Evaluation of mobbing experiences among family medicine residents

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the prevalence of mobbing experiences among family medicine residents in Turkey. METHODS: A cross-sectional prevalence study was conducted with 406 volunteer physicians undergoing family medicine residency training. Data were collected via an online survey including sociodemographic questions and a modified Mobbing Scale, which assessed mobbing behaviors across five sub-dimensions: lack of communication, boycott and isolation, threats and violence, reduced work commitment, and job and career barriers. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 25, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: The findings revealed that 12.68% of participants experienced mobbing, while an additional 12.70% were uncertain whether they had experienced mobbing. The most frequently reported mobbing experiences occurred in the domains of reduced work commitment (34.69%) and job and career barriers (24.13%). No statistically significant differences were observed based on gender, years of professional experience, or institutional affiliation. However, mobbing related to job and career barriers was more prevalent in Turkish Health Sciences University hospitals. Additionally, a positive correlation was identified between age and job commitment, suggesting that older participants exhibited higher levels of commitment to their work. CONCLUSION: The study indicates that mobbing remains a significant issue among family medicine residents, particularly concerning job commitment and career-related obstacles. These findings highlight the need for increased awareness and the implementation of preventive strategies to mitigate mobbing in healthcare environments, especially within large and hierarchical institutions.