Workplace bullying: The interactive effects of the perpetrator’s gender and the target’s gender

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine if the gender of the perpetrator and the gender of the target have interactive effects on the frequency of downward workplace bullying to which targets are subjected.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional design was used on a sample of 125 schoolteachers in Uganda. Self-report data on downward workplace bullying were obtained using the Negative Acts Questionnaire.

Findings

The perpetrator’s gender and the target’s gender have interactive effects on the level of downward bullying to which targets are subjected. Although targets in within-gender dyads reported higher levels of overall downward workplace bullying than did targets in between-gender dyads, a significant gender-gender interaction was found for personal harassment and work-related harassment but not for intimidation nor organisational harassment.

Research limitations/implications

The generalisability of the findings is limited due to the sample consisting entirely of schoolteachers in Uganda. Self-report data are a limitation as they are subjective and thus susceptible to various perceptual biases (e.g. social desirability, personality of the respondent). Examining the interactive effects of gender on workplace bullying helps to provide a better understanding of the potential influence of gender in bullying scenarios. The findings from research that considers only the main effects of gender whilst ignoring interactive effects can misinform any theory or policy development.

Practical implications

Organisations need to resocialise their members so that they learn new attitudes and norms regarding aggressive behaviour in the workplace.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the literature on workplace bullying by examining the interactive effects of gender on the frequency of downward workplace bullying.

Citation

McCormack, D., Djurkovic, N., Nsubuga-Kyobe, A. and Casimir, G. (2018), "Workplace bullying: The interactive effects of the perpetrator’s gender and the target’s gender", Employee Relations, Vol. 40 No. 2, pp. 264-280. https://doi.org/10.1108/ER-07-2016-0147