Identifying the Components of Workplace Mobbing and Examining its Impact on Employees’ Mental Health

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

• Hamed Erfaniyan Dabbaghnoghani ¹
• Hamed KhorasaniToroghi ²
• Vahid Mirzaei ²

¹ PhD Student, Department of Public Administration, Bojnord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Bojnord, Iran

² Assistant Professor, Department of Public Administration, Bojnord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Bojnord, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22067/tmj.2024.89656.1600

Abstract

 
1- INTRODUCTION
This study investigates workplace mobbing and its impact on the mental health of employees at Mashhad Municipality. Organizational mobbing is recognized as a critical deviant behavior that significantly harms employees and organizational performance. These behaviors include physical violence, verbal abuse, harassment, intimidation, discrimination, and destructive actions, which can severely affect individuals' mental well-being. Considering the significance of Mashhad Municipality as one of the largest semi-governmental organizations in Iran, addressing mobbing and its consequences is vital for improving organizational efficiency and enhancing employee satisfaction.
 
2- THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
The theoretical framework of this research is based on concepts of organizational deviance and mental health. Organizational mobbing refers to a set of harmful and repetitive behaviors aimed at harming individuals or groups in the workplace. Previous studies highlight the long-term psychological, physical, and social impacts of these behaviors. Mental health, a key determinant of life quality and job performance, includes four main dimensions: anxiety and sleep disorders, depression, physical responses, and social functioning.
 
3- METHODOLOGY
This applied research utilized a mixed-methods approach (qualitative and quantitative). In the qualitative phase, data were collected through interviews with 17 experts in management and psychology, each with at least 10 years of professional experience. This phase identified 35 mobbing-related factors, which were finalized using the Delphi method. In the quantitative phase, the population comprised Mashhad Municipality employees with a minimum of five years of service, from which 164 participants were randomly selected. Data collection tools included a mobbing questionnaire (based on qualitative findings) and the Goldberg & Hillier General Health Questionnaire. The data were analyzed using SPSS and various statistical tests.
 
4- RESULTS & DISCUSSION
The results revealed that workplace mobbing significantly impacts employees' mental health. Six key dimensions of mobbing were confirmed: physical violence, verbal abuse, harassment, intimidation, discrimination, and destructive/deviant behaviors. These behaviors had the most significant effects on mental health dimensions, including anxiety and sleep disorders (r = 0.871), depression (r = 0.685), physical responses (r = 0.582), and social functioning (r = 0.676). Employees exposed to mobbing experienced severe psychological issues, such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, and reduced social interactions. These findings align with previous research, which highlights mobbing as a major stressor leading to decreased motivation, reduced self-confidence, and impaired job performance.
 
5- CONCLUSIONS & SUGGESTIONS
The study underscores the adverse effects of workplace mobbing on both employee mental health and organizational productivity. Managers at Mashhad Municipality should identify early signs of mobbing and implement preventive measures to mitigate such behaviors. Training programs for managers and supervisors are recommended to help them recognize mobbing symptoms and intervene effectively. Furthermore, fostering an open and supportive organizational culture, conducting anonymous surveys, and offering psychological counseling services can reduce the impact of mobbing and enhance employees' mental health. It is also suggested that intervention programs, such as yoga, breathing exercises, and group activities, be introduced to build employee resilience and reduce mobbing effects. These strategies can play a crucial role in improving working conditions, increasing job satisfaction, and ultimately enhancing organizational performance.

Keywords

• Workplace Mobbing
• Mental Health
• Anxiety and Sleep Disorder
• Physical Reaction
• Social Performance

©2025 The author(s). This is an open access article distributed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).

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