Workplace Bullying and Presenteeism: The Path Through Emotional Exhaustion and Psychological Wellbeing

Mariana Neto; Aristides I Ferreira; Luis F Martinez; Paula C Ferreira

doi:10.1093/annweh/wxx022

Workplace Bullying and Presenteeism: The Path Through Emotional Exhaustion and Psychological Wellbeing

Ann Work Expo Health. 2017 Jun 1;61(5):528-538. doi: 10.1093/annweh/wxx022.

Authors

Mariana Neto^{1

2}, Aristides I Ferreira³, Luis F Martinez⁴, Paula C Ferreira^{5

6}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Epidemiology, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Avenida Padre Cruz, Lisbon 1649-016, Portugal.
² ISAMB-Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, Avenida Prof. Egas Moniz, Edifício Egas Moniz, Piso 0, Ala C, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal.
³ Department of Human Resources and Organizational Behavior, ISCTE-Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, Avenida das Forças Armadas, Lisboa 1649-026, Portugal.
⁴ Strategy and Markets Group, Nova School of Business and Economics-Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Campus de Campolide, 1099-032 Lisboa, Portugal.
⁵ CICPSI, Faculty of Psychology, University of Lisbon, Alameda da Universidade, Lisbon 1649-013, Portugal.
⁶ Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, Avenida D. Carlos I, 126, Lisbon 1249-074, Portugal.

PMID: 28371824
DOI: 10.1093/annweh/wxx022

Abstract

Objective: Workplace bullying is an increasing phenomenon that concerns managers and employees. However, few studies have investigated how workplace bullying relates with work-related exhaustion and indicators of productivity loss due to presenteeism. Thus, the aim of the present study was to examine the intervening variables of emotional exhaustion and psychological wellbeing in the direct and indirect relationships between workplace bullying and indicators of productivity loss due to presenteeism.

Method: In a cross-sectional study, we tested a structural equation model using web survey data of 353 workers from a service company, with the variables: workplace bullying (Quine, 1999), emotional exhaustion (Maslach Burnout Inventory; MBI), psychological wellbeing (GHQ-28), and indicators of productivity loss due to presenteeism (SPS-6). All variables presented acceptable psychometric evidence.

Results: The final model revealed a reasonable fit. Workplace bullying was significantly and positively related to emotional exhaustion, which in turn, was significantly related to the loss of psychological wellbeing. Workplace bullying, emotional exhaustion, and the loss of psychological wellbeing were negatively related to concentration (avoiding distraction). Emotional exhaustion and psychological wellbeing mediated the studied structural relationships.

Conclusions: Our study contributes to theory and practice, since occupational health professionals should be aware that burnout and the loss of wellbeing may be related to workplace bullying and that productivity loss due to presenteeism may be a warning sign. Leaders can understand the underlying mechanism that explains employees' productivity loss due to presenteeism by addressing workplace bullying and its negative relation with emotional exhaustion and wellbeing.

Keywords: emotional exhaustion; presenteeism; productivity; sickness presence; wellbeing; workplace bullying.

MeSH terms

Adult
Bullying / statistics & numerical data*
Burnout, Professional / psychology*
Cross-Sectional Studies
Efficiency
Emotions
Fatigue / psychology*
Female
Humans
Leadership
Male
Middle Aged
Models, Statistical
Occupational Health
Presenteeism / statistics & numerical data*
Surveys and Questionnaires
Workplace / psychology*