Assessment of Turkish junior male physicians' exposure to mobbing behavior

Abstract

Aim: To determine the extent of Turkish junior male physicians' exposure to mobbing behavior and its correlation with physicians' characteristics.

Methods: The study included physicians recruited for compulsory military service in April 2009. No sampling method was used, questionnaires were delivered to all physicians, and 278 of 292 (95%) questionnaires were returned. We used Leymann Inventory of Psychological Terror including 45 items for data collection and structural equation model for data analysis.

Results: A total of 87.7% of physicians experienced mobbing behavior. Physicians who worked more than 40 hours a week, single physicians, physicians working in university hospitals and private hospitals, and physicians who did not have occupational commitment were more exposed to mobbing (P<0.05). Mobbing was not associated with specialty status, service period, age, and personality variables (P>0.05). All goodness-of- fit indices of the model were acceptable (χ(2)=1.449, normed fit index=0.955, Tucker Lewis index=0.980, comparative fit index=0.985, and root mean square error of approximation=0.040).

Conclusions: Workplace mobbing is a critical problem for junior male physicians in Turkey. We suggest an introduction of a reporting system and education activities for physicians in high-risk groups.

Figure 1

The measurement model identifying physicians’ exposure to mobbing behavior. χ²/df = 12.865/5 = 2.573; normed fit index = 0.984; Tucker Lewis index = 0.980; comparative fit index = 0.990; and root mean square error of approximation = 0.075. Rectangles represent independent and indicator variables and ellipses represent latent variables. The arrows from latent variables to indicators show regression and indicator weights. The error for each variable is represented by the arrow pointing to the variable and “e” in the circle. These errors correspond to the errors in the indicator variables.

Figure 2

The initial structural equation model identifying determinants of the physicians’ exposure to mobbing behavior. χ²/df = 282.611/64 = 4.416; normed fit index = 0.771; Tucker Lewis index = 0.728; comparative fit index = 0.809; root mean square error of approximation = 0.111. Rectangles represent independent and indicator variables and ellipses represent latent variables. The arrows from latent variables to indicators show regression and indicator weights. The error for each variable is represented by the arrow pointing to the variable and “e” in the circle. These errors correspond to the errors in the indicator variables.

Figure 3

The revised structural equation model identifying determinants of the physicians’ exposure to mobbing behavior. χ²/df = 39.135/27 = 1.449; normed fit index = 0.955; Tucker Lewis index = 0.980; comparative fit index = 0.985; root mean square error of approximation = 0.040.