Population attributable fractions of workplace mistreatment for mental health problems among employees: evidence from Swedish higher education institutions

Workplace mistreatment, including sexual harassment, incivility, and bullying, has been linked with mental health problems. However, evidence is scarce regarding the contribution of these individual and combined forms of mistreatment to the overall mental health burden in the higher education institution (HEI) workforce. This study examined associations between individual and combined forms of workplace mistreatment and self-assessed anxiety and depression among employees in Swedish HEIs, including gender differences. We also investigated the extent to which individual and combined forms of workplace mistreatment contributed to self-assessed anxiety and depression. Data from 14,047 employees across 38 Swedish HEIs were analysed using multivariate logistic regression and population attributable fractions. High levels of incivility and bullying, but not sexual harassment, were significantly associated with increased odds of self-assessed anxiety (p < 0.05). High levels of all three mistreatment types were associated with increased odds of self-assessed depression (p < 0.10). Combined forms of mistreatment were strongly associated with both self-assessed anxiety (p < 0.05) and depression (p < 0.05). Generally, while associations between mistreatment and self-assessed anxiety were stronger among women than men, associations with self-assessed depression were stronger among men than women. 47.19% of self-assessed anxiety cases and 47.39% of depression cases were attributable to individual mistreatment, particularly incivility. These findings confirm that both individual and combined forms of workplace mistreatment contribute considerably to self-assessed anxiety and depression. Effective policies and interventions addressing multiple forms of interpersonal mistreatment are needed in Swedish HEIs. While addressing sexual harassment and bullying is crucial, greater attention must be given to reducing incivility.