Affiliations: Center for Workforce Studies and Social Work Practice,
National Association of Social Workers, 750 First Street, N.E., Suite 700,
Washington, DC, USA. Tel.: +1 202 336 8288; Fax: +1 202 336 8307; E-mail:
twhitaker@naswdc.org
Abstract: Objective: This non-experimental, cross-sectional study examined
social workers' perceptions of bullying work relationships and their ability to
construct effective coping responses to perceived workplace bullying. Methods: Quantitative data were gathered through the use of a mailed
questionnaire, and qualitative data resulted from semi-structured individual
interviews. Participants: The quantitative sample consisted of 111 social
workers from the metropolitan, Washington, DC area, who were employed in
organizations. Two self-identified targets of bullying participated in the
interviews. Results: Nearly three of five social workers (58%) in the
sample reported being the targets of demeaning, rude, and hostile workplace
interactions more than once in the previous year. Targets were more likely to
work in government agencies/military and mental health outpatient organizations
(19% and 18% respectively). More than a third of targets (35%) held a
direct service role (clinical/direct practice), whereas almost a third (29%)
identified their role as administration or management. Conclusion: The findings from this study suggest that workplace bullying may be a problem for
social workers and that the social work profession may need to develop tools
and guidelines to help practitioners identify, confront and extinguish these
behaviors.
