The Effect of Workplace Mobbing on Positive and Negative Emotions: The Mediating Role of Psychological Resilience Among Nurses

Abstract

Background: Workplace mobbing is a widespread phenomenon with serious psychological and emotional consequences on employees' emotional well-being. Psychological resilience has been identified as a potential protective factor against such adverse outcomes. Aim: This study investigates the relationship between workplace mobbing and emotional well-being, as expressed through positive and negative affect, and examines the mediating role of psychological resilience in this association. Methods: Ninety nurses participated in this cross-sectional study. Data were collected using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), the Workplace Psychologically Violent Behaviors (WPVB) scale, and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). Statistical analyses included correlation, multiple regression, and mediation using bootstrapped confidence intervals. Results: Resilience was strongly associated with positive affect (r = 0.74, p < 0.001) and inversely with negative affect (r = -0.46, p < 0.001). Mobbing was significantly related to increased negative affect (β = 0.12, p < 0.001) but not to positive affect. Resilience emerged as the strongest predictor of emotional outcomes and partially mediated the relationship between "Attack on professional role" and negative affect. Conclusions: Psychological resilience plays a key protective role in moderating the emotional impact of workplace mobbing. Enhancing resilience in healthcare professionals may mitigate the negative emotional effects of mobbing, although it does not fully buffer against all its consequences.

Keywords: PANAS; WPVB; emotions; mental resilience; nurses; psychological well-being; workplace mobbing.

Figure 1

Conceptual mediation model illustrating the direct and indirect (mediated) relationships between workplace psychological violence (WPVB), psychological resilience (CD-RISC), and positive and negative affect (PA/NA). Note: Resilience partially mediated the relationship between WPVB (specifically ‘Attack on professional role’) and negative affect. WPVB was not significantly associated with positive affect.