Coping styles and coping resources in the work stressors–workplace bullying relationship: A two-wave study

This study investigated coping styles and coping resources in the relationship between work stressors and exposure to workplace bullying. A two-wave survey was conducted (N = 482) to investigate whether T1 emotion-focused coping amplifies the positive lagged relationship from T1 role conflict and role ambiguity to T2 bullying. T1 problem-focused coping was predicted to buffer this relationship. Further, we expected that two coping resources – T1 self-efficacy and optimism – positively relate to T2 problem-focused coping and negatively relate to T2 emotion-focused coping. SEM analysis partially supported the hypotheses: T1 emotion-focused coping amplified the relationship between T1 role conflict and T2 bullying. However, no evidence was found for the buffering role of T1 problem-focused coping. Neither for role ambiguity, a significant moderating role of both problem- and emotion-focused coping was found. Further, T1 self-efficacy was positively related to T2 problem-focused coping, however, unrelated to T2 emotion-focused coping. T1 optimism was unrelated to T2 emotion- or problem-focused coping. This study advances our understanding of the underlying mechanisms in the relationship from work stressors to bullying, particularly highlighting the amplifying role of emotion-focused coping in the relationship between role conflict and bullying. Further, we gained insight in the relationship between self-efficacy and problem-focused coping.