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Individual antecedents of workplace victimisation: The role of negative affect, personality and self-esteem in junior doctors' exposure to bullying at work

Samsudin EZ, Isahak M, Rampal S, Rosnah I, Zakaria MI

Int J Health Plann Manage, 2020 Sep;35(5):1065-1082.
PMID: 32468617 DOI: 10.1002/hpm.2985

Previous studies have indicated that junior doctors commonly experience workplace bullying and that it may adversely impact medical training and delivery of quality healthcare. Yet, evidence on the precursors of bullying among them remains elusive. Drawing on the individual-disposition hypothesis, the present paper examined the relationships of negative affect, personality and self-esteem with workplace bullying among junior doctors. Multilevel analysis of a universal sample (n = 1074) of junior doctors working in the central zone of Malaysia using mixed effects logistic regression was performed. The results indicate that participants with moderate (AOR 4.40, 95% CI 2.20-8.77) and high degree (AOR 13.69, 95% CI 6.46-29.02) of negative affect as well as high degree of neuroticism (AOR 2.99, 95% CI 1.71-5.21) have higher odds of being bullied compared to their counterparts. The findings present evidence that individual traits are associated with junior doctors' exposure to bullying. While victim blaming should be avoided, this suggest that antibullying measures with an interpersonal focus should be considered when developing antibullying initiatives targeted at junior doctors. This includes primary intervention such as cognitive training, secondary interventions such as resource enhancement building and conflict management skills training, and tertiary interventions such as counselling.

Matched MeSH terms: Crime Victims/psychology*
Victims' barriers to discussing domestic violence in clinical consultations: a qualitative enquiry

Othman S, Goddard C, Piterman L

J Interpers Violence, 2014 May;29(8):1497-513.
PMID: 24323695 DOI: 10.1177/0886260513507136

Victims of domestic violence frequently attend health care facilities. In many cases, their abusive experience is neither disclosed nor discussed during clinical consultations. This study examined the barriers faced by women when discussing abuse with health care providers, specifically in cases involving Malaysian women with a history of domestic violence. A qualitative study using in-depth interviews was conducted with 10 women with a history of domestic violence residing at a shelter. Purposive sampling was conducted until data saturation. Using the grounded theory approach of analysis, themes that emerged from these interviews were then further analyzed to examine the barriers faced by these women. Women who experienced domestic violence faced multiple barriers while discussing their accounts of abuse with others. Values placed on the privacy of domestic violence; upholding the traditional gender roles; preserving the family unity; minimizing the abuse, the feeling of shame, self-blame; and fearing their abuser generally create internal barriers when discussing their encounters of abuse with health care providers. The perceived unknown role of health care professionals when dealing with patients experiencing domestic violence as well as the previous negative experiences in clinical consultations acted as external barriers for discussing abuse with health care providers. Women with domestic violence experiences faced internal and external barriers to discussing their abuse during clinical consultations. Physicians and health care providers must consider domestic violence in consultations with female patients. A good doctor-patient relationship that encompasses empathy, confidence, trust, support, assurance, confidentiality, and guidance can help patients with abusive backgrounds overcome these barriers, leading to the disclosure and discussion of their abusive encounters. Proper education, guidelines, and support for health care providers are required to help them assist women with histories of domestic violence.

Matched MeSH terms: Crime Victims/psychology*
Alternative models of DSM-5 PTSD: Examining diagnostic implications

Murphy S, Hansen M, Elklit A, Yong Chen Y, Raudzah Ghazali S, Shevlin M

Psychiatry Res, 2018 04;262:378-383.
PMID: 28917443 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2017.09.011

The factor structure of DSM-5 posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been extensively debated with evidence supporting the recently proposed seven-factor Hybrid model. However, despite myriad studies examining PTSD symptom structure few have assessed the diagnostic implications of these proposed models. This study aimed to generate PTSD prevalence estimates derived from the 7 alternative factor models and assess whether pre-established risk factors associated with PTSD (e.g., transportation accidents and sexual victimisation) produce consistent risk estimates. Seven alternative models were estimated within a confirmatory factor analytic framework using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). Data were analysed from a Malaysian adolescent community sample (n = 481) of which 61.7% were female, with a mean age of 17.03 years. The results indicated that all models provided satisfactory model fit with statistical superiority for the Externalising Behaviours and seven-factor Hybrid models. The PTSD prevalence estimates varied substantially ranging from 21.8% for the DSM-5 model to 10.0% for the Hybrid model. Estimates of risk associated with PTSD were inconsistent across the alternative models, with substantial variation emerging for sexual victimisation. These findings have important implications for research and practice and highlight that more research attention is needed to examine the diagnostic implications emerging from the alternative models of PTSD.

Matched MeSH terms: Crime Victims/psychology*
Risk Factors for Social Networking Site Scam Victimization Among Malaysian Students

Kirwan GH, Fullwood C, Rooney B

Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw, 2018 Feb;21(2):123-128.
PMID: 29048944 DOI: 10.1089/cyber.2016.0714

Social networking sites (SNSs) can provide cybercriminals with various opportunities, including gathering of user data and login credentials to enable fraud, and directing of users toward online locations that may install malware onto their devices. The techniques employed by such cybercriminals can include clickbait (text or video), advertisement of nonexistent but potentially desirable products, and hoax competitions/giveaways. This study aimed to identify risk factors associated with falling victim to these malicious techniques. An online survey was completed by 295 Malaysian undergraduate students, finding that more than one-third had fallen victim to SNS scams. Logistic regression analysis identified several victimization risk factors including having higher scores in impulsivity (specifically cognitive complexity), using fewer devices for SNSs, and having been on an SNS for a longer duration. No reliable model was found for vulnerability to hoax valuable gift giveaways and "friend view application" advertising specifically, but vulnerability to video clickbait was predicted by lower extraversion scores, higher levels of openness to experience, using fewer devices, and being on an SNS for a longer duration. Other personality traits were not associated with either overall victimization susceptibility or increased risk of falling victim to the specific techniques. However, age approached significance within both the video clickbait and overall victimization models. These findings suggest that routine activity theory may be particularly beneficial in understanding and preventing SNSs scam victimization.

Matched MeSH terms: Crime Victims/psychology*
Normative beliefs about aggression as a mediator of narcissistic exploitativeness and cyberbullying

Ang RP, Tan KA, Talib Mansor A

J Interpers Violence, 2011 Sep;26(13):2619-34.
PMID: 21156699 DOI: 10.1177/0886260510388286

The current study examined normative beliefs about aggression as a mediator between narcissistic exploitativeness and cyberbullying using two Asian adolescent samples from Singapore and Malaysia. Narcissistic exploitativeness was significantly and positively associated with cyberbullying and normative beliefs about aggression and normative beliefs about aggression were significantly and positively associated with cyberbullying. Normative beliefs about aggression were a significant partial mediator in both samples; these beliefs about aggression served as one possible mechanism of action by which narcissistic exploitativeness could exert its influence on cyberbullying. Findings extended previous empirical research by showing that such beliefs can be the mechanism of action not only in offline but also in online contexts and across cultures. Cyberbullying prevention and intervention efforts should include modification of norms and beliefs supportive of the legitimacy and acceptability of cyberbullying.

Matched MeSH terms: Crime Victims/psychology*
Fulltext School bullying and its association with psychological wellbeing: Findings of the Fujian Adolescent Mental Wellness Study (FAMWeS)

Jiang J, Luo Z, Chen Y, Alias H, Wong LP, Lin Y, et al.

PLoS One, 2026;21(4):e0315993.
PMID: 41990108 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0315993

BACKGROUND: School bullying is becoming a prevalent phenomenon in China, posing a growing threat to the psychological well-being of children and adolescents. This study aims to examine bullying victimization and bullying behavior using data from FAMWeS (the Fujian Adolescent Mental Wellness Study), and how they impact emotional state and psychological distress.
METHOD: The study conducted in entire Fujian Province, China, involved a cross-sectional questionnaire survey on adolescent students from secondary and high schools, employing multi-stage stratified cluster sampling methods from May to July 2023. Primary outcome measures were bullying victimization and bullying behavior. Emotional state was evaluated using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale for Youth (DASS-Y), and psychological distress was assessed using the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12).
RESULTS: Analysis of 53,157 valid responses revealed that 19.4% of respondents reported being victims of bullying, 9.9% reported engaging in bullying behavior, and 8.2% reported experiencing both bullying victimization and engaging in bullying themselves. A minority were found to have depressive (19.1%), anxiety (22.0%), and stress (9.2%) symptoms. The presence of psychological distress was observed in 54.4% of the participants (GHQ score of 3-12). Significant associations were found between bullying victimization and the DASS-Y subscales of depression, anxiety, and stress. Odds ratios indicated a 1.73 times higher likelihood for depression (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.521.96), 2.24 times higher for anxiety (OR 2.24, 95% CI 1.96-2.55), and 1.59 times higher for stress (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.38-1.84). Similarly, psychological distress measured by the GHQ was significantly associated with bullying victimization (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.68-1.86). Bullying behavior also showed significant associations with all DASS-Y subscales and psychological distress. Geographic disparities revealed varying rates across districts, while factors such as age, academic performance, and parental education emerged as significant influences on bullying victimization and behavior.
CONCLUSION: The findings underscore a concerning prevalence of bullying victimization and behavior, highlighting the critical need for comprehensive anti-bullying strategies that address both victimization and perpetration dynamics. There is also a clear need for interventions targeting socio-economic disparities across various geographic regions.

Matched MeSH terms: Crime Victims/psychology
Fulltext Bullying behavior and mental health among college students in Sichuan, China: a cross-sectional study

Jing Y, Cao R, Yang D, Liu Y, Zhang J, Hui H, et al.

Front Public Health, 2026;14:1889019.
PMID: 42935642 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1889019

BACKGROUND: Bullying is a known risk factor for poor mental health in adolescents. Although bullying research has largely focused on adolescent populations, college students represent a distinct group warranting dedicated attention. They shoulder unique developmental tasks including academic competition and career preparation, and exhibit behavioral characteristics of frequent engagement with digital platforms. This study examined the prevalence of bullying and its associations with depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1,120 students from August 18 to September 10, 2025. We recruited participants from a single college through class-based online channels using convenience sampling. Standardized scales assessed bullying experiences, anxiety, depression, PTSD symptoms, and psychological resilience.
RESULTS: A total of 241(21.5%) students reported being bullied, and 101(9.0%) reported bullying others. Mann-Whitney U tests showed no significant effects of age and ethnicity on the four mental health indicators (all p > 0.05). Gender and family residence groups exhibited statistically significant differences in GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores; additionally, family residence groups differed in CD-RISC-25 scores (p 

Matched MeSH terms: Crime Victims/psychology