Wednesday Research Seminar Series - Impact of workplace incivility on choice of coping strategies: A mixed method study

We are pleased to invite you to our Wednesday Research Seminar. It will be held online via MS Teams on 26th March. Wednesday Research Seminar Series was launched in 2008 and has featured more than 370 presentations to date. The seminars provide a forum for researchers to share their work. Presenters include faculty from Middlesex University Dubai and other universities in the United Arab Emirates, as well as researchers from other global institutions. Please note the timings have changed due to Ramadan. The seminar will now start 1.45pm. Anita and Bahar  will present their work on:

“Impact of workplace incivility on choice of coping strategies: A mixed method study”
Anita Shrivastava and Bahar Hashemi

Abstract

This research drew upon a mixed-method approach to gain further insight into workplace incivility and its impact on an employee’s preferred choice of coping strategies (Avoidant Coping, Task Focused Coping, and Emotion Focused Coping). Utilizing a convenience sampling approach, data was collected from working adults that were employed in companies within the United Arab Emirates for a period of at least 6months (N=151). Three simple linear regressions and an inductive thematic analysis were conducted to analyze the quantitative and qualitative data. The quantitative findings revealed that workplace incivility significantly predicted avoidant coping as well as emotion focused coping. The complementary thematic analysis further revealed that employees who were a target of incivility were negatively impacted and often looked to trusted confidants to share their experiences with. The results of this study hope to be used as a base for developing intervention initiatives in organizations to prevent workplace incivility from escalating to more aggressive forms of behavior by providing employees with the support needed to better cope and address such situations. Implementing programs such as mindfulness training, cognitive-behavioral stress management, and proactive coping interventions are recommended to better support employees in the workplace.

Presenter Bios

Ms. Bahar Hashemi: is an HR professional with over 15 years’ experience in the media industry specializing in performance management and employee relations. She is also an adjunct lecturer and is one of our MSc alumni. This paper is converted from her dissertation.

Dr Anita Shrivastava is an Associate Professor and Head of the Psychology department at Middlesex University Dubai. She is a life member of the Indian Association of Clinical Psychologists (IACP) and member of the American Psychological Association (APA), with more than 30 years of clinical, teaching, and research experience in Ethiopia, Eritrea, India, and the UAE. She is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, UK. She obtained her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi University, India. She publishes in peer reviewed journals. Together with Nishtha and 200 authors globally from 65 nations, she has published four articles related to psychological well-being and nature exposure in high impact factor journals. Like her personality, her research interests are diverse and include positive psychology interventions, social and community aspects of mental health, business psychology, body image, cyber-trolling, mortality salience, memory biases, and chronic health issues. She is currently working on research proposals related to survivor’s guilt, and moderating role of cultural believes in seeking professional help.