Mobbing as a Predictor of Health Risk Behaviours and Seeking Specialist Support in Non-university Teachers

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether experiencing mobbing can predict different health risk behaviours, such as smoking, alcohol intake, increased use of medication as a consequence of psychological disorders at work, and the need to seek specialist support in non-university teachers (N = 9,350). The results of the factorial analysis confirmed the one-dimensionality of the scale and its invariance by gender and educational stage. Results for the predictive model showed that the total score on a mobbing scale predicts the increase in both alcohol intake and tobacco use, a greater use of medication as a consequence of psychological or psychosomatic health disorders at work, and the need to seek support from a specialist to overcome some personal crises related to work. Likewise, the consumption of alcohol and tobacco were positively correlated, whereas the search for specialist support was more related to the increase in the use of medication.

Keywords

• mobbing
• non-university teachers
• tobacco use
• alcohol intake
• use of medication
• specialist support