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Personality trait scores among occupationally active bullied persons and witnesses to bullying

Persson, Roger LU orcid ; Hogh, Annie ; Hansen, Ase-Marie ; Nordander, Catarina LU orcid ; Ohlsson, Kerstina LU ; Balogh, Istvan LU ; Österberg, Kai LU and Orbaek, Palle (2009) In Motivation and Emotion 33(4). p.387-399
Abstract
There is little research on the personalities and emotional stability of persons who report being bullied or witnessing bullying at work. Men and women (N = 247) from 19 to 64 years of age and in manual labour completed a questionnaire concerning the psychosocial work climate, bullying and personality. Three groups were defined: bullied (N = 14), witnesses (N = 31) and non-bullied respondents (N = 202). The Swedish universities Scale of Personality was used to assess personality traits related to the three major dimensions of neuroticism, extraversion, and aggressiveness. Bullied persons had higher scores on all six scales within the neuroticism dimension as well as higher irritability (aggressiveness dimension) and impulsiveness scores... (More)
There is little research on the personalities and emotional stability of persons who report being bullied or witnessing bullying at work. Men and women (N = 247) from 19 to 64 years of age and in manual labour completed a questionnaire concerning the psychosocial work climate, bullying and personality. Three groups were defined: bullied (N = 14), witnesses (N = 31) and non-bullied respondents (N = 202). The Swedish universities Scale of Personality was used to assess personality traits related to the three major dimensions of neuroticism, extraversion, and aggressiveness. Bullied persons had higher scores on all six scales within the neuroticism dimension as well as higher irritability (aggressiveness dimension) and impulsiveness scores (extraversion dimension), when compared with their non-bullied work colleagues. To conclude, bullied persons display a self-image that is dominated by mistrust and embitterment as well as irritability and impulsiveness. Accordingly, when dealing with bullying at work, the need for ego-supportive actions should be considered in conjunction with more organisational, collective oriented action. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
questionnaire, Job content, Harassment, Extraversion, Aggressiveness, Anxiety, Work environment
in
Motivation and Emotion
volume
33
issue
4
pages
387 - 399
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • scopus:84880435225
  • wos:000271960700006
ISSN
1573-6644
DOI
10.1007/s11031-009-9132-6
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
197d627d-22a1-40bb-ba03-480923e60045 (old id 3971968)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 13:48:58
date last changed
2023-10-04 13:35:33
@article{197d627d-22a1-40bb-ba03-480923e60045,
  abstract     = {{There is little research on the personalities and emotional stability of persons who report being bullied or witnessing bullying at work. Men and women (N = 247) from 19 to 64 years of age and in manual labour completed a questionnaire concerning the psychosocial work climate, bullying and personality. Three groups were defined: bullied (N = 14), witnesses (N = 31) and non-bullied respondents (N = 202). The Swedish universities Scale of Personality was used to assess personality traits related to the three major dimensions of neuroticism, extraversion, and aggressiveness. Bullied persons had higher scores on all six scales within the neuroticism dimension as well as higher irritability (aggressiveness dimension) and impulsiveness scores (extraversion dimension), when compared with their non-bullied work colleagues. To conclude, bullied persons display a self-image that is dominated by mistrust and embitterment as well as irritability and impulsiveness. Accordingly, when dealing with bullying at work, the need for ego-supportive actions should be considered in conjunction with more organisational, collective oriented action.}},
  author       = {{Persson, Roger and Hogh, Annie and Hansen, Ase-Marie and Nordander, Catarina and Ohlsson, Kerstina and Balogh, Istvan and Österberg, Kai and Orbaek, Palle}},
  issn         = {{1573-6644}},
  keywords     = {{questionnaire; Job content; Harassment; Extraversion; Aggressiveness; Anxiety; Work environment}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{387--399}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Motivation and Emotion}},
  title        = {{Personality trait scores among occupationally active bullied persons and witnesses to bullying}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11031-009-9132-6}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s11031-009-9132-6}},
  volume       = {{33}},
  year         = {{2009}},
}