Proactive Personality and Workplace Bullying: A Stressor and Strain Model

Abstract

Using the stressor – strain model introduced by Bolger and Zuckerman (1995), we examined the importance of the proactive personality construct in determining: (a) exposure to stressors, (b) stressor reactivity, (c) coping choices, and (d) coping effectiveness in the context of workplace bullying. We found that proactive personality buffered the impact of bullying on physical strain. The results showed that both proactive personality and workplace bullying influenced the choice of coping. Proactive personality also played a role in moderating the relationship between coping strategies and strain. Additionally, coping through positive reinterpretation may be more beneficial in dealing with workplace bullying than more active strategies for both proactive and passive people.