PRACA ORYGINALNA
Bullying behavior and mental health in healthcare and educational sectors in Kaunas, Lithuania
Więcej
Ukryj
1
Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania
(Institute of Cardiology, Department of Population Studies)
2
Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania
(Academy of Medicine, Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine)
3
Lithuanian Sports University, Kaunas, Lithuania
(Department of Health, Physical and Social Education)
4
Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania
(Academy of Medicine, Department of Internal Diseases)
Data publikacji online: 06-04-2017
Autor do korespondencji
Lina Bernotaite
Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Institute of Cardiology,
Department of Population Studies, Sukileliu av. 15, Kaunas 50009, Lithuania
Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2017;68(3):307-14
SŁOWA KLUCZOWE
DZIEDZINY
STRESZCZENIE
Background: Investigations on workplace bullying in the countries of Eastern Europe are yet not too extensive. The aim of the
study has been to identify the most frequent bullying behavior and to explore the associations with psychological distress and
post-traumatic stress symptoms in 3 female-dominated occupations in Kaunas, Lithuania. Material and Methods: This crosssectional
study employed 517 teachers (response rate (RR) = 71.3%), 174 family physicians (RR = 65.7%) and 311 internal medicine
department nurses (RR = 69.1%). The twenty-two-item Negative Acts Questionnaire was used for measuring the exposure to bullying
behavior, Goldberg 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) – psychological distress, Event Scale-Revised (IES-R)
inventory – post-traumatic stress symptoms, Karasek & Theorell Demand-Control questionnaire – psychosocial job characteristics.
The International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) SPSS Statistics version 20.0 was used for performing the statistical
analysis. Logistic regression was used for assessing the associations among 22 negative acts as continuous variable and mental
health outcomes adjusting to age, psychosocial factors at work and everyday life. Results: Exposure to workplace bullying behavior
on a weekly/daily basis was prevalent among family physicians at the rate of 19%, among nurses – 12.9%, among teachers
– 4.1%. Even after adjustment to age, psychosocial job characteristics and threatening life events, the exposure to 22 negative
acts as continuous variable was significantly associated with psychological distress and post-traumatic stress symptoms for
all 3 occupations. Conclusions: Health care sector is particularly affected by workplace bullying. Exposure to bullying behavior
was associated with mental health problems for all 3 occupations. Preventive measures are necessary to improve psychosocial
work environment conditions in healthcare and educational institutions in Lithuania. Med Pr 2017;68(3):307–314