The Characteristics of Workplace Bullying and Associated Health Problems among Private Sector Workforce in Malaysia

• Main Author: VIVIAN YEE WEI, LAI
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) 2021
• Subjects: RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
• Online Access: http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/35823/2/Vivian%20Lai%20Yee%20Wei.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/35823/
• Institution: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

Workplace bullying is increasingly recognized as a serious public health issue in the workplace because of its increasing prevalence worldwide and negative health impacts on employee’s health. The consequences vary from stress and depression to psychosomatic problems including cardiovascular diseases. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of workplace bullying and its association with health status among private industry workers in Malaysia. A total of 954 workers underwent Health Screening Program by Social Security Organization Malaysia in a private healthcare laboratory were recruited through voluntary participation throughout Malaysia. The workers were asked to answer the questionnaire consisting of Negative Acts Questionnaire, Malaysian Workplace Bullying Index and Short Form Health Survey. The results show the prevalence of workplace bullying ranges from 1.7% to 10.8% based on the various operational definition of workplace bullying utilized in this study. Most respondents experienced work-related bullying than person-related bullying. Linear regression analysis showed socio-demographic factors such as age and education level and work factors, namely hour of work per day, working overtime and the amount of monthly salary had significant relationship with workplace bullying. Workplace bullying was significantly associated with poorer physical and mental health. The authority should consider interventional programmes towards workplace bullying issues to improve the occupational health among the private sector workforce in Malaysia.