The mediating role of mindfulness in the relationship between workplace bullying behaviour and emotional exhaustion: a case study for businesses in Ho Chi Minh City

Abstract

   This study aimed to investigate how mindfulness mediates the relationship between pressurization behaviour in the workplace (or workplace bullying) and emotional exhaustion in employees. Based on resource conservation theory, the study proposed a model where pressured behaviour negatively impacted the mindfulness and depleted mental health of employees. The study was conducted on 300 employees at Ho Chi Minh City enterprises and utilized PLS-SEM 4.0 software for data analysis. Results have shown that pressured behaviour in the workplace increases emotional fatigue and reduces employees' mindfulness. At the same time, the state of mindfulness plays an important mediating role in this correlation. The research highlights the urge of promoting mindfulness and preventing pressured behaviour to improve employees' mental health and work performance.