EXAMINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS' EXPOSURE TO MOBBING AND THEIR HAPPINESS AT WORK LEVELS

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the relationship between the levels of mobbing exposure and happiness at work among special education teachers, considering various variables. The research was conducted using a relational survey model, a quantitative research method. Participants included 127 special education teachers working during the 2023-2024 academic year. The “Mobbing Scale” and “Happiness at Work Scale” were used as data collection tools. Results revealed a negative correlation between mobbing exposure and happiness at work: as teachers' exposure to mobbing increased, their levels of happiness at work decreased. Additionally, mobbing experiences significantly and negatively predicted workplace happiness. The study concludes with recommendations to raise awareness about mobbing and its impacts.

Keywords: Special education, mobbing, happiness, happiness at work, special education teacher.

Ethics and Conflict of Interest

This study was conducted according to ethical and research standards. All participants participated to study  were  volunteers.  Information  about  study  subject,  aim  and  researchers  were  given  to  the participants. As the authors of this study, we declare that we collected data in accordance with ethical rules  during  the  research  process  and  acted  in  accordance  with  all  ethical  rules. This  study  was conducted  in  accordance  with  publication  and  research  ethics.  Ethical  approval  for  this  study  was obtained  from  the  Cyprus  International  University  Scientific  Research  and  Publication  Ethics Committee  under  decision  number  EKK24-25/01/11 on 
October 09,  2025.  Data  collected  from participants  on  a  voluntary  basis  were  treated  with  confidentiality. We  also  declare  that  there  is  no conflict among the authors.

REFERENCES

Akbulut, B. (2015). Ortaöğretim kurumlarında görev yapan öğretmenlerin örgütsel imaj algıları ile iş doyumu düzeyleri arasındaki ilişki [The relationship between the upper secondary school teachers' organizational image perceptions and job satisfaction levels] (Unpublished doctoral thesis). Hacettepe University.

Akgün, S., & Temli-Durmuş, Y. (2020). Elementary school teachers’ exposure to mobbing. İlköğretim Online, 19(2), 745‑756. https://doi.org/10.17051/ilkonline.2020.694091

Aquino, K., & Thau, S. (2009). Workplace victimization: Aggression from the target’s perspective. Annual Review of Psychology, 60, 717–741. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.60.110707.163703

Ateş, Ö. T. (2019). Examination of the relationships between mobbing and psychological symptoms in teachers. Universal Journal of Educational Research, 7(3), 863–873. https://doi.org/10.13189/ujer.2019.070328

Bakker, A. B., & Demerouti, E. (2017). Job demands–resources theory: Taking stock and looking forward. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 22(3), 273–285. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/ocp0000056

Bayar, A., & Bayar, M. (2022). Medyada öğretmenler hakkında yapılan konuşmaların öğretmenlerin mesleki mutluluklarına yansımaları. Manisa Celal Bayar Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 20(3), 367–383. https://doi.org/10.18026/cbayarsos.1128218

Berry, A. B., & Gravelle, M. (2013). The benefits and challenges of special education positions in rural settings: Listening to the teachers. The Rural Educator, 34(2), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.35608/ruraled.v34i2.400

Bilgin, N., & Kutlu, A. (2023). Relationships between nurse managers’ person–organization fit, person–job fit, and cultural values in Turkey. Work, 75(4), 1331–1340. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-220152

Bowling, N. A., & Beehr, T. A. (2006). Workplace harassment from the victim’s perspective: A theoretical model and meta-analysis. Journal of Applied Psychology, 91(5), 998–1012. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.91.5.998

Büyüköztürk, Ş., Çakmak, E. K., Özcan, Ö. E., Karadeniz, Ş., & Demirel, F. (2016). Bilimsel araştırma yöntemleri (21. baskı). Pegem Akademi.

Çobanoğlu, Ş. (2005). Mobbing: İşte duygusal saldırı ve mücadele yöntemleri. Timaş Yayınları.

Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). The “what” and “why” of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior. Psychological Inquiry, 11(4), 227–268. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327965PLI1104_01

Demir, B. (2021). Mobbing olgusu ve sağlık kuruluşlarında hemşirelere yönelik mobbing. Meyad Akademi, 2(1), 84–108. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/1726526

Demirbaş, B., & Haşit, G. (2016). İş yerinde yalnızlık ve işten ayrılma niyetine etkisi: Akademisyenler üzerine bir uygulama. Anadolu Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 16(1), 137–158. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/259906

Demirtaş, H., & Öztürk, M. (2021). Örgütsel kaynaklar ve çalışan motivasyonu ilişkisi. Yönetim ve Organizasyon Araştırmaları Dergisi, 8(1), 112–128.

Diener, E., Ng, W., Harter, J., & Arora, R. (2010). Wealth and happiness across the world: Material prosperity predicts life evaluation, whereas psychosocial prosperity predicts positive feeling. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 99(1), 52–61. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0018066

Dreer, B. (2021). Teachers’ well-being and job satisfaction: The important role of positive emotions in the workplace. Educational Studies, 50(1), 61–77. https://doi.org/10.1080/03055698.2021.1940872

Einarsen, K., Nielsen, M. B., Hetland, J., Olsen, O. K., Zahlquist, L., Mikkelsen, E. G., ... & Einarsen, S. V. (2020). Outcomes of a proximal workplace intervention against workplace bullying and harassment: A protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial among Norwegian industrial workers. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 2013. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.02013

Einarsen, S., Hoel, H., Zapf, D., & Cooper, C. L. (2003). The concept of bullying at work: The European tradition. In S. Einarsen, H. Hoel, D. Zapf, & C. L. Cooper (Eds.), Bullying and emotional abuse in the workplace: International perspectives in research and practice (pp. 3–30). Taylor & Francis.

Erkal, P. (2023). Kapsayıcı liderliğin çalışan performansı üzerine etkisi: Yenilikçi iş davranışlarının aracı rolü. Uluslararası Yönetim İktisat ve İşletme Dergisi, 19(4), 822–843. https://doi.org/10.17130/ijmeb.1336195

Fisher, C. D. (2010). Happiness at work. International Journal of Management Reviews, 12(4), 384–412.

Grotto-de-Souza, J., Pohl, H. H., & Aguiar-Ribeiro, D. (2022). Mobbing as a source of psychological harm in workers. Revista Brasileira de Medicina do Trabalho, 20(4), 670–675. https://doi.org/10.47626/1679-4435-2022-766

Halbesleben, J. R. B., Neveu, J.-P., Paustian-Underdahl, S. C., & Westman, M. (2014). Getting to the “COR”: Understanding the role of resources in conservation of resources theory. Journal of Management, 40(5), 1334–1364. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206314527130

Hobfoll, S. E. (2001). The influence of culture, community, and the nested-self in the stress process: Advancing conservation of resources theory. Applied Psychology, 50(3), 337–421. https://doi.org/10.1111/1464-0597.00062

Hogh, A., Hoel, H., & Carneiro, I. G. (2011). Bullying and employee turnover among healthcare workers: A three-wave prospective study. Journal of Nursing Management, 19(6), 742–751. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2834.2011.01264.x

Işık, Ö. (2021). An analysis of the concept of mobbing in the organizational behavior. Journal of International Social Research, 14(77). https://doi.org/10.17719/jisr.11576

Karasar, N. (2012). Bilimsel araştırma yöntemi [Scientific research method]. Nobel Yayıncılık.

Keashly, L. (2021). Workplace bullying, mobbing and harassment in academe: Faculty experience. In Special topics and particular occupations, professions and sectors (pp. 221–297). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-5308-5_13

Kristof-Brown, A. L., Zimmerman, R. D., & Johnson, E. C. (2005). Consequences of individuals’ fit at work: A meta-analysis of person–job, person–organization, person–group, and person–supervisor fit. Personnel Psychology, 58(2), 281–342. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6570.2005.00672.x

Lavy, S., & Bocker, S. (2018). A path to teacher happiness? A sense of meaning affects teacher–student relationships, which affect job satisfaction. Journal of Happiness Studies, 19, 1485–1503. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-017-9883-9

Leymann, H. (1996). The content and development of mobbing at work. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 5(2), 165–184. https://doi.org/10.1080/13594329608414853

Niedl, K. (1996). Mobbing and well-being: Economic and personnel development implications. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 5(2), 239–249. https://doi.org/10.1080/13594329608414857

Nielsen, K., Nielsen, M. B., Ogbonnaya, C., Känsälä, M., Saari, E., & Isaksson, K. (2017). Workplace resources to improve both employee well-being and performance: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Work & Stress, 31(2), 101–120. https://doi.org/10.1080/02678373.2017.1304463

Nielsen, M. B., & Einarsen, S. (2012). Outcomes of exposure to workplace bullying: A meta-analytic review. Work & Stress, 26(4), 309–332. https://doi.org/10.1080/02678373.2012.734709

Nielsen, M. B., Emberland, J. S., & Knardahl, S. (2017). Workplace bullying as a predictor of disability retirement: A prospective registry study of Norwegian employees. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 59(7), 609–614. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000001026

Parzefall, M. R., & Salin, D. M. (2010). Perceptions of and reactions to workplace bullying: A social exchange perspective. Human Relations, 63(6), 761–780. https://doi.org/10.1177/0018726709345043

Polatcı, S., & Ünüvar, H. (2021). İşte mutluluk ölçeği (İMÖ): Bir ölçek geliştirme çalışması. Journal of Research in Business, 6(1), 177–202. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/1673521

Riordan, C. M., & Griffeth, R. W. (1995). The opportunity for friendship in the workplace: An underexplored construct. Journal of Business and Psychology, 10(2), 141–154. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02249575

Sever, M., Özdemir, S., & Acar, O. K. (2020). İşte mutluluk ölçeğinin geçerlik ve güvenirlik çalışması. Journal of Management and Economics Research, 18(2), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.11611/yead.577326

Sonnentag, S., & Fritz, C. (2015). Recovery from job stress: The stressor-detachment model as an integrative framework. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 36(S1), S72–S103. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.1924

Tursun, B. (2019). İş yaşamında mobbing: Fırat Üniversitesi akademik ve idari çalışanlarına yönelik bir alan araştırması [Mobbing in business life: A field study for academic and administrative personnel at Fırat University] (Tez Numarası: 587204) [Yüksek Lisans tezi, Fırat Üniversitesi]. Yükseköğretim Kurulu Ulusal Tez Merkezi.

Verkuyten, M., Yogeeswaran, K., & Adelman, L. (2023). The social psychology of intergroup tolerance and intolerance. European Review of Social Psychology, 34(1), 1–43. https://doi.org/10.1080/10463283.2022.2091326

Yelmen, S., Nuri, C., & Bağlama, B. (2024). Özel eğitim öğretmenlerinin iş birliği, iş yaşam kalitesi düzeyleri ile mobbing durumları arasındaki ilişkinin incelenmesi. Turkish Special Education Journal: International, 6(1), 134–156. https://doi.org/10.69485/tseji.1556006

Yıldız, S. M. (2021). The effect of workplace mobbing on organizational silence: Empirical results from higher education institutions. Sistemas & Gestão, 16(1), 101–108. https://doi.org/10.20985/1980-5160.2021.v16n1.1704

Zapf, D., Knorz, C., & Kulla, M. (1996). On the relationship between mobbing factors, and job content, social work environment, and health outcomes. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 5(2), 215–237. https://doi.org/10.1080/13594329608414856