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Assessing Workplace Bullying: Spanish Validation of a Reduced Version of the Negative Acts Questionnaire

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 April 2014

Bernardo Moreno Jiménez ,
Alfredo Rodríguez Muñoz ,
Marino Martínez Gamarra  and
Macarena Gálvez Herrer
Bernardo Moreno Jiménez*
Affiliation:
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
Alfredo Rodríguez Muñoz
Affiliation:
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
Marino Martínez Gamarra
Affiliation:
Universidad de Zaragoza
Macarena Gálvez Herrer
Affiliation:
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
*
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Bernardo Moreno Jiménez, Dpto. Psicología Biológica y Salud, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Ctra. Colmenar Viejo, km. 15, 28049 – Madrid (Spain). Phone: 91.4975185 / 91.4975225. E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to validate a reduced Spanish version of the Negative Acts Questionnaire (NAQ; Einarsen & Raknes, 1997). This instrument, which has been widely used in various studies, was developed to measure workplace bullying. Two samples, the first comprising 352 employees from 11 organizations, and the second comprising victims of bullying who were recruited from 15 Spanish associations against bullying, participated in the study. Exploratory factor analysis conducted with the data from the first sample revealed a two-factor solution that accounted for 63.3% of the total variance. The data from the second sample were used for confirmatory factor analyses to compare three structure models of the NAQ (one factor, two independent factors, and two correlated factors). The results indicate that the correlated two-factor model provided the best fit to the data (χ2/df = 2.1, CFI = .93, GFI = .95, RMR = .04, RMSEA = .06, AIC = 215.4). Reliability analysis showed that this 14-item Spanish version had high internal consistency. Significant correlations between the NAQ and its dimensions and diverse health and perceived stress scales were found, which provided evidence of construct validity. Taken conjointly, the results of this study support the use of the Spanish version of the reduced NAQ in future research.

El objetivo del presente estudio consiste en la validación española de una versión reducida del Negative Acts Questionnaire (NAQ; Einarsen & Raknes, 1997). Este instrumento, que ha sido ampliamente utilizado en diferentes estudios, se desarrolló para la evaluación del acoso psicológico en el trabajo. Se emplearon dos muestras en el estudio. La primera estaba compuesta por 352 trabajadores de 11 organizaciones. La segunda muestra consistió en victimas de acoso psicológico, contactadas a través de 15 asociaciones españolas contra el acoso. El análisis factorial exploratorio, realizado con los datos de la primera muestra, mostró una solución de dos factores, que explica el 63,3% de la varianza total. Los datos de la segunda muestra se utilizaron para realizar análisis factoriales confirmatorios con el objetivo de comparar tres modelos diferentes de la estructura del NAQ (un factor, dos factores independientes y dos factores correlacionados). Los resultados indican que el modelo de dos factores correlacionados es el que mejor se ajusta a los datos (χ2/df = 2,1, CFI = 0,93, GFI = 0,95, RMR = 0,04, RMSEA = 0,06, AIC = 215,4). El análisis de la fiabilidad de la escala señaló que esta versión española de 14 ítems posee una elevada consistencia interna. Se encontraron correlaciones significativas entre el NAQ y sus dimensiones y distintas escalas de salud y el estrés percibido, lo que proporciona apoyo sobre su validez de constructo. De forma conjunta, los resultados de este estudio apoyan el uso de la versión española del NAQ reducido en futuras investigaciones.

Keywords

workplace bullyingassessmentNegative Acts Questionnaireoccupational healthvalidationacoso psicológico en el trabajoevaluaciónNegative Acts Questionnairesalud laboralvalidación.
Type
Articles
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 10 , Issue 2 , November 2007 , pp. 449 - 457
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2007

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