Psychopathological Impact of Stressful Workplace Environments

Have you ever felt patronized or worthless at work? Has this ever had a negative impact on your mental health or overall well-being? Well, you might have been a victim of common workplace bullying. Workplace bullying is defined as the repetitive and systematic engagement of interpersonally abusive behaviors that negatively affect both the targeted individual and the work organization. More broadly, workplace bullying can take “emotional, physical, career, and financial tolls” and includes the following:

• Unwanted aggressive behavior that causes psychological or physical harm

• An observed or perceived power imbalance 

• A repetition of destructive behaviors or a high likelihood of repetition 

Examples can also include a boss who belittles you, calls you names, yells at you or physically intimidates you by standing nearby and/or watching you. Workplace bullying does not always have to be top-down and can extend to coworkers. Coworkers, as well as bosses, who engage in workplace bullying could also be gossiping, excluding you from social activities, spreading rumors, and generally making you feel unwelcome, on and off the clock [1]. 

According to Forbes, “an older 2008 poll on workplace bullying found that 75% of employees reported being affected as either a target or witness” [2]. The 2021 U.S. Bullying Survey reported that nearly 30% of Americans have been bullied at work [3]. Moreover, it was found that these incidents generally occur “in a traditional work setting . . . during meetings and face-to-face interactions.” Throughout the pandemic, these conditions worsened, and harassment was reported to be 43% higher since this 2021 survey. With the transition from virtual offices back to in-person work, we can expect the post-pandemic reports to uncover proof of even more subpar conditions. [4]

Workplace bullying can have significant negative mental health impacts on employees. Workplace bullying can lead to psychological distress, such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder [5]. Additionally, victims of workplace bullying may experience reduced job satisfaction and lower levels of self-esteem [1]. Other negative impacts of workplace bullying can include increased absenteeism and presenteeism (the phenomenon of being present at work but not fully engaged or productive), as well as physical symptoms such as headaches and sleep disturbances [6]. These psychological impacts can have long-lasting effects on the victim's emotional well-being. In fact, a global study by The Workforce Institute in February of 2023 found that 69% of employees say managers impact their mental health, which is a greater impact than doctors (51%) or therapists (41%), and even the same as the employee’s spouse or partner [7]. Consequently, it is important for organizations to take proactive steps to prevent workplace bullying and support victims when it occurs.

One defining impact of workplace bullying is the stress it imposes on the individual. Stress has been shown to have significant impacts on the brain and its functions. The brain regions most associated with stress resulting from workplace bullying include the anterior cingulate, the amygdala, and the hippocampus. One study found using fMRI scans, which illuminate increased blood flow in the brain, that both the anterior cingulate cortex– which is involved in emotional regulation and pain processing– and the amygdala– which is involved in emotional processing and fear responses– were hyperactive as a result of workplace bullying [8]. This hyperactivity was shown to cause increased emotional distress, pain, fear, and anxiety [9]. Furthermore, the hippocampus, the part responsible for memory and learning, has been found to experience reduced size as a result of significant stress. These changes can lead to critically disabling memory impairments, especially in a work environment, such as short-term memory loss and impaired working memory[10]. As stress is directly related to workplace bullying, these findings have great implications for the effects of a hostile work environment, given that workplace bullying can have significant impacts on brain function and structure, including changes in activity in key brain regions.

There have been several studies conducted to investigate the effects of workplace bullying on the brain using MRI and PET scans to measure the structural integrity of the brain. One such study was conducted in 2013 by a team of German medical researchers examining the brains of adults who had experienced workplace bullying at some point in their lives. The researchers found that those who had experienced it had smaller volumes of gray matter in certain regions of their brains compared to a control group. Specifically, they found that the bullying victims had reduced gray matter (brain tissue) in the temporal cortex, which is directly involved in memory and perception, and the prefrontal cortex, which is involved in higher cognitive functions such as decision-making, problem-solving, and working memory, all key requisites to functioning in the workplace [11,12]. These findings suggest that workplace bullying can have lasting effects on the brain and may result in structural changes that can impair cognitive and emotional functioning. They add to the growing body of research showing the negative effects of workplace bullying on mental and physical health, and underscores the importance of preventing and addressing bullying in the workplace [11].

Workplace bullying can also have a significant impact on an individual's overall social functioning. People who experience workplace bullying may have difficulty trusting others, feel isolated, and experience social withdrawal. They may also have trouble communicating effectively, which can lead to difficulty forming and maintaining healthy relationships both inside and outside of work. In addition, individuals who have experienced workplace bullying may have lower self-esteem and confidence, which can negatively impact their ability to interact with others and engage in social activities. They may also develop feelings of shame and embarrassment, which can make them hesitant to seek help or support from others [13].

The coronavirus pandemic is a unique factor that had a significant impact on workplaces worldwide, leading to the widespread adoption of work-from-home arrangements. This shift in workplace dynamics provides a unique opportunity to address workplace bullying and improve the overall workplace environment, which can have positive effects on people's mental and physical health. Companies should recognize the importance of clear policies that explicitly prohibit bullying and harassment in the workplace. These policies should be communicated to all employees and include reporting mechanisms that allow employees to report incidents of bullying safely and confidentially. Training and education on workplace bullying should also be provided to all employees, including managers and supervisors, to increase awareness and understanding of what constitutes bullying behavior and the impact it has on individuals and the workplace as a whole. 

With the recent reality of remote work arrangements, it's crucial to maintain regular communication between managers and employees to provide support, guidance, and feedback. This can help to build trust and create a positive work environment, even in a virtual setting. Working from home can blur the boundaries between work and personal life, leading to increased stress and burnout. A recent survey by the CDC found that the number of reported anxiety symptoms have tripled and depression symptoms have quadrupled during the pandemic [14]. Therefore, employers should encourage employees to take regular breaks, establish clear work hours, and prioritize self-care to maintain a healthy work-life balance. By implementing these measures, companies can create a workplace that prioritizes respect, inclusion, and support, leading to better mental and physical health for employees.

Workplace bullying is a serious issue that can have detrimental effects on both the targeted individual and the overall work organization. The emotional, physical, career, and financial tolls of workplace bullying can lead to negative impacts on mental health and overall well-being, such as anxiety, depression, reduced job satisfaction, and lower levels of self-esteem. Furthermore, workplace bullying can have significant impacts on brain function and structure, including changes in activity in key brain regions. It is important for organizations to take proactive steps to prevent workplace bullying and support victims when it occurs in order to create a healthy and productive work environment. By recognizing the observed impacts of workplace bullying and taking steps to address it we can promote a positive, constructive, and inclusive workplace culture for all employees.

References

1. HAUGE, L. J., SKOGSTAD, A., & EINARSEN, S. (2010). The relative impact of workplace bullying as a social stressor at work. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 51(5). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9450.2010.00813.x

2. Ph.D, B. R. (n.d.). New Study Says Workplace Bullying On Rise: What You Can Do During National Bullying Prevention Month. Forbes. Retrieved April 26, 2023, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/bryanrobinson/2019/10/11/new-study-says-workplace-bullying-on-rise-what-can-you-do-during-national-bullying-prevention-month/?sh=7c12da412a0d

3. Namie, G. (2021). 2021 WBI U.S. Workplace Bullying Survey. Workplacebullying.org; Workplace Bullying Institute. https://workplacebullying.org/2021-wbi-survey/

4. MyDisabilityJobs. (2022, October 29). Workplace Bullying Statistics Research & Facts | Updated2022.MyDisabilityJobs.com. https://mydisabilityjobs.com/statistics/workplace-bullying/

5. (PDF) The concept of bullying and harassment at work: The European tradition. (n.d.). ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/284699156_The_concept_of_bullying_and_harassment_at_work_The_European_tradition

6. Bakker, A. B., Demerouti, E., de Boer, E., & Schaufeli, W. B. (2003). Job demands and job resources as predictors of absence duration and frequency. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 62(2), 341–356. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0001-8791(02)00030-1

7. Levine, B. (2023, February 2). The Impact of Work on Mental Health • The Workforce Institute at UKG. The Workforce Institute at UKG. https://workforceinstitute.org/the-impact-of-work-on-mental-health/

8. Nolfe, G., Cirillo, M., Iavarone, A., Negro, A., Garofalo, E., Cotena, A., Lazazzara, M., Zontini, G., & Cirillo, S. (2018). Bullying at Workplace and Brain-Imaging Correlates. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 7(8), 200. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm7080200

9. Drevets, W. C., & Raichle, M. E. (1998). Suppression of Regional Cerebral Blood during Emotional versus Higher Cognitive Implications for Interactions between Emotion and Cognition. Cognition & Emotion, 12(3), 353–385. https://doi.org/10.1080/026999398379646

10. Kim, E. J., Pellman, B., & Kim, J. J. (2015). Stress effects on the hippocampus: a critical review. Learning & Memory, 22(9), 411–416. https://doi.org/10.1101/lm.037291.114

11. Blix, E., Perski, A., Berglund, H., & Savic, I. (2013). Long-Term Occupational Stress Is Associated with Regional Reductions in Brain Tissue Volumes. PLoS ONE, 8(6), e64065. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0064065

12. Einarsen, S., Hoel, H., & Notelaers, G. (2009). Measuring exposure to bullying and harassment at work: Validity, factor structure and psychometric properties of the Negative Acts Questionnaire-Revised. Work & Stress, 23(1), 24–44. https://doi.org/10.1080/02678370902815673 

13. Czeisler, M. É. (2020). Mental Health, Substance Use, and Suicidal Ideation during the COVID-19 Pandemic. MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 69(32). https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6932a1