Keywords
self-esteem
achievement motivation
achievement motivation, mobbing, self-esteem
How to Cite
Abstract
Introduction: This empirical study aimed to examine the relationship between self-esteem and achievement motivation, to determine whether differences exist in self-esteem and achievement motivation levels between individuals who have experienced mobbing and those who have not, and to analyse whether experiencing mobbing moderates the relationship between achievement motivation and self-esteem. The findings of this study may be useful for designing employee support programmes, particularly for individuals experiencing reduced self-esteem and exposure to mobbing. The results of the analysis also highlight the need to implement preventive and intervention measures aimed at reducing the incidence of mobbing. Methods: The study involved 529 participants, of whom 107 were classified as individuals experiencing mobbing, based on their scores on the MDM Questionnaire. Self-esteem was measured using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (SES), while achievement motivation was assessed using the Achievement Goals Questionnaire (Wojdyło & Retowski, Polish adaptation). Results: The results of the correlational analyses indicated that higher self-esteem was associated with a higher intensity of mastery-approach motivation, whereas avoidance motivation was negatively correlated with self-esteem. The analyses of group differences revealed that individuals who experienced mobbing demonstrated significantly lower self-esteem and higher levels of avoidance motivation compared to those not exposed to mobbing. However, the moderation analyses did not confirm the hypothesis regarding the moderating role of mobbing. Experiencing mobbing did not significantly affect the strength or direction of the relationship between achievement motivation and self-esteem. Although the observed correlations were statistically significant, their effect sizes were relatively small, which may suggest the complexity of the psychological mechanisms linking self-esteem and achievement motivation. Conclusions: The results suggest that self-esteem may serve as a stable regulatory mechanism, operating independently of negative environmental influences. Nevertheless, mobbing itself exerts a detrimental impact on both self-esteem and motivation. The findings of this study emphasise the need for further, in-depth research on mediating and protective factors within the context of mobbing. Moreover, the results have important implications for human resource management practice, underscoring the role of managers in identifying manifestations of mobbing and implementing systemic measures aimed at safeguarding employees and fostering a supportive organisational climate.
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