Objective: Mobbing at work has become an alarming phenomenon
worldwide. The prevalence of mobbing among women is higher than
among men. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship
of mobbing as a psychosocial stress in the workplace with general
psychopathology and psychotic experiences among women.
Method: 428 women from the Medical Faculty of Dokuz Eylul
University were included in the study. Of the 428 women, 139 were
doctors, 190 were nurses, and 99 were sub-contracted employees.
Stratified and cluster sampling methods were used. Sociodemographic
data form, mobbing scale and symptom checklist (SCL-90-R) were
used in order to collect the data.
Results: 304 (71%) of the participants had experienced mobbing at least
once. It was determined that nurses had experienced mobbing more
frequently than doctors and sub-contracted employee. Total and subscale
scores of the mobbing scale were statistically higher in participants
who went to psychiatry outpatient clinics and who use psychiatric
medication and alcohol. There was a positive statistically significant
correlation between SCL-90-R and mobbing scale scores. Correlation
coefficients ranged from 0.25 to 0.56. The highest correlation was
between the paranoid sub-scale of SCL-90-R and mobbing (r= 0.56)
Conclusion: Generally, exposure to mobbing seems to be related
with higher psychopathology. Also, according to our research results,
mobbing is a psychosocial stress source that might be triggering
subthreshold psychotic experiences.