title: Workplace Bullying and Mental Health: A Meta-Analysis on Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Data.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A growing body of research has confirmed that workplace bullying is a source of distress and poor mental health. Here we summarize the cross-sectional and longitudinal literature on these associations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic review and meta-analyses on the relation between workplace bullying and mental health.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cross-sectional data (65 effect sizes, N = 115.783) showed positive associations between workplace bullying and symptoms of depression (r = .28, 95% CI = .23-.34), anxiety (r = .34, 95% CI = .29-.40) and stress-related psychological complaints (r = .37, 95% CI = .30-.44). Pooling the literature that investigated longitudinal relationships (26 effect sizes, N = 54.450) showed that workplace bullying was related to mental health complaints over time (r = 0.21, 95% CI = 0.13-0.21). Interestingly, baseline mental health problems were associated with subsequent exposure to workplace bullying (r = 0.18, 95% CI = 0.10-0.27; 11 effect sizes, N = 27.028).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All data were self-reported, raising the possibility of reporting- and response set bias.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Workplace bullying is consistently, and in a bi-directional manner, associated with reduced mental health. This may call for intervention strategies against bullying at work.
authors: Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands; Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands; Skils, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors: Bart
authors: B
authors: Verkuil
authors: Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors: Serpil
authors: S
authors: Atasayi
authors: Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands; Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors: Marc L
authors: ML
authors: Molendijk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D058445:Bullying; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D017594:Publication Bias; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology*