Organizational ostracism and loneliness: Depressed mood at work as mediator and workplace incivility as moderator

Abstract

Background

Organizational ostracism can lead to significant psychological effects, including loneliness and decreased productivity. This study examines the interplay between organizational ostracism, loneliness, depressed mood, and workplace incivility, which increasingly impacts workplace dynamics and employee well-being.

Objectives

The study aims to evaluate the impact of organizational ostracism on loneliness among grey-collar health care workers, with a focus on the mediating role of depressed mood and the moderating role of workplace incivility.

Methods

Data were gathered from 397 grey-collar healthcare workers in a university hospital in Ankara, Türkiye, via surveys. Analysis was conducted using SPSS Process Macro Model 14 to evaluate the moderated mediation effect, enabling assessment of both direct and indirect impacts of organizational ostracism on loneliness, moderated by workplace incivility.

Results

Findings revealed a positive link between organizational ostracism and loneliness, mediated by depressed mood. Workplace incivility moderated this link, with low to moderate incivility intensifying the relationship between depressed mood and loneliness. However, at high incivility levels, this effect weakened, indicating that extreme incivility may overshadow other dynamics.

Conclusions

Addressing organizational ostracism is essential, as it drives employee loneliness, with depressed mood as a key mediator. The study suggests that environments with low to moderate incivility may worsen the impact of ostracism on loneliness, while high incivility may reduce this effect. These findings underscore the importance of fostering supportive and inclusive workplace environments to safeguard mental health.