Cross-domain consequences of workplace bullying: A multi-source daily diary study

Alfredo Rodríguez-Muñoz, Mirko Antino, Ana I. Sanz-Vergel

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35 Citations (Scopus)
23 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

In this multi-source daily diary study we examine the effect of exposure to workplace bullying behaviors on family domain outcomes (conflicts at home, relationship satisfaction), and the mediating role that psychological detachment and affective distress play in this relationship. A sample of 68 employees and their spouses filled in a quantitative diary for 5 consecutive working days twice a day (N occasions = 680). Multilevel analyses showed that daily workplace bullying positively predicted both self-report and spouse-report conflicts at home, and daily psychological detachment mediated this relationship. In addition, daily affective distress was the mediator only for self-report conflicts at home. Further, it was found an indirect effect of both affective distress and detachment on the relationship between bullying and self-reported relationship satisfaction. Detachment also showed an indirect role in the association between bullying and spouse-reported relationship satisfaction. To our knowledge, this is one of the first studies in showing that negative effects of workplace bullying go beyond the work setting and beyond the employee. Moreover, this study adds to an emerging line of research exploring how daily negative work experiences are transferred to and interferes with the non-work domain. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)297-314
Number of pages18
JournalWork & Stress
Volume31
Issue number3
Early online date29 May 2017
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2017

Keywords

  • Within-person effects
  • workplace bullying
  • affective distress
  • psychological detachment
  • spillover

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