Workplace bullying not only harms the well-being of employees but can also disrupt the sleep of their partners, according to new research published today. The study highlights the extensive impact bullying has on sleep, including difficulties falling asleep, early morning awakenings, and general dissatisfaction with sleep.
Research led by the University of East Anglia (UEA) in the UK, alongside Complutense University of Madrid and Seville University in Spain, explores the short-term consequences of workplace bullying on various sleep indicators. Published in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence, the study examines the connection between bullying and insomnia, focusing on the role of “anger rumination”—the tendency to persistently dwell on distressing events, such as workplace bullying.
The findings indicate that bullying’s impact on sleep worsens over time, particularly regarding challenges related to sleep onset, staying asleep, and early waking. This correlation is largely explained by the emotional toll of work-related anger and the repetitive rumination employees experience as a coping mechanism.
In an intriguing development, the research also suggests that insomnia symptoms can spread between employees and their partners. The sleep issues of one person—whether in terms of severity or impact—can influence the sleep quality of their partner, underscoring how deeply interconnected sleep health can be within relationships.
Professor Ana Sanz-Vergel, the lead UK author from UEA’s Norwich Business School, explained, “Our results show that the effects of workplace bullying are not only time-dependent but also accumulate, extending beyond the individual to affect their partner’s sleep as well. When individuals face bullying, they may ruminate as a coping mechanism, but this constant mental processing of negative events can ultimately exacerbate sleep problems.”
Rumination, while appearing to help individuals process their experiences, can lead to deeper sleep disturbances, including difficulties falling and staying asleep, as well as a reduced sense of sleep satisfaction. Professor Sanz-Vergel suggests that rumination serves as a maladaptive coping strategy, intensifying the harmful effects of workplace bullying.
The research also highlights a gap in existing knowledge regarding the immediate or short-term impact of bullying on sleep, particularly beyond the individual experiencing it. To investigate this, the researchers conducted two studies: one tracking 147 employees over five days and another following 139 couples for two months. Participants, all from Spain, reported their exposure to bullying, work-related anger rumination, and various indicators of insomnia.
The first study revealed that bullying indirectly influenced sleep severity through rumination. The second study showed that rumination also impacted sleep satisfaction and sleep interference. This suggests that rumination plays a significant role in how bullying affects sleep quality.
“Insomnia appears to be contagious,” said Professor Sanz-Vergel. “Partners seem to influence each other’s sleep issues, particularly in terms of sleep severity and impact. If one person wakes up, the other may also be disturbed, leading to mutual sleep disruption.”
The researchers recommend organizational and individual-level interventions to combat workplace bullying. On the organizational front, fostering a supportive work culture and minimizing stressors are vital steps. On the individual level, employees should be equipped with strategies to manage stress more effectively.
Professor Sanz-Vergel also suggested that training to help employees disconnect from work has proven effective in reducing the impact of bullying. Furthermore, couple-oriented prevention programs may offer coping strategies for both partners, helping to reduce rumination and improve sleep quality for both individuals.
This study underscores the profound, often underestimated effects of workplace bullying, not just on the employee, but on their loved ones as well, urging the need for more comprehensive approaches to address and mitigate bullying in the workplace.
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