An Application of Affective Events Theory to Workplace Bullying

Abstract

Within the framework of Affective Events Theory (AET), this study examines emotional experiences as a potential mediator between exposure to bullying and job satisfaction and intention to leave, respectively. We also investigate to what extent trait anxiety and trait anger moderate the relationships between these variables. The results show that the relationships between bullying and both job satisfaction and intentions to leave are partly mediated by the targets’ emotional experiences. Trait anxiety moderates the relationship between exposure to bullying and the targets’ negative emotions. Trait anxiety and trait anger did not moderate the relationship between bullying and the outcomes. The results support the validity of AET, while simultaneously indicating exposure to bullying as a strong stressor in its own right.