Gender Patterns in Mobbing Victims: Differences in Negative Act Perceptions, MMPI Personality Profile, Perceived Quality of Life, and Suicide Risk

Abstract

With the aim of investigating the impact of gender-related personality characteristics on bullying perceptions and outcomes, a correlational study was designed with 114 individuals who had used a public health service aimed at harassed workers identifying themselves as victims of mobbing in central Italy. The study was conducted using the following questionnaires: the Negative Acts Questionnaire (NAQ), a measure of workplace bullying; the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2), used to provide information to measure personality dimensions for workplace screening; the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BRIEF) which assesses four domains assumed to represent the quality of life construct; and the Suicidal Potential Scale (SPS) used to assess suicidal ideation. MMPI-2 profile results show a significant elevation of specific MMPI scales and gender differences. When compared to women, men who complain of being the victims of negative actions at work are more depressed, paranoid, introverted, anxious, and obsessive, and have higher anger levels and lower self-esteem. Many different MMPI-2 scales are also predictors of quality of life (QoL) perceptions and suicidal tendencies. The NAQ total score, however, predicts quality of life and suicide risk. Perceptions of negative actions have a serious effect on life outcomes. The results provide useful indications on personality profiles and gender differences, which can be understood as antecedents in the perception of negative events, and factors capable of modulating the effect of perceived bullying actions on outcomes.

Mobbing Perceptions of Academic Staff

“…Mobbing is a complex phenomenon with a number of facets, which merits further academic attention (Einarsen, Hoel, Zapf & Cooper, 2011;Nielsen, Indregard & Øverland, 2016) but, in any event, there are several studies that focus on the organizational perspective, with less importance placed on the possible link between harassment perceptions and a victim's personal characteristics (Mikkelsen & Einarsen, 2002;Einarsen & Nielsen, 2015). In light of this, it seems crucial to understand the various factors playing a role in the association between workplace bullying perceptions and outcomes, such as having certain personal characteristics and dispositions (Djurkovic, McCormack & Casimir, 2006;Glasø, Vie, Holmfjord & Einarsen, 2011;Alfano, Ramaci, Landolfi, Presti & Barattucci, 2021).…”

İş Yaşamında Cinsiyet Temelinde Mobbing Algısı Üzerine Bir Meta Analiz Çalışması

“…Many studies investigating the reasons for the emergence of mobbing in business life reveal that this may be due to organizational structure, social groups or individual reasons (Zapf, 1999;Hogh et al, 2011;Shallcross et al, 2013;Lutgen-Sandvik et al, 2009). Accordingly, one of the reasons that are discussed as whether it causes mobbing and is considered as the possibility of triggering mobbing or being exposed more is the gender factor (Goralewska-Slonska, 2019;Erdis et al, 2021;Kavocic et al, 2017;Çöğenli et al, 2017;Alfano et al, 2021). When the relevant literature is reviewed, some studies have concluded that İş Yaşamında Cinsiyet Temelinde Mobbing Algısı Üzerine Bir Meta Analiz Çalışması…”

Workplace Bullying among Healthcare Professionals: A Quanti-Qualitative Survey in a Sample of Women Working in an Italian Healthcare Setting

“…Many dysfunctional aspects of organizations and their corresponding degeneration are discussed extensively in the research already conducted on this phenomenon [7]. However, the issue of WPB appears to be more complex and difficult to address, as it is associated not only with organizational determinants but also with personal variables [8]. WPB results from a relationship between organizational factors (e.g., climate), work attitudes, and health [9].…”