Factor Structure of Generalized Workplace Harassment

• NCJ Number: 207070
• Journal: Violence and Victims Volume: 19 Issue: 2 Dated: April 2004 Pages: 221-238
• Author(s): Kathleen M. Rospenda; Judith A. Richman
• Date Published: April 2004
• Length: 18 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Measurement/Evaluation Device
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article describes the development, factor structure, and psychometric properties of a 29-item instrument designed to assess generalized workplace harassment in 5 domains: verbal aggression, disrespect, isolation/exclusion, threats/bribes, and physical aggression.

Abstract

In the United States, while sexual harassment is identified as an illegal form of sex discrimination, other forms of workplace harassment are not prohibited by current United States law. These more generalized forms of harassment have received increased research attention over the past few years. This article unifies descriptions of generalized forms of workplace harassment under the term “generalized workplace harassment” and discusses the development and psychometric characteristics of the Generalized Workplace Harassment Questionnaire (GWHQ). The GWHQ measures employee perceptions of harassing experiences at work in the five domains identified through a literature review and series of eight focus groups of university employees. Focus groups were stratified by gender and occupation and included a total of 66 individuals. Questionnaires were also completed by 2,492 employees who completed the 29-item GWHQ, a modified version of the Sexual Experiences Questionnaire, the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, and the Symptom Checklist 90 Revised. Results of factor analysis suggested a five-factor solution that did not correspond to the original five domains. A revised scoring scheme is presented utilizing four of the empirically extracted domains: covert hostility, verbal hostility, manipulation, and physical hostility. Participants reported covert hostility as the most frequently experienced form of generalized workplace harassment, followed by verbal hostility, manipulation, and physical hostility. Covert hostility was also the strongest predictor of depression and hostility. The findings indicate that generalized workplace harassment is a multifaceted construct that deserves further analytic and empirical consideration given the implications for global mental health outcomes. Tables, note, references, appendix