Objective:
This research sought to study the prevalence of workplace bullying in Saudi Arabia, examining its various types experienced by employees. Additionally, it aimed to delve into the demographic and work-related factors linked with workplace bullying. The secondary objective involved an assessment of existing policies and interventions addressing workplace bullying, with the goal of providing recommendations for enhancing prevention and management strategies in the region.
Methods:
This study used a self-administered questionnaire to collect data on workplace bullying experiences. Beside sociodemographic-related questions, the questionnaire used Negative Acts Questionnaire-Revised (NAQ-R) for bullying assessment.
Results:
The study involved 625 participants, with a mean age of 34.2 years and a balanced gender distribution. The majority were from the Eastern Province, with varying marital statuses, and were predominantly single. Most had completed university education (73.6%) and were employed (52%) in the governmental sector (64.5%). Age was found to be negatively correlated with bullying, suggesting lower levels as individuals grew older. Marital status, employment status, job role within the healthcare system, and mental disorder diagnosis significantly influenced bullying scores. Higher extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness scores were adversely correlated with bullying, while higher neuroticism scores were positively correlated with bullying. Openness to experience scores showed a weak positive correlation.
Conclusion:
The study reveals that workplace bullying is prevalent and significantly influenced by sociodemographic factors and different personality traits. Factors like age, marital status, employment status, job role, and mental health status impacted bullying scores. Personality traits were also found to influence the likelihood of bullying.
Key words: Bullying, workplace, job performance, mental health, Saudi Arabia
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