Sexual Harassment, Generalized Workplace Abuse and Drinking Outcomes: The Role of Personality Vulnerability

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Abstract
Interpersonal stressors, including workplace harassment and abuse, have been associated with deleterious drinking outcomes. Studies have also shown that the relationship between drinking and stress can be moderated by personality characteristics. This study examines the roles that neuroticism and narcissism play in the perception of sexual harassment and generalized workplace abuse. Utilizing data from a two-wave study of university employees, we found that respondents high on neuroticism and narcissism were significantly more likely to report abusive or harassing work environments at both waves of the study. However, significant associations between harassment or abuse and deleterious drinking outcomes remained after controlling for personality characteristics. The implications of these results are discussed.