Peer Support in Action
Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Among Victims of Bullying at Work
Einarsen, S.E., Matthiesen, S.B.
University of Bergen, Christiesgate 12, N-5015 Bergen, Norway
Bullying at work is claimed to be a more devastating and crippling problem for employees than all other work-related stress put together (1). Victims of bullying seem to suffer from a wide range of social, psychological and psychosomatic problems (2), which has caused some authors to suggest Post traumatic stress disorder to be the most correct diagnosis to be used in these cases (3).
The aim of the present study is to investigate the level of post-traumatic stress symptoms and psychiatric symptoms in a group of Norwegian victims of long-term bullying at work. A group of 80 victims of bullying at work, recruited from the members list of the Norwegian Association against Bullying at Work participated in an postal questionnaire on long term effects of exposure to bullying at work.
The questionnaire included the following scales: Negative Acts Questionnaire, PTSS-10, Impact of Event Scale, and Hopkins Symptoms checklist. Analysis showed high levels of symptoms of post-traumatic stress in this group, supporting earlier studies indicating that bullying, or the systematic exposure to aggressive and abusive behaviour at work, causes symptoms in victims typical for victims of other kinds of violence or abuse. The results also showed that symptoms of PTSD was evident years after the actual bullying had ceased.
- Wilson, C.B. (1991). U.S. Businesses suffer from workplace trauma. Personnel Journal, July, 7-50.
- Einarsen, S. & Raknes, B.I. (1997). Harassment at work and the victimisation of men. Violence and Victims, 12, 247-263.
- Leymann, H. & Gustafsson, A. (1996). Mobbing at work and the development of post-traumatic stress disorders. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 5, 251-275.
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