aim of the current study is to show that workplace bullying has an indirect relationship with health through organizational climate. Over 300 Italian employees completed a survey on organizational environment, bullying and health. Structural equation modelling was used in order to test the hypothesis. A model of bullying at work was developed in which bullying influence health both directly and indirectly through the partial mediation of organizational climate. Overall, these findings suggest that bullying can be considered also as a cause, rather than a consequence of organizational climate.

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  1. Department of Psychology, Università Europea di Roma, Via degli Aldobrandeschi, 190 00163, Rome, Italy

    Gabriele Giorgi

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  1. Gabriele Giorgi
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Correspondence to Gabriele Giorgi.

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Giorgi, G. Workplace Bullying in Academia Creates a Negative Work Environment. An Italian Study. Employ Respons Rights J 24, 261–275 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10672-012-9193-7

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Key words

  • Workplace bullying
  • Organizational health
  • Academia
  • Organizational climate
  • Management