A structural equation model of workplace mobbing and mental health outcomes: Suicidal ideation, depression, anxiety, and sleep quality

Introduction: Workplace mobbing has been increasingly recognized as a relevant psychosocial risk factor associated with adverse mental health outcomes. Persistent exposure to hostile behaviors at work may contribute to emotional distress, psychological disorders, and impaired well-being, yet evidence from Latin American populations remains limited. Understanding the associations of workplace mobbing on multiple mental health indicators is essential for informing prevention and public health strategies. Objective: To analyze the association between workplace mobbing and suicidal ideation, depressive symptoms, generalized anxiety, and sleep quality in adults from the general population. Methods: A associative strategy and quantitative approach were employed. A total of 345 Peruvian adults (51.3% women) residing in Metropolitan Lima participated and completed a sociodemographic survey and psychological instruments. Statistical analyses were conducted using structural equation modelling with latent and observed variables. Results: The model demonstrated an adequate fit, with CFI = 0.98, RMSEA = 0.03 [90% CI: 0.025, 0.045], and SRMR = 0.04. Workplace mobbing was positively and significantly associated with generalized anxiety (β = 0.38, p = 0.001), depressive symptoms (β = 0.37, p = 0.001), sleep quality (β = 0.32, p = 0.001), and suicidal ideation (β = 0.27, p = 0.011). Conclusions: The findings highlight workplace mobbing as a significant association of multiple adverse mental health outcomes in adults. These results underscore the importance of addressing psychosocial risks in occupational settings and support the need for preventive interventions and mental health promotion strategies within a public health framework.