An Examination of Perceived Support, Organizational Justice Climate, and the Psychological Cost of Workplace Bullying

Abstract

This study aims to broaden the literature on workplace bullying in higher education. The primary researcher examined the occurrence of workplace bullying within higher education institutions across the United States, and whether perceived social support moderates the effect of workplace bullying on psychological distress, measured as occupational burnout. Additionally, the primary researcher assessed if organizational justice climate influences the moderating effect of perceived social support on the relationship between workplace bullying and occupational burnout. A simple moderation analysis was conducted in order to investigate if the effect of workplace bullying on occupational burnout was attenuated by perceived social support. Additionally, a moderated moderation analysis was conducted in order to investigate if perceptions of justice climate led to a change in the moderating effect of perceived social support on the relationship between workplace bullying and occupational burnout. Participants consisted of 395 faculty (those in some type of teaching position) and staff (librarians and other administrators) from higher education universities across the United States, out of which 240 were used in the final analyses of this study. Participants were recruited via email and social media. Potential implications regarding expected strengths and limitations of this proposed study are examined in the discussion.