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Indian Perspectives on Workplace Bullying pp 33–57Cite as

Workplace Bullying and Physical Ill-Health: Role of Negative Emotions and Perceived Organizational Support

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Abstract

Workplace bullying is a phenomenon involving frequent and prolonged exposure to negative behaviours at work. Researchers have identified the negative influence of workplace bullying on the physical health of employees. The study reported in this chapter examines the underlying mechanism in the relationship between workplace bullying and physical ill-health, testing the mediating role of negative emotions. The study explores the role of perceived organizational support (POS) in moderating the direct relationship between workplace bullying and physical ill-health in the presence of negative emotions as the mediator. The data were collected from 425 information technology professionals in India. The results from partial least squares (PLS) structural equation modelling (SEM) and PROCESS tool show that negative emotions partially mediated the relationship between workplace bullying and physical ill-health. The study results provide evidence of the moderation effect of POS in the direct relationship between workplace bullying and physical ill-health in the presence of the mediator. However, the significant positive moderation effect of POS draws attention to the fact that even with high levels of POS, the influence of workplace bullying on physical ill-health was not controlled. Future studies can explore the role of personality characteristics of the victims and POS in moderating the relationship between workplace bullying and physical ill-health.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Management, Saintgits Institute of Management, Kottayam, India

    Mariam Ciby

  2. Department of Management Studies, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, India

    R. P. Raya

Authors
  1. Mariam Ciby
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  2. R. P. Raya
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Organizational Behaviour, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad Organizational Behaviour, Ahmedabad, India

    Premilla D'Cruz

  2. Organisation Behaviour, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad Organisation Behaviour, Ahmedabad, India

    Ernesto Noronha

  3. Organizational Behaviour, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad Organizational Behaviour, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

    Avina Mendonca

  4. Organizational Behaviour, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad Organizational Behaviour, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

    Nidhi Mishra

Appendix: Workplace Bullying Questionnaire - 30 items NAQ (Ciby 2016)

Appendix: Workplace Bullying Questionnaire - 30 items NAQ (Ciby 2016)

Please indicate how often you experience the following behaviours in the workplace in the past 6 months on a scale of 1, never; 2, rarely; 3, monthly once or twice; 4, weekly once; and 5, daily.

1.

Being ordered to work below your level of competence

2.

Spreading of gossip and rumours about you

3.

Repeated reminders of your errors or mistakes

4.

Somebody grabbing your challenging assignments (e.g. onsite assignments)

5.

Having your opinions ignored

6.

Somebody withholding your career development opportunities

7.

Being ignored or excluded

8.

Being given tasks with unreasonable deadlines

9.

Being pressurized not to claim something, to which by right you are entitled (e.g. sick leave, holiday entitlement, travel expenses)

10.

Having insulting or offensive remarks about your person, attitudes or private life

11.

Being exposed to an unmanageable workload

12.

Insulting remarks or behaviour with reference to your native language or race

13.

Being degraded or ridiculed in connection with your work

14.

Somebody causes you economic damages (e.g. borrowing money and not returning)

15.

Intimidating behaviours (e.g. finger-pointing, blocking your way)

16.

Having key areas of responsibility removed or replaced with unpleasant tasks

17.

Persistent criticism of your errors or mistakes

18.

Being ignored or an unfriendly reaction when you approach

19.

Threats of making your life difficult

20.

Funny stories carried out by people you don’t get along with

21.

Hints from others that you should quit your job

22.

Being the subject of excessive teasing and sarcasm

23.

Being shouted at or being the target of spontaneous anger

24.

Someone withholding information which affects your performance

25.

Excessive monitoring of your work

26.

Somebody tries to deliberately damage or obstruct your performance

27.

Threats of violence or physical abuse

28.

Somebody taking ownership of your work without giving due credit

29.

Having allegations made against you

30.

Getting insulting e-mails or telephone calls

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Ciby, M., Raya, R.P. (2018). Workplace Bullying and Physical Ill-Health: Role of Negative Emotions and Perceived Organizational Support. In: D'Cruz, P., Noronha, E., Mendonca, A., Mishra, N. (eds) Indian Perspectives on Workplace Bullying. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-1017-1_2

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