Workplace Harassment And Psychological Wellbeing Among Private And Public Sector Workers: Does Sense Of Coherence Matter?

Abstract

Over the years, research interest in harassment at the workplace has grown, with the exploration of the impact of workplace harassment on health and well-being being a dominant theme. In this study, the differences in the prevalence of workplace harassment between employees in private and public sectors in Ghana was explored. In addition, the association between workplace harassment and psychological well-being and the moderating role of the sense of coherence in this relationship was investigated. Participants completed a questionnaire comprising of various socio-demographic questions (Gender, age, Educational Qualification, Industry, Sector, Employment Type and Length of Service), and measures of workplace harassment, sense of coherence, and psychological well-being. Participants for the study were 280, made up of 98 females (females = 35%, ages 18-50 = 94.3%) and 182 males (males = 65%, ages 18-50 = 90%). Data were analyzed using correlation, independent t test, and multiple regression of the Statistical Product and Service Solution (SPSS). From the analysis, it was found that there was no statistically significant difference in workplace harassment for employees in private and public sectors. However, there was a negative association between workplace harassment and psychological well-being. When the dimensions of workplace harassment and their relations with psychological well-being was examined, physical harassment (but not work-related harassment and defamation of character) was associated with psychological well-being. The sense of coherence was positively associated with psychological well-being but its moderating role in the relationship between workplace harassment and psychological was not statistically significant. These findings have implications for the design of interventions to prevent and curtail harassment at the workplace. These implications have been discussed, together with the limitations of the research and suggestions for future studies.