The Measurement and Impact of Workplace Cyberbullying

This thesis investigates workplace cyberbullying, defined as a situation where over
time, an individual is repeatedly subjected to perceived negative acts conducted through
technology (for example, phone, email, web sites, social media) which are related to their
work context. In this situation the target of workplace cyberbullying has difficulty defending
him or herself against these actions. The thesis has two broad aims: (1) to develop a
workplace cyberbullying measurement scale; and (2) to investigate the impact of workplace
cyberbullying on employees. Workplace cyberbullying is conceptualised in this thesis by
drawing on the traditional workplace bullying and cyberbullying literature. A rationale is
presented for investigating it as a distinct form of workplace bullying and four separate
studies address the development of the workplace cyberbullying measure (WCM).
The first study generated measurement items by asking employees to describe
cyberbullying behaviours. The behaviours were sorted into categories using content analysis
and converted into measurement items. In the second study, the relative severity of each item
was assessed so that the measure could be weighted according to severity. In the third study,
the 34 item WCM was completed by a sample of 424 employees. A two factor structure
(comprising work-related cyberbullying and person-related cyberbullying) was compared to a
unidimensional factor structure and the measure was refined into a 17 item instrument.
During the fourth study the nomological network of the WCM was constructed and further
reliability and validity evidence was obtained.
The fifth and final study then used the WCM to investigate the impact of workplace
cyberbullying within a theoretical framework. The theoretical and practical contributions of
the studies are discussed along with directions for future research.