A study led by Uskudar University revealed that working university students are exposed to significant psychological pressure (mobbing) in their working lives, and this situation negatively affects their academic success, social relationships, and general well-being.
The research included 271 students from 55 different universities across Turkey. Among the most commonly preferred occupational groups by students are sales consultancy, waiting, barista work, surveying, caregiving, cashiering, market work, motor courier services, extra acting, and hostess/assistant roles.
The study showed that 74.5% of working university students experienced mobbing at least once during their working lives. Participants stated that “constant criticism, belittlement, and loss of self-confidence” were among the biggest psychological pressure factors they encountered in the workplace.
The results of a sociological study conducted under the leadership of Uskudar University on the effects of mobbing experienced by working university students in their professional lives drew attention.
Causes Deterioration in Social Relationships
Today, many university students enter working life simultaneously with their studies for reasons such as meeting economic needs, starting their careers, gaining experience, or expanding their field of work. However, mobbing (psychological harassment) they are exposed to in work environments negatively affects individuals' psychological well-being, leading to a decline in academic performance, loss of motivation, and deterioration in social relationships.
The research, conducted by Prof. Dr. Ebulfez Süleymanlı, Director of Uskudar University Human Rights Studies Application and Research Center, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Barış Çağırkan, Faculty Member of Izmir Demokrasi University Sociology Department, and sociologist İrem Pehlivan, deeply examined the effects of mobbing encountered by university student employees in the workplace on emotional resilience, self-efficacy, and academic success, detailing the individual and societal dimensions of this phenomenon.
The research findings revealed that university students are more vulnerable to psychological pressure in the workplace, and this situation is not limited to their academic lives but can lead to long-term consequences such as emotional exhaustion, loss of self-confidence, and social isolation.
Research Methodology and Demographic Findings
The 35-question research included 271 students from 55 different universities in Turkey. A significant portion of the participants consisted of students studying at state and foundation universities in large cities like Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir, while students from provinces such as Antalya, Edirne, Denizli, Adana, Tunceli, and Muş were also among the participants.
Examining the gender distribution, it was determined that 73.8% of the participants were female and 26.2% were male. In terms of age, a significant portion of the participants were in the 21-23 age range (50.9%), followed by the 18-20 age group (21.8%). Individuals in the 24-26 age range accounted for 21%, while participation rates for the 27-29 and over 30 age groups were quite low. When analyzed by marital status, it was found that 91.9% of the participants were single, with married, engaged/betrothed, divorced, or widowed individuals representing very low proportions.
When examining data regarding participants' individual economic situations, it was determined that 59% rated their economic situation as “average.” This group was followed by individuals with “good” economic conditions at 24.4%, while 15.5% of participants described their economic situation as “poor.” The proportion of participants who stated they were in “very good” economic condition remained quite low.
A Large Portion of Students Work Part-Time!
Data obtained within the scope of the research revealed that a large portion of working university students are employed part-time. 72% of participants stated that they work part-time, while 21% were employed full-time. These findings indicate that the majority of students actively participate in working life and gain professional experience during their higher education.
Sales Consultancy Ranks First Among Students' Preferred Occupational Groups
When examining the most commonly preferred occupational groups by students, sales consultancy (35.1%) ranks first, followed by service sector professions such as waiting, barista work, surveying, caregiving, counter sales, call center operations, makeup artistry, reception, cashiering, market work, data entry, motor courier services, extra acting in casting agencies, acting, graphic design, and hostess/assistant roles.
Assessments regarding students' need to work revealed that 50.6% absolutely have to work, and 42.8% need to work to meet their economic needs during certain periods. These findings show that a large portion of students are involved in working life for economic reasons, and financial conditions constitute a significant pressure factor in their education processes.
Young Workers Vulnerable to Mobbing
Research findings indicate that young workers are significantly vulnerable to mobbing in the workplace. 48.7% of participants stated they were exposed to mobbing at certain intervals, while 25.8% reported frequently experiencing psychological pressure. In contrast, 21.8% reported no mobbing experience, while a small group stated they were constantly subjected to mobbing. These data show that 74.5% of working university students experienced mobbing at least once during their working life. The research results revealed that young workers are more vulnerable to psychological pressure in the workplace.
Workplace Mobbing: Psychological, Economic, and Social Dimensions
Research findings revealed that mobbing is experienced as a multi-dimensional phenomenon that creates psychological, economic, and social pressure on individuals in the workplace. Participants most frequently associated mobbing with psychological violence, pressure, and excessive workload, emphasizing that these factors are among the most common stress elements individuals encounter in their working lives. Employees stated that constant criticism, belittlement, and loss of self-confidence were among the biggest psychological pressure factors they faced in the workplace, also indicating that practices such as being overworked, subjected to mandatory overtime, and directed to tasks outside their job description were clear indicators of mobbing.
Female Employees Experienced Gender Discrimination
Research data revealed that employees were subjected to condescending glances, verbal reprimands, and disrespectful behavior by managers and colleagues. Gender and experience-based mobbing was also identified as a common problem, with female employees, in particular, being exposed to gender discrimination. Situations such as being belittled and given information by men (mansplaining) and being allowed to assume less responsibility were frequently mentioned in the context of mobbing. Similarly, employees being perceived as inexperienced due to age and seniority differences, being denied the right to speak, and having their professional competencies questioned were defined as common types of mobbing for young and new employees.
Labor Exploitation is a Significant Part of Mobbing!
When examined from the perspective of economic factors, elements such as job insecurity, low wages, and labor exploitation were found to be a significant part of mobbing. A large portion of employees stated that factors like fear of dismissal, mandatory overtime, and exposure to heavy workloads for low wages increased psychological pressure in the workplace. The obtained data revealed that employees become vulnerable to psychological and economic pressure due to the hierarchical structure in the work environment, and young, inexperienced, and female employees are particularly more affected by this situation.
Source of Mobbing: The Impact of Hierarchical and Social Dynamics
Research findings revealed that mobbing is most commonly perpetrated by upper management, customers, and colleagues. 59% of participants stated they were subjected to mobbing by their managers, while 38.4% reported experiencing customer-induced psychological pressure. The rate of those experiencing mobbing by colleagues was 22.9%, and 21.8% reported no mobbing experience.
Mobbing Combat Strategies: Employees' Reaction Mechanisms
Research findings indicate that employees adopt different coping strategies against mobbing. 37.6% of participants preferred to ignore the psychological harassment they experienced, 27.7% responded directly, and 20.7% resigned from their jobs due to the situation. At lower rates, strategies such as resorting to legal remedies, filing complaints with official institutions, meeting with managers, and directly communicating with the perpetrator of mobbing were preferred.
The Most Common Strategy in Mobbing is 'Ignoring'
The fact that “ignoring” (37.6%) is the most common strategy adopted by employees subjected to mobbing indicates that these individuals tend to remain silent due to concerns such as fear of job loss, economic insecurity, and avoiding workplace conflict.
Reasons Why Students Experience Mobbing in the Workplace
Research findings reveal that mobbing experienced by university students in their working lives stems from various factors. Participants highlighted managers' personality traits (36.9%) as the most common cause of workplace mobbing, stating that this is directly related to authoritarian management styles, oppressive attitudes, and tendencies to create psychological pressure on employees. This is followed by social status differences (26.6%), indicating that hierarchical structures and power relations in the work environment are a decisive factor in the occurrence of mobbing. Furthermore, the normalization of unethical behavior (21%) leads to psychological harassment becoming systematic in the workplace and being perceived as a normal situation by employees. The perfectionist management approach (8.5%), though mentioned at lower rates but considered an underlying factor of mobbing, is associated with elements such as creating excessive expectations for employees, low error tolerance, and constant pressure.
Impact of Mobbing on Working Life and Career Motivation Outcomes
Research findings revealed that mobbing has distinct negative effects on individuals' attitudes and motivations towards working life. 51.7% of participants definitively stated that the mobbing they experienced in the workplace alienated them from working life, while 37.3% indicated that this situation did not have a significant impact on their career interests.
More than half of the participants stating that their interest in working life decreased due to mobbing highlighted the corrosive effect of psychological harassment on individuals' career motivation, professional commitment, and professional development processes. The data obtained revealed that mobbing experiences in working life reinforced negative effects on employees' professional futures and could weaken their motivation towards the business world.
Mobbing: A Factor Threatening Academic and Career Life
Research findings show that workplace mobbing significantly negatively affects the academic performance and career motivations of working university students. 64.9% of participants stated that mobbing directly harmed their academic success, while 23.2% felt this effect partially. In contrast, only 11.8% reported that mobbing had no negative impact on their academic lives.
The fact that a large majority of students stated that mobbing reduced their academic motivation, made it difficult for them to focus sufficiently on lessons, and increased their stress levels, revealed the corrosive effect of psychological pressure in the workplace on education processes. Especially factors such as absenteeism from classes (24.7%), indifference towards academic studies (18.5%), and a decrease in grade point average (16.2%) stood out among the direct consequences of mobbing on academic success.
These data also showed that mobbing not only affects current working conditions but also emerges as a critical factor threatening individuals' long-term academic and professional success.
Social Effects of Mobbing: Loss of Self-Confidence and Stress
Research findings revealed that workplace mobbing negatively affects not only individuals' professional lives but also their social and psychological well-being. 38% of participants stated that mobbing increased their levels of aggression, 20.3% experienced difficulty expressing themselves, and 11.8% exhibited a more reserved and introverted attitude in social settings due to loss of self-confidence. At lower rates, psychological effects such as anxiety problems (8.5%) were reported. On the other hand, 20.3% of participants stated they had not experienced any mobbing in the workplace.
Urgent Policies and Regulations Needed for Working University Students
Prof. Dr. Ebulfez Süleymanlı, Director of Uskudar University Human Rights Studies Application and Research Center, stated that this research revealed that university students are exposed to significant psychological pressure in their working lives, and this situation negatively affects their academic success, social relationships, and general well-being, sharing the following views:
“To ensure young workers have safer, fairer, and more dignified working conditions, it is imperative to strengthen legal regulations aimed at preventing mobbing in the workplace, activate corporate audit mechanisms, and disseminate awareness-raising activities. The research findings clearly demonstrate that working students need more support in their workplaces, and securing psychological safety in work environments is an unavoidable necessity. Considering that mobbing can have devastating long-term effects on individuals' career motivations, academic performance, and psychosocial well-being, it is essential to take systematic and comprehensive measures to prevent this problem.”