The moderating effects of workplace incivility on the relationship between job stressors and worker strain

Abstract

A large sample (N=1124) of healthcare workers participated in a correlational study designed to examine the relationships of workplace incivility and worker strain. The Workplace Incivility Scale (Cortina et al., 2001) was modified to identify the agent of uncivil behaviour. A confirmatory factor analysis indicated the presence of 3 distinct facets of uncivil behaviour: supervisor incivility, coworker incivility, and instigated incivility. HLM analyses indicated that each of the 3 incivility facets were uniquely related to indices of worker strain (i.e., job satisfaction, mental health, and physical health). Furthermore, coworker incivility exacerbated the relationship between work overload and mental health symptoms, instigated incivility exacerbated the relationship between low job control and mental health symptoms, and supervisor incivility exacerbated the relationship between work overload and physical health symptoms. Future researchers should match investigative questions with the appropriate measure of workplace incivility.