The moderating role of perceived social support in relationship between workplace violence with post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms among nurses in Karbala

Abstract

Introduction: The presence of violence in workplace is a threatening factor for nurses’ psychological health. Therefore, the present study was conducted with the aim of determining the moderating role of the perceived social support in relationship between workplace violence (physical, Verbal and sexual harassment) with Post Traumatic Stress Disorders symptoms) PTSD( among nurses in Karbala city, Iraq.
 Materials and Methods: Research method was descriptive correlation that is used in hierarchical regression analysis. The statistical population of the research included all the hospital nurses of the city of Karbala in Iraq in summer 2023, which among them, 349 nurses were selected by convenience sampling method. The data were collected using the violence in workplace questionnaire, Post Traumatic Stress Disorders symptoms checklist and perceived social support questionnaire. To analyze data, Pearson's correlation coefficient and hierarchical regression analysis statistical tests were used by SPSS software, 26 version.
 Results: The results revealed that the perceived social support moderates the relationship between the violence in workplace (physical, verbal and sexual harassment) with post-traumatic stress symptoms (p<0.01). This means that, when the perceived social support is low, the hostility at workplace (physical, verbal and sexual harassment) has a stronger relationship with post-traumatic stress symptoms (p<0.01).
 Conclusion: Based on the results of the present study, it can be concluded that the perceived social support in necessary variable to prevent the destructive effects of violence in nurses' work settings. Therefore, due to the role and importance of perception of social support among nurses, attention to this important finding should be taken into consideration by managers and policy makers of healthcare organizations.