Impact of workplace bullying on intrusive thoughts and ideation of anti-corporate activities: A function of hotel workers’ distress and emotion regulation

This study examines the psychological effects of workplace bullying in the hospitality industry, focusing on its role in triggering intrusive thoughts and anti-corporate ideation among hotel employees. A mixed-methods approach was used: qualitative interviews with industry experts informed the development of context-specific bullying indicators, followed by a quantitative survey of 416 hotel employees in China. Structural equation modeling revealed that verbal abuse and discriminatory treatment significantly increased feelings of loneliness, which in turn led to intrusive thoughts and anti-corporate attitudes. While distress tolerance and emotion regulation moderated the effects of alienation and discrimination on loneliness, they had no buffering effect on verbal abuse. The findings emphasize the psychological mechanisms underlying employee responses to bullying and contribute to both social exchange theory and practical interventions aimed at promoting emotional resilience and safer workplace environments in the hospitality sector.