WORKPLACE BULLYING AND HARASSMENT AS BARRIERS TO MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION IN NIGERIAN - A REVIEW

Authors

  • Lois N. Omaka- Amari Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, Ebonyi State University, Nigeria
  • Mary Boniface Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka
  • David Esther Ihuoma Home Economics Hospitality Management and Tourism, Ebonyi State University, Nigeria
  • Michael Okereke Olom Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, University of Calabar, Nigeria
  • Patricia C. Ngwakwe Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, Ebonyi State University, Nigeria
  • Benjamin E. Usulor Department of Arts & Social Sciences, Ebonyi State University, Nigeria
  • Ogueri Emmanuel Obinna Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria
  • Omaka God’slove Oko Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, Ebonyi State University, Nigeria
  • Joy Anulika Alo Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, Ebonyi State University, Nigeria
  • Precious Alagu Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, Ebonyi State University, Nigeria
  • Esther Adaeze Isaac Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, Ebonyi State University, Nigeria
  • Christian O. Aleke Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, Ebonyi State University, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejphs.v9i2.259

Keywords:

workplace, bullying, harassment, health promotion, mental health, Nigeria

Abstract

Workplace bullying and harassment are a critical barrier to mental health promotion in Nigerian workplaces. This paper highlights how persistent negative behaviours such as verbal abuse, intimidation, exclusion, and sexual harassment undermine employee well-being, organizational productivity, and the broader goals of workplace health promotion. Drawing from global frameworks by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), the paper identifies major obstacles, including policy gaps, stigma, inadequate human resource structures, and limited empirical research, which collectively sustain toxic work environments. This finding underscores the psychological, organizational, economic, and societal implications of unchecked workplace bullying and harassment, arguing that sustainable mental health promotion requires integrated interventions at the policy, organizational, and individual levels. The paper concludes that fostering dignity, respect, and psychological safety is essential for achieving healthy and productive Nigerian workplaces.

Author Biographies

  • Lois N. Omaka- Amari, Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, Ebonyi State University, Nigeria

    Professor Lois N. Omaka-Amari is a Professor of Public Health Education and a Lecturer in the Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, Ebonyi State University, Nigeria. Her research interest is public health education, environmental health, maternal and child health.

  • Mary Boniface, Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka

    Mary Boniface is a PhD student and a lecturer in theDepartment of Human Kinetics and Health Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Her area of specialization is on Public Health Education.

  • David Esther Ihuoma, Home Economics Hospitality Management and Tourism, Ebonyi State University, Nigeria

    Dr. David Esther Ihuomais a lecturer and current Head of Department of Home Economics Hospitality Management and Tourism, Ebonyi State University, Nigeria. Her area of specialization is on nutrition, hospitality, management and social science studies.

  • Michael Okereke Olom, Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, University of Calabar, Nigeria

    Dr. Michael Okereke Olomis a Lecturer in the Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, University of Calabar, Nigeria. His research focus is on public health with research interest in health information management.

  • Patricia C. Ngwakwe, Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, Ebonyi State University, Nigeria

    Dr. Patricia C. Ngwakwe is a senior Lecturer in Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria with
    research interests in sports and exercise psychology.

  • Benjamin E. Usulor, Department of Arts & Social Sciences, Ebonyi State University, Nigeria

    Dr. Benjamin E. Usuloris a senior Lecturer in Department of Arts & Social Sciences education, Ebonyi State University, Nigeria. His research focus is on social studies education with research interest in instructional strategies and curriculum development.

  • Ogueri Emmanuel Obinna, Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria

    Dr. Ogueri Emmanuel Obinnais an Associate Professor in Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. He is a researcher and academic specializing in Health and Physical Education and Medical/Applied Physics. His primary research interests focus on physical exercise behavior, public health, and radioactivity measurement.

  • Omaka God’slove Oko, Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, Ebonyi State University, Nigeria

    Omaka God’slove Okois a lecturer Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, Ebonyi State University, Nigeria. He is a researcher and academic specializing in Health Education. His primary research interests in public health education.

  • Joy Anulika Alo, Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, Ebonyi State University, Nigeria

    Joy Anulika Alois a lecturer Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, Ebonyi State University, Nigeria. He is a researcher and academic specializing in Health Education. His primary research interests in public health education. 

  • Precious Alagu, Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, Ebonyi State University, Nigeria

    Precious Alaguis a lecturer in the Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, Ebonyi State University, Nigeria. Her research focus is in exercise physiology, sports medicine and athletic training.

  • Esther Adaeze Isaac, Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, Ebonyi State University, Nigeria

    Esther Adaeze Isaacis a lecturer in the Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, Ebonyi State University, Nigeria His research focus is in exercise physiology, health and wellness, sports medicine and athletic training.

  • Christian O. Aleke, Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, Ebonyi State University, Nigeria

    Dr. Christian Okechukwu Aleke is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria. His research focus is on public health education, occupational health, mental health & health promotion.

    ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2142-5967

References

Afolaranmi, T. O., Hassan, Z. I., Gokir, B. M., Kilani, A., Igboke, R., Ugwu, K. G., Amaike, C. & Ofakunrin, A. (2022). Workplace Bullying and Its Associated Factors Among Medical Doctors in Residency Training in a Tertiary Health Institution in Plateau State Nigeria. Front. Public Health 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2021.812979

Ahad, A. A., Sanchez-Gonzalez, M., & Junquera, P. (2023). Understanding and addressing mental health stigma across cultures for improving psychiatric care: A narrative review. Cureus, 15(5). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.39549

Ahmed, A. K., Atta, M. H. R., El-Monshed, A. H., & Mohamed, A. I. (2024). The effect of toxic leadership on workplace deviance: The mediating effect of emotional exhaustion, and the moderating effect of organizational cynicism. BMC Nursing, 23(1), 669. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-024-02308-x

Aleke, C. O., Alo, C. A., Nwafor, J. N., & Ochiaka, R. E. (2023). Conflict Management as a Factor in the Promotion of Health and Peaceful Coexistence in the Workplace. Nigerian Journal of Health Promotion, 13(1). Retrieved from https://journals.aphriapub.com/index.php/NJHP/article/view/1702

Andersen, L. L., Proper, K. I., Punnett, L., Wynne, R., Persson, R., & Wiezer, N. (2015). Workplace health promotion and wellbeing. The Scientific World Journal, 2015, 606875. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/606875

Ani, J. I., Ajayi-Ojo, V. O., & Batisai, K. (2024). Financial scarcity, psychological well-being, and perceptions: An evaluation of the outcomes of the Nigerian currency redesign policy. BMC Public Health, 24(1), 1164. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-18603-w

Bosma, A. R., Boot, C. R. L., Schaap, R., Schaafsma, F. G., & Anema, J. R. (2022). Participatory approach to create a supportive work environment for employees with chronic conditions: A pilot implementation study. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 64(8), 665–674. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000002557

Chinnah, P. C. & Nwankwo, C. E. (2025). Workplace Bullying and Service Delivery in Nigeria: A Prognostic Analysis of Nigerian Public Sector. From 2010 – 2025, Journal of Public Administration and Social Welfare Research, 10(6).

Dartey A. F., Johnson B. B., Klutsey E. E., Tsibu E. Y., Akalimaga M. A., Asafo D. K., Aborge R., Ampiah J. A., Wisdom A. K. (2026). Effects of Workplace Bullying on Employees' Mental Health and Well-Being Among Hospital Staff in Ho, Volta Region of Ghana. SAGE Open Nurs. Jan 21;12.. doi: 10.1177/23779608251415240.

International Labour Organization (ILO). (2019). Eliminating violence and harassment in the world of work: Convention No. 190, Recommendation No. 206, and the accompanying resolution. International Labour Office.

Jain, A., Leka, S., & Zwetsloot, G. I. J. M. (2018). Work, health, safety and well-being: Current state of the art. In Managing health, safety and well-being: Ethics, responsibility and sustainability (pp. 1–31). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1261-1_1

Javed, I., Niazi, A., Nawaz, S., Ali, M., & Hussain, M. (2023). Impact of workplace bullying on work engagement among early career employees. PLOS ONE, 18(10). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0285345

Kobau, R., Seligman, M. E., Peterson, C., Diener, E., Zack, M. M., Chapman, D., & Thompson, W. (2011). Mental health promotion in public health: Perspectives and strategies from positive psychology. American Journal of Public Health, 101(8), e1–e9. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2010.300083

Koinig, I., & Diehl, S. (2021). Healthy leadership and workplace health promotion as a pre-requisite for organizational health. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(17). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18179260

Mbada, C. E., Efunniyi, A. O., Omole, J. O., Adegbemigun, O. D., Ademoyegun, A. B., Fasuyi, F., & Adekanla, B. A. (2025). Bullying experience among Nigerian physiotherapists: Prevalence and impact on workplace performance. Journal of Taibah University Medical Sciences, 20(2), 234–241. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtumed.2025.03.002

Mehmood, S., Rasool, M., Ahmed, M., Haddad, H., & Al-Ramahi, N. M. (2024). Role of workplace bullying and workplace incivility for employee performance: Mediated-moderated mechanism. PLOS ONE, 19(1), e0291877. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0291877

Nielsen, M. B., & Einarsen, S. V. (2018). What we know, what we do not know, and what we should and could have known about workplace bullying: An overview of the literature and agenda for future research. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 42, 71–83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2018.06.007

Nielsen, M. B., Rosander, M., & Einarsen, S. V. (2023). Witnessing workplace bullying: Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis of individual health and well-being outcomes. Systematic Reviews, 12(1), 119. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-023-02288-0

Nkporbu, A., & Douglas, K. (2016). Prevalence and pattern of workplace bullying as psychosocial hazards among workers in a tertiary institution in Nigeria. Open Access Library Journal, 3, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1102627

Nwobodo, E. P., Strukcinskiene, B., Razbadauskas, A., Grigoliene, R., & Agostinis-Sobrinho, C. (2023). Stress management in healthcare organizations: The Nigerian context. Healthcare, 11(21), 2815. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11212815

Okechukwu, C. A., Souza, K., Davis, K. D., & de Castro, A. B. (2014). Discrimination, harassment, abuse, and bullying in the workplace: Contribution of workplace injustice to occupational health disparities. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 57(5), 573–586. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.22221

Olude, O. A., Odeyemi, K., Kanma-Okafor, O. J., Badru, O. A., Bashir, S. A., Olusegun, J. O., & Atilola, O. (2022). Mental health status of doctors and nurses in a Nigerian tertiary hospital: A COVID-19 experience. The South African Journal of Psychiatry, 28, 1904. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v28i0.1904

Onu, N. (2024). An analysis of workers’ protection in the Labour Act 2004 and the Employees’ Compensation Act 2010 in Nigeria. African Journal of International Energy & Environmental Law, 10(1), 185–193. Retrieved from https://ajieel.com/index.php/a/article/view/114

Rasool, S. F., Wang, M., Tang, M., Saeed, A., & Iqbal, J. (2021). How a toxic workplace environment affects employee engagement: The mediating role of organizational support and employee well-being. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(5), 2294. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18052294

Tiesman, H. M., Hendricks, S. A., Wiegand, D. M., Lopes-Cardozo, B., Rao, C. Y., Horter, L., Rose, C. E., & Byrkit, R. (2023). Workplace violence and the mental health of public health workers during COVID-19. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 64(3), 315–325. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2022.10.004

World Health Organization (WHO). (2010). Healthy workplaces: A model for action, for employers, workers, policy-makers and practitioners. World Health Organization. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241599313

World Health Organization (WHO). (2022). Mental health. https://www.who.int/health-topics/mental-health

Wuni, A., Musah, A., Sisala, I. M., Abdulai, A. M., Chanayireh, L., Nyarko, B. A., Buasilenu, H., Mohammed Ibrahim, M., Musah, S., Azure, D., & Abdulai, N. (2025). “We are our own worst enemies”: Workplace bullying among nurses and its implications on healthcare workers and job performance: A multi-facility study in the Tamale Metropolis. Nursing Open, 12(7), e70282. https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.70282

Zhenjing, G., Chupradit, S., Ku, K. Y., Nassani, A. A., & Haffar, M. (2022). Impact of employees’ workplace environment on employees’ performance: A multi-mediation model. Frontiers in Public Health, 10, 890400. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.890400

Downloads

Published

2026-06-17

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 2 (2026)

Section

Articles

License

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.

Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.

Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).

How to Cite

WORKPLACE BULLYING AND HARASSMENT AS BARRIERS TO MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION IN NIGERIAN - A REVIEW. (2026). European Journal of Public Health Studies, 9(2). https://doi.org/10.46827/ejphs.v9i2.259