Prevalence and nature of workplace bullying and harassment and associations with mental health conditions in England: a cross-sectional probability sample survey

• Published in: BMC public health 2024-04, Vol.24 (1), p.1147-13, Article 1147
• Main Authors: Bunce, Annie, Hashemi, Ladan, Clark, Charlotte, Stansfeld, Stephen, Myers, Carrie-Anne, McManus, Sally
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Behavior; Bullying; Bullying - psychology; Bullying - statistics & numerical data; Common mental disorder; Cross-Sectional Studies; Employees; England - epidemiology; Female; Gender aspects; Harassment; Harassment (Law); Health aspects; Health services; Health surveys; Humans; Indicators; Interviews; Legislation; Male; Managers; Medical research; Medicine, Experimental; Mental disorders; Mental Disorders - epidemiology; Mental Disorders - psychology; Mental health; Mental Health - statistics & numerical data; Mental illness; Mental wellbeing; Middle Aged; Morbidity; Occupations; Polls & surveys; Post traumatic stress disorder; Prevalence; Prevention; Psychological aspects; Qualitative research; Secondary analysis; Sex differences; Social aspects; Social exclusion; Statistical analysis; Statistics; Surveys; Surveys and Questionnaires; Well being; Women; Workplace; Workplace - psychology; Workplace - statistics & numerical data; Workplace violence; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1471-2458; 1471-2458
• DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18614-7

Evidence on workplace bullying and harassment (WBH) in the UK has not used probability-sample surveys with robust mental health assessments. This study aimed to profile the prevalence and nature of WBH in England, identify inequalities in exposure, and quantify adjusted associations with mental health. Data were from the 2014 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey, a cross-sectional probability-sample survey of the household population in England. Criteria for inclusion in the secondary analysis were being aged 16-70 years and in paid work in the past month (n = 3838). Common mental disorders (CMDs) were assessed using the Clinical Interview Schedule-Revised and mental wellbeing using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale. Analyses were weighted. We examined associations between past-year WBH and current CMD using multivariable regression modelling, adjusting for sociodemographic factors. Interaction terms tested for gender differences in associations. The study received ethical approval (ETH21220-299). One in ten employees (10.6%, n = 444/3838) reported past-year experience of WBH, with rates higher in women (12.2%, n = 284/2189), those of mixed, multiple, and other ethnicity (21.0%, n = 15/92), and people in debt (15.2%, n = 50/281) or living in cold homes (14.6%, n = 42/234). Most commonly identified perpetrators of WBH were line managers (53.6%, n = 244/444) or colleagues (42.8%, n = 194/444). Excessive criticism (49.3%, n = 212/444), verbal abuse (42.6%, n = 187/444), and humiliation (31.4%, n = 142/444) were the most common types. WBH was associated with all indicators of poor mental health, including CMD (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.65, 95% CI 2.02-3.49), and 11 of 14 mental wellbeing indicators, including lower levels of confidence (aOR 0.57, 0.46-0.72) and closeness to others (aOR 0.57, 0.46-0.72). Patterns of association between WBH and mental health were similar in men and women. These findings reinforce a need for more cohesive UK legislation against WBH; guidance on recognition of bullying behaviours for employees, managers, and human resources, focusing on prevention and early intervention, and increased awareness of the impact of WBH on mental health among health service practitioners. Limitations include reliance on cross-sectional data collected before pandemic-related and other changes in workplace practices. Longitudinal data are needed to improve evidence on causality and the longevity of mental health impacts.