Research Article

Silent Screams in The Workplace: What Do Academic Studies Say?

Volume: 1 Number: 88 January 24, 2026
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Silent Screams in The Workplace: What Do Academic Studies Say?

Abstract

This study systematically reviewed the literature on mobbing within the framework of the PRISMA 2020 flow diagram and conducted a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of 380 articles. The first article was published in 1996, and the most intensive period was in 2020 with 32 articles. The review identified 911 authors, with Elfi Baillien, Hans De Witte, Jolita Vveinhardt, Jordi Escartín, Guy Notelaers, and Dieter Zapf emerging as prominent researchers. In the citation analysis, Ståle Einarsen, Heinz Leymann, and Dieter Zapf were found to have the strongest influence. Among the key terms, “mobbing,” “bullying,” and “workplace bullying” stood out, while “burnout,” “job satisfaction,” and “workplace violence” were also frequently used. Türkiye stands out as the most productive country with 105 articles and 1.320 citations; Gazi, Hacettepe, Istanbul, Atatürk, and Muğla Sıtkı Koçman Universities have made significant contributions. Internationally, the University of Bergen and KU Leuven stand out. Analyses show that mobbing studies exhibit an interdisciplinary structure and produce multidimensional results that vary at the individual (burnout, depression, trauma), organizational (loss of commitment, low performance, decrease in innovation), and cultural levels. The study highlights that this field, which has developed through strong collaborations, is in a process of conceptual maturation and that there are significant research gaps, particularly in the areas of prevention, intervention, and legal regulations.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

No support is taken from any institution or organization.

Ethical Statement

There is no data collection process in this study that requires ethical approval.

Thanks

The authors expresses gratitude to the advisors and academic sources that provided valuable contributions during the literature review and bibliometric analysis process.

References

  1. Agrela, S., Pocinho, M., Sales, S., & Garcês, S. (2025). Validation of the Teacher Mobbing Scale: Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis. Revista Iberoamericana de Diagnóstico y Evaluación – e Avaliação Psicológica, 76(2), 93-104. https://doi.org/10.21865/RIDEP76.2.08
  2. Altıparmak, İ. B. & Durakoğlu, A. (2021). ‘Hayvan Çiftliği’ adlı eseri bağlamında George Orwell’ın tarihi ve sosyolojik tespitlerini değerlendirmek. MANAS Sosyal Araştırmalar Dergisi, 10(4), 1910–1922. https://doi.org/10.33206/mjss.875622
  3. Angeles Carnero, M., Martínez, B., & Sánchez‐Mangas, R. (2012). Mobbing and workers’ health: Empirical analysis for Spain. International Journal of Manpower, 33(3), 322–339. https://doi.org/10.1108/01437721211234183
  4. Atta, M. H. R., Elzohairy, N. W., Abd Elaleem, A. E. M. H., Othman, A. A., Hamzaa, H. G., El-Sayed, A. A. I., & Zoromba, M. A. (2025). Comprehending the disruptive influence of workplace gaslighting behaviours and mobbing on nurses' career entrenchment: A multi-centre inquiry. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 81(4), 1815–1828. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.16368
  5. Ayyıldız, O. (2021). Sağlık çalışanlarına yönelik zorbalık ve mobbing davranışları: Bibliyometrik bir analiz. MEYAD Academy Journal, 2(2), 126–149.
  6. Baillien, E., Bollen, K., Euwema, M., & De Witte, H. (2014). Conflicts and conflict management styles as precursors of workplace bullying: A two-wave longitudinal study. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 23(4), 511–524. https://doi.org/10.1080/1359432X.2012.752899
  7. Baillien, E., Escartín, J., Gross, C., & Zapf, D. (2017). Towards a conceptual and empirical differentiation between workplace bullying and interpersonal conflict. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 26(6), 870–881. https://doi.org/10.1080/1359432X.2017.1385601
  8. Baillien, E., Griep, Y., Vander Elst, T., & De Witte, H. (2019). The relationship between organisational change and being a perpetrator of workplace bullying: A three-wave longitudinal study. Work & Stress, 33(3), 211–230. https://doi.org/10.1080/02678373.2018.1496161

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Development Studies (Other), Labor Economics and Industrial Relations, Occupational Health and Safety

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

January 24, 2026

Submission Date

August 27, 2025

Acceptance Date

January 5, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 1 Number: 88

APA
Alkan, A. T., & Acer, H. (2026). Silent Screams in The Workplace: What Do Academic Studies Say? Çalışma Ve Toplum, 1(88), 95-134. https://doi.org/10.54752/ct.1772904
AMA
1.Alkan AT, Acer H. Silent Screams in The Workplace: What Do Academic Studies Say? Çalışma ve Toplum. 2026;1(88):95-134. doi:10.54752/ct.1772904
Chicago
Alkan, Alper Tunga, and Hakan Acer. 2026. “Silent Screams in The Workplace: What Do Academic Studies Say?”. Çalışma Ve Toplum 1 (88): 95-134. https://doi.org/10.54752/ct.1772904.
EndNote
Alkan AT, Acer H (January 1, 2026) Silent Screams in The Workplace: What Do Academic Studies Say? Çalışma ve Toplum 1 88 95–134.
IEEE
[1]A. T. Alkan and H. Acer, “Silent Screams in The Workplace: What Do Academic Studies Say?”, Çalışma ve Toplum, vol. 1, no. 88, pp. 95–134, Jan. 2026, doi: 10.54752/ct.1772904.
ISNAD
Alkan, Alper Tunga - Acer, Hakan. “Silent Screams in The Workplace: What Do Academic Studies Say?”. Çalışma ve Toplum 1/88 (January 1, 2026): 95-134. https://doi.org/10.54752/ct.1772904.
JAMA
1.Alkan AT, Acer H. Silent Screams in The Workplace: What Do Academic Studies Say? Çalışma ve Toplum. 2026;1:95–134.
MLA
Alkan, Alper Tunga, and Hakan Acer. “Silent Screams in The Workplace: What Do Academic Studies Say?”. Çalışma Ve Toplum, vol. 1, no. 88, Jan. 2026, pp. 95-134, doi:10.54752/ct.1772904.
Vancouver
1.Alper Tunga Alkan, Hakan Acer. Silent Screams in The Workplace: What Do Academic Studies Say? Çalışma ve Toplum. 2026 Jan. 1;1(88):95-134. doi:10.54752/ct.1772904

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