arbiter
JournalsAccount

Brittle Through the Ripple Effect of Disrespect? Stress Sensitization from Experienced Workplace Incivility

Miriam Schilbach et al.

Journal of Business and Psychology2026https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-026-10099-yarticle
AJG 3ABDC A
Weight
0.50

Abstract

This study investigates stress sensitization in a work context. Integrating stress-as-offense-to-self theory into stress sensitization, we argue that workplace incivility experienced in the past relates to heightened stress reactivity to various current stressors (i.e., workplace incivility, quantitative stressors, work-related hassles, and a laboratory stressor), with lower self-efficacy explaining these effects. To test these assumptions, we conducted a four-week weekly study with 314 employees, of whom 58 additionally participated in the laboratory-based Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). Stress reactivity was measured via negative affect in the weekly surveys and psychological distress as well as heart rate in the TSST. Hypotheses were tested using mediated-moderation analyses for the weekly data and latent growth modelling combining the weekly with the TSST data. Results showed that incivility experienced throughout the first three weeks related to stronger psychological stress reactivity to incivility, quantitative stressors and work-related hassles in week four. Self-efficacy partially mediated this moderation effect. In addition, past workplace incivility related to a stronger psychological but not physiological stress reactivity to the TSST. In sum, these results support the assumptions of stress sensitization and show that past workplace incivility positively relates to psychological vulnerability across a range of current stressors.

Open via your library →

Cite this paper

https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-026-10099-y

Or copy a formatted citation

@article{miriam2026,
  title        = {{Brittle Through the Ripple Effect of Disrespect? Stress Sensitization from Experienced Workplace Incivility}},
  author       = {Miriam Schilbach et al.},
  journal      = {Journal of Business and Psychology},
  year         = {2026},
  doi          = {https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-026-10099-y},
}

Paste directly into BibTeX, Zotero, or your reference manager.

Flag this paper

Brittle Through the Ripple Effect of Disrespect? Stress Sensitization from Experienced Workplace Incivility

Flags are reviewed by the Arbiter methodology team within 5 business days.

Evidence weight

0.50

Balanced mode · F 0.40 / M 0.15 / V 0.05 / R 0.40

F · citation impact0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20
M · momentum0.50 × 0.15 = 0.07
V · venue signal0.50 × 0.05 = 0.03
R · text relevance †0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20

† Text relevance is estimated at 0.50 on the detail page — for your query’s actual relevance score, open this paper from a search result.