Mobbing in working life and its effects on health: A cross sectional study among privately-owned bank workers İş yaşamı;nda psikolojik yı;ldı;rma (mobbing) ve etkileri: Özel sermayeli bankalarda çalı;şanlar arası;nda kesitsel bir araştı;rma

Abstract

Objective: Awareness about mobbing is continuously growing around the world. The mobbing which is humiliating and disgracing behavior, effects the individual's mental health especially the self concept. The aim of current study is to evaluate the psychological effects and dimensions of the mobbing that the workers encountered in workplace. Material and Methods: A total of 292 workers in privately-owned banks have been included in the study. Individuals responded a questionnaire that contains questions about demographic features of individuals, information about mobbing and exposure to mobbing. Results: Of all individuals, 55.5% were females, 42.5% were in their thirties (30-39 years), 58.2% were married and 79.4% had a college degree. 73.3% of all individuals encountered mobbing and 59.8% were females. 55.1% of mobbing-exposed individuals were middle level managers. Mobbing was more often originated from superiors of male individuals whereas females exposed the mobbing by their same level colleagues. Headache was the most common complaint in females (70.1%), in males it was hypertension (53.8%). All participants reported that the most common mobbing cause was insufficient managenent. Sixty four point seven percent of the individuals regarded the mobbing as an occupational health problem that needed to be prevented. 37.9% of mobbing-exposed individuals declared that nothing had changed after they reported the mobbing to their superiors. Conclusion: This study showed that most of workers exposed mobbing. The mobbing should be regarded as an occupational health problem and required preventive measures should be applied. Occupational health professionals play the major role for taking precautions against the mobbing and also for informing the people in workplace about mobbing.