Bullying at work doesn't just kill motivation; researchers reveal its impact on our families as well.

Workplace bullying, prevalent in many professional environments, has long been recognized as a detrimental influence on employee health. However, recent studies indicate that the effects of this phenomenon extend beyond individual workers and the work atmosphere, significantly impacting the well-being of their partners, as reported by News Medical.

A collaborative study conducted by the University of East Anglia in the UK, along with the Complutense University of Madrid and the University of Seville in Spain, enabled researchers to uncover the immediate consequences of workplace bullying on various sleep-related factors.

The conditions examined included premature awakening, disruptions to daily life due to poor sleep, and overall dissatisfaction with sleep quality.

Results from the study, published in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence, reveal a concerning trend: employees who experience bullying often suffer from progressively worsening sleep disturbances over time, including difficulties falling asleep, maintaining sleep, and early morning awakenings. This progression is largely explained by "anger rumination" — a process in which individuals continuously recall distressing events, such as mistreatment at work, which among other things harms our hearts.

The lead author of the study, Professor Ana Sanz-Vergel from the Norwich Business School, explains that this constant rumination serves as a maladaptive coping mechanism. While individuals may believe that mentally reprocessing negative experiences will help them cope and move on, it often exacerbates stress and interferes with restful sleep.

Moreover, the study identified a "contagious" aspect of insomnia: sleep disturbances experienced by the affected employee can be transmitted to their partner, leading to shared sleep issues and mutual disruptions in daily life. This phenomenon underscores the interconnected nature of sleep health in intimate relationships.

To reach these conclusions, researchers conducted two different phases of the study. In the first phase, 147 employees were observed for five days, while in the second phase, 139 couples were monitored over two months. Participants residing in Spain provided data on exposure to workplace bullying, levels of work-related anger rumination, and various indicators of insomnia.

The results consistently demonstrated that bullying indirectly exacerbates sleep problems through increased rumination. Additionally, partners of employees who faced bullying reported parallel sleep disturbances, suggesting that one partner's sleep issues can directly affect the other’s, likely due to shared sleep environments and emotional connections. These findings highlight the need for comprehensive measures to combat workplace bullying, the authors stated.

Initiatives aimed at couples may equip both partners with stress coping strategies, thereby reducing rumination levels and improving sleep quality for both, the researchers propose.

This material is for informational purposes only and does not contain advice that may affect your health. If you are experiencing issues, please consult a professional.