Prevalence and Pattern of Work Place Bullying as Psychosocial Hazards among Workers in a Tertiary Institution in Nigeria

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Work and work environment have enormous influences on both health and production. Psychosocial hazards, including bullying, may be assuming a major place in occupational health and safety, especially in developing countries like Nigeria. Work place bullying, though appears latent, equally appears to receive little attention in workplaces. AIM: The study was to assess the prevalence and pattern of work place bullying among Workers at the University of Port Harcourt. METHODOLOGY: Following approval from the Ethical Committee of the University of Port Harcourt, 600 consenting staffers of the University of Port Harcourt were recruited by systematic random sampling and pretested structured closed ended self administered questionnaires were distributed among respondents. Results were presented via descriptive and analytical methods. RESULTS: Work place bullying was common and verbal abuse was the most prevalent (43.9%), followed by assigning meaningless tasks unrelated to the employee's job (41.2%). Risk factors capable of making a worker vulnerable to Work place bullying included work load (98.2%) as the most prevalent risk factor perceived by the respondents, followed by homework interface (82.0%), lack of possibilities to advance (70.1%), interpersonal relationship (64.0%). From the study, respondents identified periodic in-service training (PIT) 76.7%, as the most effective possible remedies among others that could be put in place by the University to reduce the prevalence and burden of psychosocial hazards in the University. Conclusion: Work place bullying among workers at the University of Port Harcourt is common occasioned by preventable risk factors. There is need for the University to institute appropriate occupational health and safety measures to reduce the harmful occurrences of psychosocial hazards in the institution in other to improve the working environment.

Workplace Bullying, Mobbing and Harassment in Academe: Faculty Experience

“…Using multi-industry samples, Hoel and Cooper (2000;UK), Einarsen and Skogstad (1996;Norway) and Onorato (2013; USA) report that rates in academe were among the lowest of any industry in their respective samples. Comparing employee groups within individual institutions (Bjorkqvist, Osterman, & Hielt-Black, 1994;Fadda, Giorgi, & Salinas, 2015;Keashly & Neuman, 2008;López-Cabarcos & Vázquez-Rodríguez, 2006;Nkporbu & Douglas, 2016;Price Spratlen, 1995;Rankin & Associates, 2014;Raskauskas, 2006;Richman et al, 1999;Williams & Ruiz, 2012), faculty rates are lower than staff rates. Intra-institutional differences may reflect the different normative and discursive contexts within which faculty, administration and staff exist and which influence how bullying is defined and experienced (Christy, 2010;Fratzl & McKay, 2013).…”