Investigating Workplace Bullying Using a Person-Centered Approach: Capturing Targets’ Exposure and Sense of Defenselessness Through Latent Profile Analysis

Abstract

Workplace bullying is conceptualized as a systematic exposure to harassing behavior accompanied by feelings of defenselessness. Yet, most research has solely focused on exposure, thereby ignoring the role of defenselessness regarding victimization from bullying. Using a person-centered approach, this cross-sectional study addresses this gap by investigating the relation between employees' profiles of exposure to bullying behaviors and their profiles of defenselessness. Latent profile analyses of 491 employees identified four distinct exposure profiles: (a) no exposure, (b) rare exposure, (c) occasional exposure, and (d) exposure to isolating acts (work isolation). A parallel four-profile solution emerged for defenselessness, reflecting (a) no, (b) low, and (c) moderate levels across most indicators, as well as (d) specific defenselessness linked to isolating behaviors. Profile membership overlapped strongly between exposure and defenselessness, except for one-third of employees in the rare exposure profile, who showed moderate rather than low defenselessness. The profile reflecting the highest levels of exposure and defenselessness (<i>occasional exposure</i> and <i>moderate defenselessness</i>) reported the most negative outcomes (higher perceived victimization, exhaustion, and job dissatisfaction), whereas the <i>no exposure/no defenselessness</i> profile showed the most adaptive outcomes. Importantly, the <i>rare exposure</i> profile experienced significantly worse outcomes when defenselessness was moderate rather than low. The <i>work isolation</i> profile showed outcomes similar to the rare exposure profile with low defenselessness, highlighting the harmful nature of isolating actions. The findings highlight the need for organizations to actively prevent and manage negative behaviors among employees.