Proactive Personality in Case of Workplace Bullying Exposure

Authors: Maidaniuc-Chirila T*

DOI: 10.23880/pprij-16000304

Volume 7, Issue 3

Abstract

Studying the role of coping strategies’ efficiency in case of workplace bullying behavior it seems to be very important since some coping strategies may be efficient for some people but may prove to be inefficient for others. Moreover, proactive personality in the context of workplace bullying exposure was found not to be efficient since it may trigger more bullying behaviors from the part of aggressors. The present study aims to investigate the relationships existing between workplace bullying exposure, mental and physical strain and the choice of coping strategy thus proposing a multi-mediation model of the relationship between these variables. A number of 313 employees participated at the study by completing questionnaires referring to workplace bullying behaviors, coping strategies, proactive personality and strain. The results have shown that the choice of coping strategy influences the levels of physical and mental strain in that the more the person chooses passive coping strategies the more strained she will feel. Furthermore, despite the fact that previous research have shown that introducing proactivity in the relationship between workplace bullying and coping strategies doesn’t influence its impact on physical and mental strain previous research have shown that proactivity is positively associated with active coping strategies which diminish its impact on strain. Present research didn’t obtained a significant relationship but the tendency is in the way indicated by previous researchers. The results showed that workplace bullying exposure is associated with passive coping strategies which in their turn are associated with higher levels of physical and mental strain.

Keywords: Workplace bullying; Proactive personality; Multi-mediation model; Coping strategies; Mental and physical strain

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