Workplace bullying, perceived job stressors, and psychological distress: Gender and race differences in the stress process

TitleWorkplace bullying, perceived job stressors, and psychological distress: Gender and race differences in the stress process
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2017
AuthorsAttell, BK, Brown, KKummerow, Treiber, LA
JournalSocial Science Research
Volume65
Pagination210-221
ISSN Number0049089X
KeywordsEmployment and Labor Force, Gender Differences, Job stressors, Racial/ethnic differences, Women and Minorities
Abstract

A large body of empirical research documents the adverse mental health consequences of workplace bullying. However, less is known about gender and race differences in the processes that link workplace bullying and poor mental health. In the current study, we use structural equation modeling of survey data from the 2010 Health and Retirement Study (N = 2292) and draw on stress process theory to examine coworker support as a buffering mechanism against workplace bullying, and gender and race differences in the relationships between bullying and psychological distress. The results of the analysis indicate that coworker support serves as a protective buffer against workplace bullying, although the buffering effect is relatively small. We also find that the effects of workplace bullying more heavily impact women and persons of color. Specifically, women and African American individuals in our sample were less protected from the buffering mechanism of co-worker social support.

URLhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0049089X16305087
DOI10.1016/j.ssresearch.2017.02.001
Short TitleSocial Science Research
Citation Key9035