Context: Workplace bullying (WPB) has recently received much attention in society. Research on WPB in athletic training practice settings is limited.Objective: To determine the prevalence of WPB in the secondary school setting and explore the factors related to it.Design: Mixed-methods study. , aged 36.5 6 11.1 years with 11.9 6 9.5 years of experience took part in phase I. Ten participants (7 women and 3 men), aged 39.3 6 10.1 years with 14.3 6 8.3 years of experience, took part in phase II.Data Collection and Analysis: For the online survey, we used the previously validated and reliable (Cronbach a ¼ .84) Athletic Training Workplace Environment Survey, which included the Negative Acts Questionnaire-Revised. The prevalence of WPB was measured with descriptive statistics, and v 2 analyses were used to compare differences between groups (ie, females and males, perpetrators' titles). The interview data were examined using an inductive content analysis.Results: Of the participants, 44 (7.8%) were empirically identified as targets of bullying, though a higher percentage (12.4%, n ¼ 70) self-identified as bullying targets. Men and women did not differ with respect to having experienced WPB, but more perpetrators were male (71.6%, n ¼ 48) than female (28.4%, n ¼ 19; v 2 1 ¼ 12.55, P ¼ ,.001). We also observed a difference in perpetrators' titles, with the vast majority of bullies being coaches or administrators (v 2 6 ¼ 33.82, P ¼ ,.001). Lack of administrator support and discrimination were antecedents of bullying. Stress, depression, and sleep disturbances were reported consequences. Participants coped with bullying by avoidance and role refocusing.Conclusions: Bullying was experienced by a small percentage of athletic trainers in the secondary school setting, a contrast to the findings in the collegiate practice setting.Key Words: interpersonal conflict, workplace aggression, harassment
Key PointsWorkplace bullying of athletic trainers occurred less often in the secondary school than in the collegiate setting. Bullies were typically coaches, administrators, or parents, and women were bullied more frequently than men. Being bullied was associated with stress, depression, sleep disturbances, and self-doubt. Targets dealt with bullying by avoiding the perpetrator and refocusing on their role. Developing workplace-bullying policies and educating employees on proper workplace behavior can help to reduce the level of bullying experienced by employees.