title: Perceptions of workplace bullying among athletic trainers in the collegiate setting.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bullying has received a vast amount of attention in the recent past. One form of bullying, workplace bullying (WPB), has been a substantial concern explored in many health professions that can negatively influence a health care provider's role in an organization. To date, however, WPB has not been investigated in athletic training contexts.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the perceptions of certified athletic trainers who experienced or witnessed WPB during employment in the collegiate setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative study.
  
  
  METHODS
  College or university.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen athletic trainers (7 women, 8 men) with an average age of 42 ± 12 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected via semistructured, in-depth phone interviews or asynchronous online interviews. Data were analyzed using an inductive content analysis. Trustworthiness was established with member checks and peer debriefing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four themes emerged from the analysis: (1) antecedents of WPB, (2) consequences of WPB, (3) coping with WPB, and (4) lack of workplace environment training. The antecedents of WPB involved the bully's personality and perceptions of the athletic training profession as well as environmental factors including the pressure to win and a lack of administrative support. The consequences of WPB included increased stress, feelings of inadequacy, and increased distrust. Individuals coped with WPB by relying on emotional resilience and avoidance. A final theme, lack of workplace environment training, revealed that little attention was given to interpersonal issues and WPB in the workplace.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Workplace bullying incidents occur when administrators tolerate bullying behaviors from controlling and manipulative individuals who lack respect for the athletic training professional. Several negative outcomes result from bullying interactions, including stress and anxiety; WPB is dealt with by learning to be more emotionally resilient and avoiding confrontations. Workplace training is needed to prepare athletic trainers for such negative experiences.
authors.affiliation: Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, TN.
authors.forename: Celest
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weuve
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Pitney
authors.forename: Malissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Stephanie M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Mazerolle
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D058445:Bullying / Q000523:psychology*; D003625:Data Collection; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D010465:Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: interpersonal conflict; negative acts; workplace harassment
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