Workplace mobbing and effects on workers' health
Mariano Meseguer de Pedro1, María Isabel Soler Sánchez, María Concepción Sáez Navarro
1Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain. marianom@um.es
The Spanish Journal of Psychology
|July 18, 2008
Summary
Workplace mobbing significantly increases psychosomatic symptoms in Spain's agro-fruit sector workers. However, this study found no link between mobbing and absenteeism in this specific occupational group.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Psychology
- Agricultural Science
Background:
- Workplace mobbing is a prevalent issue with known health consequences.
- The agro-fruit sector has unique work characteristics that may influence mobbing dynamics and health outcomes.
- Understanding mobbing's impact in specialized sectors like agriculture is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between workplace mobbing and health outcomes (psychosomatic symptoms and absenteeism) in the Spanish agro-fruit sector.
- To analyze the specific consequences of mobbing in a unique work environment.
- To provide data for future research and intervention strategies.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study was conducted with 396 agro-fruit workers in the Region of Murcia, Spain.
- Data were collected using validated instruments: the Spanish revised Negative Acts Questionnaire and the Psychosomatic Problems Questionnaire.
- Absenteeism was measured as an additional health outcome indicator.
Main Results:
- A significant positive association was found between workplace mobbing and the prevalence of psychosomatic symptoms.
- No statistically significant relationship was identified between workplace mobbing and absenteeism in this sample.
- The findings highlight the detrimental effect of mobbing on the psychological well-being of agricultural workers.
Conclusions:
- Workplace mobbing is a significant risk factor for psychosomatic health issues among agro-fruit workers.
- Absenteeism may not be a direct or immediate indicator of mobbing's impact in this sector.
- Further research is needed to explore the nuances of mobbing and its health consequences in specialized agricultural workforces.
Related Concept Videos
01:36Types of Toxins
Humans continually engage with an environment rich in potentially harmful chemicals. These are introduced to our bodies through inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact. These chemicals exist in various forms, such as air and environmental pollutants, agricultural chemicals, organic solvents, and heavy metals.
Air pollutants, primarily gases, pose significant threats to respiratory health, leading to conditions like hypoxia, lung cancer, and in extreme cases, death.
Environmental pollutants like...
Air pollutants, primarily gases, pose significant threats to respiratory health, leading to conditions like hypoxia, lung cancer, and in extreme cases, death.
Environmental pollutants like...
01:26Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques IV
Stress often leads to unhealthy habits like smoking, excessive drinking, and overeating, which offer short-term relief but ultimately increase long-term health risks. These behaviors create a cycle that temporarily lowers stress levels but can result in severe long-term health consequences. Breaking these habits is essential to reduce the risk of chronic diseases and improve overall well-being. Three primary changes that support better health include quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake,...
01:30Stress and Mental Health
Chronic stress profoundly affects mental health, significantly influencing mood, behavior, and overall quality of life. Research closely links chronic stress with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Ongoing exposure to stress can lead to physiological and psychological changes, initiating a cycle of emotional distress and maladaptive coping mechanisms.
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
01:26Toxic Reactions: Overview
When toxic substances penetrate the human body, they disseminate to various tissues, undergoing metabolic changes. This process yields reactive metabolites that may covalently bind with specific target molecules, resulting in toxicity.
Toxicity falls into two primary categories: local and systemic.
Local toxicity appears at the exposure site, such as protein denaturation caused by caustic substances.
In contrast, systemic toxicity requires the toxic agent's absorption and distribution,...
Toxicity falls into two primary categories: local and systemic.
Local toxicity appears at the exposure site, such as protein denaturation caused by caustic substances.
In contrast, systemic toxicity requires the toxic agent's absorption and distribution,...
02:04Bullying
A modern form of aggression is bullying. As you learn in your study of child development, socializing and playing with other children is beneficial for children’s psychological development. However, as you may have experienced as a child, not all play behavior has positive outcomes. Some children are aggressive and want to play roughly. Other children are selfish and do not want to share toys. One form of negative social interactions among children that has become a national concern is bullying.
00:57The Periodic Table and Organismal Elements
Elements are the smallest units of matter that cannot be broken down further by chemical processes. There are 118 known elements, but not all of these are naturally-occurring, and fewer still are essential for life. Living matter is composed primarily of carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, and oxygen, with smaller amounts of other elements like calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur. Other elements are also necessary for life but only in trace amounts.The Periodic Table Provides Information about...