Mobbing and Subjective Happiness: Positive Psychological Capital as a moderator

Abstract

Purpose: This research analyzed the moderating effect of positive psychological capital on mobbing and subjective happiness in a sample of workers from Biobío province, Chile.

Methodology: The research is quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional, and correlational. A non-probabilistic convenience sample of 96 workers of a supermarket chain in the province of Biobío, Chile, was considered. A correlational matrix and moderated moderation model were used.

Results: The results show that (a) mobbing has a negative effect on subjective happiness and (b) gender and psychological capital moderate the relationship between the two: one-way and three-way interaction. Similarly, mobbing has different effects on happiness depending on the level of psychological capital possessed by men or women.

Implications: The results allow companies and human resources managers to understand the importance of investing in the development of positive psychological capital and in the happiness of workers to reduce the presence and symptomatology associated with mobbing.

Originality: The relevance is to study positive psychological capital and happiness in their relationship with mobbing, thus increasing the theoretical development of these new variables that come from positive psychology. Likewise, no studies of these characteristics at the national and Latin American levels show how these constructs can reduce the presence and symptomatology associated with mobbing.