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Reciprocal Influences Involving Workplace Bullying: The Case of Role Stressors

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Pathways of Job-related Negative Behaviour

Part of the book series: Handbooks of Workplace Bullying, Emotional Abuse and Harassment ((HWBEAH,volume 2))

Abstract

Role stress, broadly understood as adverse stress reactions employees have when they experience excessive demands or pressure from others’ expectations and demands at work, is widely believed to contribute to workplace bullying through social aggression mechanisms that impel employees to act aggressively towards other organizational members. In this chapter, we review emerging evidence examining a contrary direction of influence in which exposure to repeated hostile and offensive actions in turn exacerbates role stressors, such as unclear job requirements or conflicting role expectations. To do so, we first consider general aspects of research design and methodology in empirically evaluating propositions of bidirectional relationships between role stressors and workplace bullying. We then consider areas that require further analysis as well as directions for future research on reciprocal effects involving workplace bullying and role stress. The chapter relies on the extant literature, primarily from Europe, on the topic.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Canada

    Karen Harlos

  2. Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, Canada

    Camilla M. Holmvall

Authors
  1. Karen Harlos
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  2. Camilla M. Holmvall
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Correspondence to Karen Harlos or Camilla M. Holmvall .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Organizational Behaviour (OB), Indian Institute of Management Organizational Behaviour (OB), Ahmedabad, India

    Premilla D'Cruz

  2. Organizational Behaviour, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad Organizational Behaviour, Ahmedabad, India

    Ernesto Noronha

  3. Faculty of Economics and Business, KU Leuven Faculty of Economics and Business, Brussels, Brussels Hoofdst.ge., Belgium

    Elfi Baillien

  4. School of Management, North Shore MSC, Massey University School of Management, North Shore MSC, Auckland, New Zealand

    Bevan Catley

  5. The University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

    Karen Harlos

  6. Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen Department of Psychology, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Annie Hogh

  7. Gemzoe Consult, Aarhus, Denmark

    Eva Gemzoe Mikkelsen

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Harlos, K., Holmvall, C.M. (2018). Reciprocal Influences Involving Workplace Bullying: The Case of Role Stressors. In: D'Cruz, P., et al. Pathways of Job-related Negative Behaviour. Handbooks of Workplace Bullying, Emotional Abuse and Harassment, vol 2. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-6173-8_2-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-6173-8_2-1

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  • Print ISBN: 978-981-10-6173-8

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