Abstract(s)
BACKGROUND: Workplace violence is a serious concern for workers’ mental health and
well-being in high risk work sectors. OBJECTIVE: This study examined victims’ and
witnesses’ experiences after exposure to workplace violence, and the types of helps they used
to cope with the violent event. METHODS: Workers (n = 211) from five different work
sectors participated in our study. Multiple mediation analysis was used to investigate the
indirect effects through psychological and work consequences on victims’ vs. witnesses’
differential likelihood of using formal, paraformal and informal helping. RESULTS: Results
showed that workplace violence has detrimental effects on both victims and witnesses, with
direct victims were more negatively affected psychologically and at work than witnesses. The
indirect effect through psychological difficulty after experiencing workplace violence was
significant in predicting formal helping. The indirect effect through reduced work functioning
in predicting paraformal helping was also significant. No significant indirect effect was found
in predicting informal helping. CONCLUSIONS: Both victims and witnesses used
multiple types of helping to cope with the violent event. This study has practical
implications on management and clinical practices for better organizations of resources in
helping victims and witnesses to cope with workplace violence.