Mobbing, violenza psicologica sul lavoro : modalità di esercizio e ripercussioni sulla salute : una ricerca in ambito clinico

Mobbing, psychological violence at work: characteristics and health effects. A study in the clinical field. BACKGROUND There is an increasing interest for studies, prevention and management of mobbing in the area of occupational psychosocial risks. OBJECTIVES To describe mobbing and health effects by analysis of the cases examined from 1997 to 2003 at the Department of Occupational Health ( Clinica del Lavoro Luigi Devoto in Milan). METHODS 226 clinical records of subjects, reporting a mobbing situation at the medical examination, were selected out of 2455 patients examined for stress-related disorders. RESULTS Women s percentage (53,1%) is higher than men s (46,9%) with a prevailing age range 35-54. There is a great variety of jobs, especially white-collars and workers of large service companies. In one third of cases, mobbing occurred within 4 years from employment and mostly during company reorganization and management changes. The most frequent negative acts include social isolation and demotion. The most frequent symptoms are exhaustion, sleep, mood and sexual disorders. The number of symptoms is not related to mobbing duration but to number and frequency of negative actions. Personality profiles are examined and the role of personality is discussed. Occupational health physicians play an essential role in primary prevention (information on occupational risks) and in early diagnosis and rehabilitation.