The Role of Psychological Stress Reactions in the Longitudinal Relation Between Workplace Bullying and Turnover

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% CI3.18–7.55; 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.