Gender patterns in mobbing victims: differences in negative acts perceptions, MMPI personality profile, perceived quality of life and suicidal risk

With the aim of investigating the impact of gender-related personality characteristics on bullying perceptions and outcomes, a correlational study was designed with 114 individuals who had used a public health service aimed at harassed workers identifying themselves victims of mobbing in central Italy. The study was conducted using the following questionnaires: The Negative Acts Questionnaire (NAQ) a measure of workplace bullying; the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2) to provide information to measure personality dimensions for workplace screening; the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BRIEF) which assesses four domains assumed to represent the Quality of Life construct; the Suicidal Potential Scale (SPS) used to assess suicidal ideation. MMPI-2 profiles results show a significant elevation of specific MMPI scales and gender differences. When compared to women, men who complain of being the victims of negative actions at work are more depressed, paranoid, introverted, anxious and obsessive, and have higher anger levels and lower self-esteem. Many different MMPI-2 scales are also predictors of quality of life (QoL) perceptions and suicidal tendencies. The NAQ total score, however, predicts quality of life and suicide risk. Perceptions of negative actions have serious effect on life outcomes. The results provide useful indications on personality profiles and gender differences, which can be understood as antecedents in the perception of negative events, and factors capable of modulating the effect of perceived bullying actions on outcomes.