Workplace Bullying and Physical Ill-Health: Role of Negative Emotions and Perceived Organizational Support

Abstract

Workplace bullying is a phenomenon involving frequent and prolonged exposure to negative behaviours at work. Researchers have identified the negative influence of workplace bullying on the physical health of employees. The study reported in this chapter examines the underlying mechanism in the relationship between workplace bullying and physical ill-health, testing the mediating role of negative emotions. The study explores the role of perceived organizational support (POS) in moderating the direct relationship between workplace bullying and physical ill-health in the presence of negative emotions as the mediator. The data were collected from 425 information technology professionals in India. The results from partial least squares (PLS) structural equation modelling (SEM) and PROCESS tool show that negative emotions partially mediated the relationship between workplace bullying and physical ill-health. The study results provide evidence of the moderation effect of POS in the direct relationship between workplace bullying and physical ill-health in the presence of the mediator. However, the significant positive moderation effect of POS draws attention to the fact that even with high levels of POS, the influence of workplace bullying on physical ill-health was not controlled. Future studies can explore the role of personality characteristics of the victims and POS in moderating the relationship between workplace bullying and physical ill-health.