Brittle Through the Ripple Effect of Disrespect? Stress Sensitization from Experienced Workplace Incivility

Abstract This study investigates stress sensitization in a work context. Integrating stress-as-offense-to-self theory into stress sensitization, we argue that workplace incivility experienced in the past relates to heightened stress reactivity to various current stressors (i.e., workplace incivility, quantitative stressors, work-related hassles, and a laboratory stressor), with lower self-efficacy explaining these effects. To test these assumptions, we conducted a four-week weekly study with 314 employees, of whom 58 additionally participated in the laboratory-based Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). Stress reactivity was measured via negative affect in the weekly surveys and psychological distress as well as heart rate in the TSST. Hypotheses were tested using mediated-moderation analyses for the weekly data and latent growth modelling combining the weekly with the TSST data. Results showed that incivility experienced throughout the first three weeks related to stronger psychological stress reactivity to incivility, quantitative stressors and work-related hassles in week four. Self-efficacy partially mediated this moderation effect. In addition, past workplace incivility related to a stronger psychological but not physiological stress reactivity to the TSST. In sum, these results support the assumptions of stress sensitization and show that past workplace incivility positively relates to psychological vulnerability across a range of current stressors.