Exploring the relationship between workplace bullying and workplace anxiety: Evidence from the higher education sector of Oman

This study explores the complex relationship between workplace bullying, workplace anxiety, sustainable work performance, and innovative work behavior within the higher education sector of the Sultanate of Oman. Moreover, we also investigate the mediating effect of workplace anxiety between the relationship of workplace bullying and sustainable work performance. Using the research questionnaire from the 320 samples, data were collected from the universities located in the Sultanate of Oman. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) through Smart PLS 3.2.2 to test both direct and mediating effects. The outcomes confirm that innovative work behavior brings sustainability to work performance, highlighting its central role in sustainable work performance. The results also indicate that workplace bullying has a significant negative impact on innovative work behavior as well as on sustainable work performance, emphasizing the detrimental consequences of hostile work environments. Additionally, the results confirmed that workplace anxiety mediates between workplace bullying and sustainable work performance, suggesting that psychological distress is a key mechanism through which bullying affects performance outcomes. However, workplace anxiety does not mediate the relationship between workplace bullying and innovative work behavior. This indicates that employees experiencing anxiety as a result of bullying are not necessarily less creative. One possible explanation is that anxiety can have both positive and negative aspects; Omani employees may interpret it positively, perceiving it as a challenge that encourages proactive behavior and enhances creativity. Therefore, educational institutions in Oman should strive to minimize workplace anxiety, as employees who work in a stress-free environment are likely to be more productive and engaged. Moreover, this research also adds literature on the relationship between workplace bullying, workplace anxiety, sustainable work performance, and innovative work behavior in the context of Oman.