Psychological Consequences of Workplace Bullying among Faculty in Higher Education: Insights from Private Universities in Pakistan

Abstract

Bullying at work has emerged as a serious management issue at the higher education tier with an extreme impact on how psychological well-being of the faculty members and the overall effectiveness of the institution. The current research examined the association among bullying, stress and violent behavior among faculty members in Gujranwala and Gujrat district of Pakistan in private universities. Total of 460 faculty members as sampled were surveyed using the Workplace Bullying Scale, Workplace Stress Scale and Clinical Anger Scale. Results revealed that the workplace bullying was positively correlated with workplace stress r = .53, p < .01 and aggressive behavior r = .49, p < .01. Moreover, regression analyses showed that workplace bullying aslo significantly predicted stress β = .55, R² = .28 and aggressive behavior β = .45, R² = .24 at p < .001. results findings also highlighted that bullying is not only prevalent in private universities but also has significant psychological consequences for faculty members in Pakistan. These findings demonstrate the exceptional necessity of introducing anti-bullying strategies by the private higher education institutions, which should be dominant and should concentrate in the delivery of stress management frequent interventions and supportive organizational practices. The management of such workplaces bullying and associated challenges in Pakistani scholastic institutions is essential in addressing the psychological health of faculty due to the enhancement of the institutional culture and quality of the higher education delivery.