Workplace Bullying and Health Outcomes

Dear Colleagues,

Workplace bullying (WB) can be considered a repeated and unreasonable behaviour that is directed towards a worker (or a group of workers) and that creates a risk to health and safety.

Another definition states WB as “prolonged and repeated hostile behaviours conducted by at least one person toward one or more individuals when they are unable to resolve their workplace conflicts in non-hostile manners and can cause health problems for victims and affect their performance”. When bullying happens online, it is called cyberbullying, and when that behavior occurs in the occupational setting, it is known as workplace cyberbullying. In some settings (i.e., the healthcare one), WB can have a negative impact on the quality of the work (i.e., healthcare and patient safety).

The scientific interest in workplace bullying is mainly based on the effects on a worker, since it can adversely affect both psychological and physical health. There is evidence on the relationship between the experience of bullying and impaired health. From a psychological point of view, workers who have been persistently exposed to bullying are more likely to suffer from stress, anxiety, and depression than those who had not. Similarly, bullied workers complain of physical symptoms more frequently, particularly gastrointestinal disorders and muscle tension.

From an economic point of view, companies are interested in reducing WB, since it is usually associated with absenteeism as the most common outcome, decreasing productivity and morale. Moreover, companies that fail to take action to address workplace bullying are more likely to face legal action and damage their credibility.

We would like to address the following topics:

• Bullying and mental health problems;
• Workplace bullying and the risk of suicidal ideation and behavior;
• Mental health problems and bullying;
• Bullying and general physical symptoms;
• Bullying and fibromyalgia;
• Bullying and chronic neck pains;
• Interventions for prevention of workplace bullying
• Interventions for the management of workplace bullying;
• Return to work of the victim of workplace bullying;
• e-healthcare interventions for mitigating workplace bullying;
• How workplace bullying influences healthcare professionals’ practice errors and patient outcomes.

Prof. Dr. Giuseppe La Torre
Prof. Dr. Gabriele D’Ettorre
Guest Editors

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• epidemiology
• public health
• occupational medicine
• workplace bullying
• mental health
• patient outcomes
• economic assessment