Journal of Qualitative Research in Education - Eğitimde nitel araştırmalar dergisi

Articles

Thematic Evaluation of Türkiye‑based Mobbing Research

Downloads

https://doi.org/10.54963/jqre.i45.1988
Ergün, H., & Sari, T. (2025). Thematic Evaluation of Türkiye‑based Mobbing Research. Journal of Qualitative Research in Education, (45), 40–51. https://doi.org/10.54963/jqre.i45.1988
Issue 45 (2026)
Copyright (c) 2025 Hüsnü Ergün, Tamer Sari
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Copyright

The authors shall retain the copyright of their work but allow the Publisher to publish, copy, distribute, and convey the work.

License

Journal of Qualitative Research in Education (ENAD)  publishes accepted manuscripts under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). Authors who submit their papers for publication by ENAD agree to have the CC BY 4.0 license applied to their work, and that anyone is allowed to reuse the article or part of it free of charge for any purpose, including commercial use. As long as the author and original source are properly cited, anyone may copy, redistribute, reuse, and transform the content.

Authors

  • Hüsnü Ergün

    Acıpayam Vocational School, Pamukkale University, 20160 Denizli, Türkiye
  • Tamer Sari

    School of Foreign Languages, Pamukkale University, 20160 Denizli, Türkiye

Received: 26 January 2025; Revised: 19 October 2025; Accepted: 24 November 2025; Published: 2 December 2025

The current study aims to analyze the thematic evolution of mobbing research in Türkiye by utilizing theoretical frameworks to explore the systemic and individual factors influencing mobbing behaviour. Publication outputs, research trends, and thematic development of Türkiye-based mobbing research were examined using bibliometric methods. The Web of Science database was analyzed, and the Bibliometrix package developed for the R programming software language was used to analyse scientific productivity and scientific mapping analyses. The findings reveal that academic interest in mobbing has increased significantly, particularly since 2015. The motor themes of the 1999–2014 period focused on psychological violence, terror, and emotional abuse. During 2015–2019, research demonstrated how workplace bullying intersects with broader organizational dynamics, with emerging themes of job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and leadership styles. From 2015–2024, Türkiye-based mobbing research concentrated on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic-related isolation, remote work challenges, economic recessions, and their effects on employee turnover rates. The research reveals that cyberbullying has emerged as a new dimension of mobbing behavior in digital work environments. Notably, higher education institutions have become a significant focus area, with organizational cynicism and commitment emerging as important factors. In conclusion, mobbing remains a persistent workplace issue in Türkiye requiring continued academic and practical interventions to enhance workplace ethics and employee well-being.

Keywords:

Mobbing Research Workplace Bullying Mobbing in Türkiye Organizational Commitment

References

  1. Einarsen, S.; Hoel, H.; Zapf, D.; et al. The Concept of Bullying and Harassment at Work: The European Tradition. In Bullying and Harassment in the Workplace, 2nd ed.; Taylor & Francis: London, UK, 2011; pp. 3–39.
  2. Leymann, H. The content and development of mobbing at work. Eur. J. Work Organ. Psychol. 1996, 5, 165–184. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13594329608414853
  3. Tajfel, H.; Turner, J.C. The Social Identity Theory of Intergroup Behavior. In Political Psychology: Key Readings; Jost, J.T., Sidanius, J., Eds.; Psychology Press: New York, NY, USA, 2004; pp. 276–293. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203505984-16
  4. Bilgel, N.; Aytac, S.; Bayram, N. Bullying in Turkish white-collar workers. Occup. Med. 2006, 56, 226–231. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqj041
  5. Duffy, M.; Sperry, L. Workplace mobbing: Individual and family health consequences. Fam. J. 2007, 15, 398–404. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1066480707305069
  6. Beşoğul, Ç.; Mehtap, Ö. Investigating mobbing and organizational commitment in high school teachers. Akademik Bakış Derg. 2016, 55, 146–157.
  7. Çögenli, M.Z.; Asunakutlu, T. Mobbing in the academy: The example of Adım universities. Available online: https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/erzisosbil/issue/24417/258790 (accessed on 8 October 2024). (in Turkish)
  8. Baykal, C. A New Definition; Mobbing. Türk Kütüphaneciliği 2014, 28, 629–634. (in Turkish)
  9. Leymann, H. Mobbing and psychological terror at workplaces. Violence Vict. 1990, 5, 119–126.
  10. Zapf, D. Organisational, work group related and personal causes of mobbing/bullying at work. Int. J. Manpow. 1999, 20, 70–85. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/01437729910268669
  11. Göymen, Y. Mobbing in business life and ways to cope with mobbing. Toros Univ. J. Soc. Sci. 2020, 7, 31–60. (in Turkish)
  12. Yılmaz, C. A qualitative study on mobbing: Mobbing applied by subordinates to superiors. Sosyal Beşeri Bilimler Derg. 2020, 12, 19–33. (in Turkish)
  13. Temli Durmuş, Y. The effects of mobbing on daily life with the expressions of secondary school teachers. Araştırma ve Deneyim Derg. 2024, 9, 37–48. DOI: https://doi.org/10.47214/adeder.1487218 (in Turkish)
  14. Seçkin-Çelik, T.; Minibaş-Poussard, J. Psychological Harassment in Universities: A Study on Research Assistants and Assistant Professors. Available online: https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/fpeyd/issue/48014/607275 (accessed on 8 October 2024). (in Turkish)
  15. Ferris, P.A. The role of the consulting psychologist in the prevention, detection, and correction of bullying and mobbing in the workplace. Consult. Psychol. J. 2009, 61, 169–189. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/a0016783
  16. Vartia, M.A.-L. Consequences of workplace bullying with respect to the well-being of its targets. Scand. J. Work Environ. Health 2001, 27, 63–69.
  17. Çimen, H.; Saç, F. One of the causes of organizational failure: Mobbing. Karadeniz Int. Sci. J. 2017, 33, 183–191. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17498/kdeniz.297857 (in Turkish)
  18. Eşenli, G.; Aktel, M. The place and importance of the relationship between organizational culture and mobbing in management. Süleyman Demirel Univ. J. Fac. Econ. Admin. Sci. 2019, 24, 525–549. (in Turkish)
  19. D'Cruz, P.; Paull, M.; Omari, M.; et al. Target experiences of workplace bullying: Insights from Australia, India and Turkey. Employee Relat. 2016, 38, 805–823. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/ER-06-2015-0116
  20. Güllü, C.; Çiftçi, U. Guidance Note on Preventing Violence and Harassment in the World of Work. International Labour Organization: Ankara, Turkey, 2022. (in Turkish)
  21. Dündar, A.; Kıztanır, E.; Dündar, P. Organizational mobbing. 21. Yüzyılda Eğitim ve Toplum 2024, 12, 937–959. (in Turkish)
  22. Tetik, S. The concept of mobbing: Its importance for individuals and organizations. Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey Univ. J. Soc. Econ. Res. 2010, 1, 81–89. (in Turkish)
  23. Turhan, E.; Neumann, S.; Dilbaz, E. Coping behavior of teachers exposed to mobbing in school organizations. Abant İzzet Baysal Univ. Fac. Educ. J. 2015, 15, 404–420. (in Turkish)
  24. Einarsen, S.; Skogstad, A. Bullying at work: Epidemiological findings in public and private organizations. Eur. J. Work Organ. Psychol. 1996, 5, 185–201. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13594329608414854
  25. Taşkın, A. The problem of proof in mobbing lawsuits. Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli Univ. Fac. Law J. 2016, 20, 391–438. (in Turkish)
  26. Harthill, S. Bullying in the Workplace: Lessons from the United Kingdom. Minn. J. Int. Law 2008, 241.
  27. Altuntaş, C. A practical study on the concept and examples of mobbing. Yaşar Univ. E-Derg. 2010, 5, 2995–3015. DOI: https://doi.org/10.19168/jyu.47309 (in Turkish)
  28. Daşçı, E.; Cemaloğlu, N. The relationship between the leadership styles of primary school principals and the mobbing experienced by teachers. Adıyaman Univ. Soc. Sci. Inst. J. 2015, 19, 129–166. DOI: https://doi.org/10.14520/adyusbd.37328 (in Turkish)
  29. Öztırak, M. Revealing complex dynamics: The mediating power of information sharing in the interaction between ethical climate and perception of bullying. Sosyal Mucit Acad. Rev. 2023, 4, 128–155. DOI: https://doi.org/10.54733/smar.1341781 (in Turkish)
  30. Dağlıoğlu, C.; Ünal, D. Mobing and sexism in the academia: The case of Çukurova University. Available online: https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/akademik-hassasiyetler/issue/58511/834032 (accessed on 8 October 2024).
  31. Yücekaya, P.; İmamoğlu, Ö. The Effect of Mobbing and Organizational Silence on Job Performance. OPUS Int. J. Soc. Res. 2020, 16, 319–352. DOI: https://doi.org/10.26466/opus.635147 (in Turkish)
  32. Rehman, F.U.; Javed, F.; Khan, A.; et al. Determining the Effects of Mobbing on Organizational Commitment: A Case of Educational Sector in Pakistan. J. Educ. Pract. 2015, 6, 101–105.
  33. Aria, M.; Cuccurullo, C. Bibliometrix: An R-tool for comprehensive science mapping analysis. J. Informetr. 2017, 11, 959–975. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joi.2017.08.007
  34. Zupic, I.; Čater, T. Bibliometric methods in management and organization. Organ. Res. Methods 2015, 18, 429–472. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/109442811456262
  35. Einarsen, S.; Skogstad, A.; Rørvik, E.; et al. Climate for Conflict Management, Exposure to Workplace Bullying and Work Engagement: A Moderated Mediation Analysis. Int. J. Hum. Resour. Manag. 2016, 29, 549–570. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2016.1164216
  36. Bayer, N. Bibliometric Analysis of mobbing and bullying research in nursing with scientific mapping technique. Gevher Nesibe J. Med. Health Sci. 2023, 8, 152–162. DOI: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7601196
  37. Özkan, H.; Yıldız, N. Bibliometric analysis of studies in the literature on mobbing in tourism in Turkey. Ekon. Maliye İşletme Derg. 2022, 5, 357–368. (in Turkish)
  38. Lluch, C.; Galiana, L.; Doménech, P.; et al. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on burnout, compassion fatigue, and compassion satisfaction in healthcare personnel. Healthcare 2022, 10, 364. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10020364
  39. Balakrishnan, V. Cyberbullying among young adults in Malaysia: The roles of gender, age and Internet frequency. Comput. Hum. Behav. 2015, 46, 149–157. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2015.01.021
  40. Yıldız, S.M. The Role of Mobbing Behaviors on the Burnout of Graduate Students in Sport Science. Int. J. Soc. Sci. Res. 2023, 12, 60–69.