PT Journal AU Finne, LB Knardahl, S Lau, B TI Workplace bullying and mental distress – a prospective study of Norwegian employees SO Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health PD 7VL PY 2011 BP 276 EP 287 IS 4 DI 10.5271/sjweh.3156 WP https://www.sjweh.fi/show_abstract.php?abstract_id=3156 DE harassment; longitudinal; mental distress; Norway; Norwegian employee; occupational; prospective study; psychological health; workplace bullying SN 0355-3140 AB '

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OBJECTIVES ': 'Using a prospective design, the objective of this study was to determine the relationship between workplace bullying and mental distress.

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METHODS ': 'Altogether, 1971 Norwegian employees, recruited from 20 organizations, answered questions regarding workplace bullying and mental distress at both baseline and follow-up. Baseline data were gathered between 2004–2006, and follow-up data were gathered between 2006–2009. The time-lag between baseline and follow-up was approximately two years for all the respondents in all the organizations. The factors measured in the study were individual characteristics, mental distress measured with the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL-10), self-reported workplace bullying measured with a single item from the General Nordic Questionnaire for Psychological and Social Factors at Work (QPSNordic) and job demands and job control assessed by QPSNordic.

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RESULTS ': 'A multiple linear regression analysis adjusted for mental distress, sex, age, job demands and job control at baseline [β=0.05, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.03–0.17] and a repeated measures ANOVA adjusted for sex and age [F(3,1965)=38.37; partial η2=0.06] showed that workplace bullying predicted mental distress. Furthermore, a multiple binary logistic regression analysis adjusted for bullying, sex, age, job demands and job control at baseline [odds ratio (OR) 2.30, 95% CI 1.43–3.69] showed that mental distress was a predictor of bullying.

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CONCLUSIONS ': 'We found support for the notion that self-reported workplace bullying is a predictor of mental distress two years later. Bullying had an independent effect on mental distress after adjusting for job demands and job control. Mental distress was also found to be a predictor of bullying, indicating that the reverse relationship is also important.

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