Applying a person-oriented approach to workplace aggression: Implications for employee emotional well-being

Abstract

Using a person-oriented approach with a broad sample of 200 employees across several sectors, we identified four victim subgroups sharing similar configurations of frequency and severity of aggression: high-high (high levels of frequency and severity; 15%), moderate-moderate (moderate levels of frequency and severity; 15%), high-low (high frequency but low severity; 26.5%), and low-low (lowest levels of frequency and severity; 43%). Further, we examined the relationship between victim groups, social demographics, and victim disposition. The results showed that women, young, and lower-tenured employees are at risk of belonging to the high-high victim group. In addition, employees with high negative affect and psychopathy traits are at risk of belonging to the high-high victim group. Drawing upon learned helplessness theory, we examined whether victim groups differed concerning internalizing problems. Results suggest that high-high group victims experienced the highest anxiety, loss of confidence, and social dysfunction, whereas low-low group members experienced the lowest levels.