Defense Date

6-9-2017

Graduation Date

Summer 1-1-2017

Availability

Immediate Access

Submission Type

dissertation

Degree Name

EdD

Department

Counselor Education and Supervision (ExCES)

School

School of Education

Committee Chair

Lisa Lopez Levers

Committee Member

Scott Massey

Committee Member

Gibbs Kanyongo

Keywords

Beck Depression II Inventory; Bronfenbrenner; certified rehabilitation counseling; depression; workplace bullying; Workplace Psychologically Violent Behaviors Survey

Abstract

Certified rehabilitation counselors (CRCs) are required to work with one of the nation’s most vulnerable populations—people with disabilities. In order for CRCs to deliver optimum services and stay mentally nourished, a healthy working environment is essential. Workplace bullying is defined by WBI (2014) as “repeated, health harming mistreatment of one or more persons.” Workplace bullying can take many forms, such as threats, humiliation, intimidation, sabotaging a target’s work, and verbal and physical abuse.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a prevalence in CRCs’ experiencing workplace bullying and their levels of depression. The dependent variables included CRCs’ experience of workplace bullying and levels of depression as measured on the BDI-II.

This study employed a descriptive survey research design to determine the nature and frequency of workplace bullying. The BDI-II was used to determine levels of depression. The findings revealed that CRCs are experiencing workplace bullying and high levels of depression as measured by the BDI-II.

The Workplace Psychologically Violent Behavior instrument was used to measure the frequency of CRCs’ experience of workplace bullying. The BDI-II measured the levels of depression in CRCs. The null hypothesis was retained in three of the six hypotheses. However, the null hypotheses were rejected in the remaining three hypotheses, including those related to the prevalence of CRCs’ experience of workplace bullying, incidences of depression in the population of CRCs, and the gender of CRCs experiencing depression. A significant difference was found in female CRCs’ experience of depression as analyzed by the t scores. The study raised issues concerning the relationship between workplace bullying in CRCs and levels of depression which have important implications for future research.

Format

PDF

Language

English

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