Psychological Workplace Violence Research Articles

A cross-sectional survey on the relationship between workplace psychological violence and empathy among Chinese nurses: the mediation role of resilience

BackgroundWorkplace violence is one of the most serious public health issues worldwide in healthcare occupations, nurse is a profession which faces the greatest risk of exposure to workplace violence among healthcare occupations.ObjectiveThe present study aimed to explore the relationship between workplace psychological violence and empathy among Chinese nurses, and further examine the mediation role of resilience in this relationship.MethodA cross-sectional survey was conducted among a convenience sample of clinical registered nurses in Xinjiang China from 29 September 2023 to 19 October 2023.The online questionnaire, contained the general information form, the Workplace Psychologically Violent Behaviors Instrument, the Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Healthcare Professionals Version, and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, was used to collect data. The IBM SPSS statistics software version 22.0 was used to perform data analyses in forms of descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and mediation analysis.ResultThis survey recruited a convenience sample of 1613 clinical registered nurses aged 22 to 55 years who come from diverse ethnicities and worked in different departments. A total of 534 nurse experienced psychological violent, which yielded a positive rate of 33.1% for psychological violent among nurses. Pearson analysis reported a negative correlation between psychological violences and empathy (r=-0.724, P < 0.01) as well as a negative correlation between psychological violences and resilience (r=-0.681, P < 0.01). Mediation analysis reported that resilience mediated the negative relationship between psychological violence and empathy, the mediation effect accounted for ab/(ab + c’) = 23.40% of the total effect.ConclusionThis study supported an inverse ralationship between psychological violence and empathy among Chinese nurses where resilience acted as a protective factor to mediated the negative impacts of psychological violences on empathy These results directed health policies and clinical interventions to equip nurses with resilience to copy with and recover from workplace psychological violence.

HEMŞİRELERE YÖNELİK PSİKOLOJİK ŞİDDET İLE ÇATIŞMA EYLEM STİLLERİ ARASINDAKİ İLİŞKİ: KESİTSEL BİR ÇALIŞMA

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate correlation between psychological violence and conflict action styles against nurses and in order to identify factors affecting.. Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive and correlational study. All registered nurses who communicate with patients and colleagues and work in a hospital setting were included in the study. The data of the study were collected using the "Personal Data Collection Form", "Workplace Psychological Violence Instrument (WPVBI)" and "Conflict Activity Styles Inventory (CASI)". Mann Whitney U test was determined by the Kruskal Wallis H test for independent groups. Dunn's multiple comparison test was used to determine the differences between groups. Extension of Generalized Linear Models (GDM) for assumptions of regression analysis were used. Results:The current study found that the CASI and WPVBI subscale scores of the nurses statistically differ in relation to the clinics they work in, the type of hospital they are in, their working hours, the number of patients they are caring for, the number of nurses working in shifts, the belief in teamwork, manager support, and the level of communication with the clinicians (p&amp;lt;0.05). Further analysis demonstrated that the total score effects of avoidant and compulsive approaches on WPVBI scores were statistically significant (p&amp;lt;0.05). Conclusions: Nurses should be taught to use effective conflict action styles in order not to be exposed to psychological violence.

A qualitative system review: To lead public policy advancement for workplace psychological violence injury

This article presents a qualitative system analysis informing public policy advancement for workplace psychological violence injury. It is a unique look into how a jurisdiction responds to the injury caused by workplace psychological violence (workplace bullying, harassment, and discrimination campaigns). First ever provincial legislation addressing this harm was passed into law. This study found that the legislation has yet to be implemented into the medical response systems dealing with this workplace injury. Severe hardships and consequences are experienced by workers in attempting recovery. Some never get there. The Canadian Institute for Workplace Bullying Resources, a specialist with this injury, received this study's recommendations for system change to assist in closing gaps and reduce the harm experienced by workers in Alberta, Canada. This study found some causal factors to these system barriers to be common globally. Methods to map and lead advocacy system change through qualitative research for this workplace violence and caused injury are provided herein. This is a call to researchers and professionals globally who deal with both workplace psychological violence and injury, to use and build on this study's methods, tools, and outcomes to lead further needed system change.

Application of the theory of planned behaviour for predicting the determinants of workplace violence reporting behaviour among public hospital healthcare workers in Malaysia: A cross-sectional study.

Reporting workplace violence (WPV) is a crucial preventive measure. Given the great impact of WPV on mental health and well-being, this study aimed to determine the prevalence and determinants of WPV reporting among healthcare workers (HCWs). A total of 557 public hospital HCWs in Melaka were recruited via probability sampling. A questionnaire guided by the theory of planned behaviour was developed, pre-tested and distributed. Malaysians with a minimum employment period of 12 months who experienced WPV within the same period in the selected public hospitals were eligible for inclusion. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the association between the independent variables and WPV reporting. Psychological violence was the most common WPV (80.3%), with only 177 (31.8%) respondents reporting such. The respondents who had high subjective norm (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=2.160, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.32-3.53) and perceived behavioural control scores (AOR=3.976, 95% CI=2.41-6.55); were clinical (AOR=2.679, 95% CI=1.43-5.02) and non-clinical (AOR=4.271, 95% CI=2.23-8.18) support staff; experienced physical WPV (AOR=13.157, 95% CI=3.83-45.24) and both physical and psychological WPV (AOR=2.029, 95% CI= 1.13-3.65); and perceived that WPV was intentional (AOR=11.111, 95% CI=6.50-19.00) were more likely to report WPV. HCWs who experience physical WPV have the highest likelihood to report, followed by those who perceive WPV as intentional. The prevalence of reported WPV among public hospital HCWs is low, potentially underestimating its true occurrence owing to underreporting. Ensuring readily available reporting mechanisms for WPV, especially the psychological type, is crucial for HCWs.

Psychological Workplace Violence Against Older People in Lithuania

Abstract Changes in regulation and legislation place an obligation on employers to provide proper and safe working conditions for employees. In this context, it is important to determine if psychological violence prevention efforts are actually effective and whether the more vulnerable employees, older workers, are exercising their rights to defend themselves against the psychological violence they experience without fear of losing their jobs. This article presents theoretical and empirical data which sheds light on the nature of the psychological violence experienced by older people, the positions of people who exercise psychological violence in the employer’s organization, and the prevalence of, reasons behind, and forms and consequences of this psychological violence. The study behind this article was conducted by giving questionnaires to employers and employee representatives – i.e. trade unions – with identical questions. The responses of employers and employee representatives on the topic of psychological violence experienced by older workers are fundamentally different, which means that there is not enough social dialogue in this area between employees and employers.

Workplace Violence among Nurses in Public Hospitals in Vietnam: A Cross-sectional Study

Workplace violence causes negative impacts on the health of nurses, and the prevalence of workplace violence against nurses is rising globally. Studies to date in Vietnam have only concentrated on describing the frequency of types of violence within a specific healthcare facility with small sample sizes. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, impact and responses to workplace violence among registered nurses in public hospitals in Vietnam. This was the first nationwide study that has been carried out. A cross-sectional study design using an online questionnaire was conducted to achieve the study objectives with 2543 nurses working in 163 public hospitals. The frequency distribution and percentages were employed to describe the prevalence of workplace violence and nurses’ responses. The researchers also used the average value of the total score of each question to rank the impacts of workplace violence on nurses. The rate of workplace violence was 30.8%, of which physical and psychological violence were 5.3% and 29.7%, respectively. Among the types of psychological workplace violence, verbal abuse was the most common. The primary violent offenders were patients and caregivers. The biggest impact of workplace violence on nurses included always feeling stressed at work, decreased job satisfaction, and signs of stress or depression. The most common methods of responding to workplace violence were telling the perpetrator to stop or trying to defend themselves. These findings provide information for hospital leaders, health administrators and the Ministry of Health to reduce workplace violence against nurses. This can be done by increasing training on workplace violence management for nurses, creating a safe working environment to decrease the potential risks, and developing an appropriate system for reporting and responding to workplace violence incidents.

Workplace Violence among Nurses at a Tertiary Hospital in Myanmar: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract Among all types of health-care workers, nursing professionals are at the highest risk of violence since they have to deal with patients and their families directly and frequently. This study aimed to assess the magnitude of both physical and psychological workplace violence (WPV) among nurses at a public hospital in Myanmar and identify related factors. A cross-sectional study was carried out among 192 nurses with a minimum 1-year of working service at a large tertiary hospital using a standard self-administered questionnaire developed by the World Health Organization/International Labour Organization in 2003. The prevalence of overall WPV in the past 12 months was 29.2%. In particular, verbal abuse was the most frequent type (27.1%), followed by bullying/mobbing (7.8%) and physical violence (1.6%). Majority of perpetrators were patient’s relatives (62.7%) for verbal abuse and staff members (64.3%) for bullying/mobbing. The reporting rate was very low for verbal abuse (13.5%) and bullying/mobbing were not reported. Logistic regression analysis showed that respondents who were older than 45 years’ group (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 19.32; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.99–186.95, P = 0.011), those who were staff nurses (AOR: 17.87; 95% CI: 1.05–33.20, P = 0.046), and those who 1–5 years and 5.1–10 years of working experiences (AOR: 18.68; 95% CI: 3.43–101.65, P = 0.001) (AOR: 15.74; 95% CI: 2.80–88.42, P = 0.002) were more likely to be exposed to WPV than their respective counterparts. Awareness generation about the importance of WPV, enforcing available legal instruments, and establishing management strategies for safe working environments should be emphasized.

Psychiatric nurses' experiences and the emotional and psychological sequelae after being psychologically or physically assaulted in psychiatric units: A phenomenological study

AimThis study aimed to describe psychiatric nurses' experiences and the emotional and psychological sequelae after being psychologically or physically assaulted in inpatient psychiatric units. MethodThe study employed a descriptive, phenomenological research approach. A purposive sample of 27 psychiatric nurses participated in in-depth one-on-one interviews. The collected data were transcribed and analyzed using ​Colaizzi's (1978) seven-step method. ResultsThree themes and ten sub-themes emerged: A Fertile Environment for Physical and Psychological Workplace Violence, Psycho-Emotional Sequelae Aftermath of Assault, and Proactive Strategies for Combating Violence. DiscussionA thorough understanding of workplace violence aids in the development of strategies for preventing and addressing this phenomenon and its psychological and emotional consequences. Implications for practiceThe current study provides new insights on the importance of offering mental health and emotional support to assaulted nurses, especially those with accumulated exposure to violence.

Association between workplace psychological violence and work engagement among emergency nurses: The mediating effect of organizational climate.

BackgroundGiven that increasing attention is being given to the burdens on medical systems, researchers have concentrated their attention on nurses’ work engagement, especially in emergency departments.PurposeTo investigate the current situation of work engagement of nurses in emergency department, and to find out the impact of psychological violence on work engagement and its impact path.Basic proceduresThe research is a cross-sectional study. Questionnaires were distributed to 243 nurses from the emergency departments of ten tertiary hospitals from September to October 2019. SPSS was used to conducted ANOVA. The AMOS was used to conduct structural equation model to test the mediating effect of organizational climate on the association between psychological violence and dimensions of work engagement.Main findingsPsychological violence was negatively correlated with organizational climate, vitality, dedication, and focus, and organizational climate was positively correlated with dimensions of work engagement. A negative relationship was found between psychological violence and three dimensions of work engagement, which was mediated by organizational climate.ConclusionIn order to curb workplace psychological violence and improve the work engagement level of emergency nurses, organizational climate can be used as an intervention measure. The support of leaders, the care of colleagues and the mutual understanding and communication between doctors and patients can alleviate the job burnout of nurses in the face of heavy work, so that nurses can face their daily work with a better mental outlook.

Psychological Workplace Violence and Health Outcomes in South Korean Nurses.

Workplace violence (WPV) and its health consequences should continue to be investigated to foster a healthy and safe working environment, which may reduce nurse staff turnover and improve nurse staff shortages. This study aimed to address the gap in understanding WPV in non-western nurses by examining the relationship between psychological WPV experience, psychological well-being, subjective job stress, and presenteeism among South Korean nurses. This cross-sectional study used data from the fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS), and 477 nurses were analyzed. For the analysis, selected variables were extracted from the KWCS through a review of the existing literature. In the analysis, we included psychological WPV experiences, such as verbal abuse, unwanted sexual attention, threats, and/or humiliating behaviors over the past 1 month. We measured health outcomes including nurses' psychological well-being, subjective job stress, and presenteeism. Psychological WPV within the previous month was experienced by 11.1% of the participants. Experience with verbal abuse, threats, or humiliating behaviors was associated with more job stress, higher presenteeism, and poor psychological well-being. Study findings suggest that a comprehensive WPV prevention program accompanied by interventions aiming to reduce job stress and improve the well-being of nurses should be actively implemented. To prevent psychological WPV and improve the health of nurses, evidence-based efforts, such as establishment of WPV prevention procedures and education/training of workers at the national, organizational, and individual levels are needed.

Occupational Violence and Staff Safety in Health-Care: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Large Public Hospital.

BackgroundPhysical and psychological workplace violence in health-care settings has serious implications for the health of workers, as well as a negative effect on productivity and health-care quality.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted from May to July 2018 among physicians and nurses using a convenience sample (n = 213) for the previous 12 months at a tertiary hospital in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. The participants completed a self-administered questionnaire that assessed their personal and professional characteristics, whether they had experienced physical violence (assault) or psychological violence as health-care practitioners, and whether they had reported the incidents.ResultsAmong the respondents, 57% had experienced psychological violence, 6% had experienced physical violence, and 37% had experienced both psychological and physical violence in the previous 12 months. Shiftwork and working in the inpatient department were associated with a significant increase in the risk of physical violence. However, these factors showed no difference with regard to psychological violence. Both physical and psychological violence had diverse causes, without any single predominant cause. Similarly, both forms of violence occurred in multiple departments. Many of the incidents were unreported (75% of incidents involving psychological violence and 39% involving physical violence).ConclusionPhysical and psychological violence against health-care workers (HCWs) in the hospital under study was found to be very common. The results of this study suggest the need to develop and evaluate a violence prevention program to achieve quality health-care services.

Cumulative Lifetime Violence Severity and Chronic Pain in a Community Sample of Canadian Men.

To create a descriptive profile of chronic pain severity in men with lifetime cumulative violence histories, as a target and/or a perpetrator, and investigate how chronic pain severity is associated with and predicted by lifetime cumulative violence severity and known determinants of chronic pain. Analysis of variance and binary logistic regression were performed on data collected in an online survey with a community convenience sample of 653 men who reported experiences of lifetime violence. The prevalence of high-intensity/ high-disability pain in men with lifetime violence was 35.8%. Total Cumulative Lifetime Violence Severity-44 (CLVS-44) scores were significantly associated with high-intensity/ high-disability chronic pain measured by the Chronic Pain Grade Scale (odds ratio= 8.40). In a model with 10 CLVS-44 subscale scores, only psychological workplace violence as a target (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]= 1.44) and lifetime family physical violence as a target (aOR= 1.42) significantly predicted chronic pain severity. In a multivariate model, chronic pain severity was predicted by CLVS-44 total score (aOR= 2.69), age (aOR= 1.02), injury with temporary impairment (aOR= 1.99), number of chronic conditions (aOR= 1.37), and depressive symptoms (aOR= 1.03). The association between lifetime cumulative violence severity and chronic pain severity in men is important new information suggesting the need for trauma- and violence-informed approaches to assessment and intervention with men. This is the first analysis using CLVS-44 subscales to understand which configurations of lifetime cumulative violence may be most predictive of chronic pain severity; further investigation is needed to confirm these findings.

A cross-sectional survey on workplace psychological violence among operating room nurses in Mainland China

AimTo investigate the status of workplace psychological violence (WPV) from managers, coworkers, or subordinates against operating room (OR) nurses in mainland China and identify risk factors. BackgroundWPV is a serious problem for nurses. However, limited information is available regarding the prevalence and risk factors of WPV against OR nurses in mainland China. MethodsA multi-center, cross-sectional study was conducted. OR nurses (n = 1557) from 26 hospitals, located in 13 cities of China, participated in this study. ResultsOf the participants, 92.1% experienced WPV (30.9% from surgeons and 18.1% from senior nurses). Only 30.1% of the sufferers would report WPV. A logistic regression analysis revealed that nurses who had been in service longer and with senior professional titles were more likely to experience WPV. ConclusionNursing managers should identify and resolve issues in a timely manner. Measures that promote effective team communication and facilitate teamwork, as well as inter-disciplinary educational workshops may be effective.

Social Workers’ Experiences of Psychological and Physical Violence at the Workplace

Physical and psychological workplace violence perpetrated against social workers by clients and their acquaintances is a global reality. However, it is rarely discussed as social workers are trained to be client-centred, meaning that they prioritise the care and well-being of others above all else. In South Africa, the awareness of, and academic interest in, workplace violence and aggression are growing, particularly because employees are experiencing increased psychological distress and frustration. Despite this, there remains a dearth of research that investigates workplace violence perpetrated against social workers by clients. This qualitative study explored the experiences of 15 social workers and 3 key informants regarding workplace violence at a South African State Department in the Limpopo province. The study used interviews guided by a semi-structured interview schedule. Purposive sampling was used, and data were analysed using a thematic content analysis. The findings reveal that the participants understood the concept of workplace violence and had directly and/or indirectly been exposed to physical and more frequently psychological forms of workplace violence. Interventions and prevention mechanisms include increasing security in workplaces, training, counselling and education on workplace violence.

Prevalence of psychological workplace violence among employees of a public tertiary health facility in Enugu, Southeast Nigeria.

Psychological violence is the most common form of workplace violence (WPV) that can affect job performance and health of the workers. This study sought to determine the prevalence of psychological WPV among employees working in a tertiary health institution in a South-eastern state of Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional study done in 2018 among healthcare workers at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu State using a pretested self-administered questionnaire adapted from Workplace Violence in the Health Sector Country Case Study Questionnaire. Proportionate sampling method was used to select 412 respondents. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 23 using Chi-square test of significance and P value set at 0.05. Prevalence of psychological violence among the participants was 49.7%. Verbal abuse was the most form of psychological violence experienced 168 (40.8%) followed by bullying 29 (7.0%) while sexual abuse was reported by 8 (1.9%). Majority 114 (55.6%) of the perpetrators of the psychological violence were patient's relative, whereas 48 (23.4%) were staff members. In response to the violence, 58 (28.6%) of the healthcare workers took no action, while only 2 (1%) completed incident/accident form. Bullying was statistically significantly higher in healthcare workers who have spent less than 10 years (χ2 = 3.978 P = 0.046). There was a significant association between verbal abuse and frequent interaction with patients (χ2 = 4.757, P = 0.029). This study has shown that the prevalence of psychological WPV was high among healthcare workers in University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu State. Therefore, there is need for the hospital management to develop policy interventions specific to psychological WPV.

Correlation between inclusive leadership style of operating room nurses and psychological violence among nurses and colleagues

Objective To investigate the status of inclusive leadership style of nurses in operating room and psychological violence among nurses and colleagues, and to analyze the correlation between them. Methods From September to October 2018, a convenient sampling method was adopted. A total of 202 operating room nurses from 2 second-class hospitals and 4 third-grade hospitals in Qingdao, Shandong Province were selected as research subjects. Questionnaire survey was conducted on the Inclusive Leadership Scale and the Chinese version of the Workplace Psychological Violence Scale. Results The total score of the head of the inclusive leadership in the operating room was 46.53±4.98; the total score of psychological violence in the nurses' workplace was 30.59±5.67; the headroom of the operating room was inclusive and the psychological violence of the nurses. There was a negative correlation (r=-0.691--0.489, P<0.05). Conclusions The inclusive leadership style of the head nurse in the operating room can affect the psychological violence of the nurses in the workplace. The head nurse should pay attention to the characteristics of the inclusive leadership style, thus effectively reduce the psychological violence between colleagues. Key words: Operating room; Nurses; Inclusive leadership; Workplace; Psychological violence

The association between workplace violence and physicians' and nurses' job satisfaction in Macau.

BackgroundThis paper describes the association between workplace violence and job satisfaction among physicians and nurses in Macau. Convenience sampling was sourced from six health centers under the Macau Health Bureau.MethodsThis study uses a cross-sectional self-administrative survey. The study used case studies research instruments for workplace violence in the health sector by country (from the ILO, ICN, WHO, PSI), the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire and Perceived Stress Scale. The data collection period spanned from August to December, 2014.Data analysisMultiple logistic regression examines levels of intrinsic and extrinsic satisfaction in physicians and nurses and significant correlates affecting their job satisfaction.ResultsA total of 720 (14.9% physicians) participants were recruited. 57.2% of participants reported physical and psychological workplace violence in the preceding year. The most common forms of workplace violence were verbal abuse (53.4%), physical assault (16.1%), bullying / harassment (14.2%), sexual harassment (4.6%) and racial harassment (2.6%). Nurses were at a significantly higher risk of physical assault and verbal abuse compared to physicians. Patients, patients’ relatives, and colleagues were the main perpetrators. Worry about WPV, on-call duty and shift work, experience of bullying and verbal abuse and employment sector emerged as significant correlates affecting the intrinsic and extrinsic job satisfaction of physicians and nurses. Frontline staff, aged 30 and 39, coming from an ethnic minority, and perceived stress were significant correlates affecting nurses’ job satisfaction.ConclusionsWPV remains a significant concern in healthcare settings in Macau. Stakeholders should legally enforce a zero-tolerance policy towards WPV within healthcare workplaces. WPV is detrimental to healthcare professionals’ mental wellbeing, risking irreversible physical and psychological harm for its victims.

Workplace Violence Against Nurses in Northern Taiwan: A Cross-Sectional Study

Nurses comprise a group in the healthcare team that is exposed to the highest levels of workplace violence. This not only causes negative emotions in nurses and adversely impacts the institution and the body and spirit of the nurses but also affects the quality of nursing care. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of physical and psychological workplace violence experienced by the nursing staff and to identify the perpetrators of violence, the reactions of the victims, and the policies developed by employers to prevent violence. This cross-sectional study was conducted using a stratified sampling method across different levels of healthcare institutions on the nursing personnel registered with the Taipei Nurses Association. The number of subjects was allocated according to hospital level. A total of 2,931 subjects were recruited, of whom 2,627 participated in this study. Over two-thirds (70.6% ) of participants had experienced workplace violence, of whom 31.0% had experienced physical violence and 66.0% had experienced psychological violence. A multiple logistic regression analysis showed that nurses who were married, who had less than one year of work experience, or were over 50 years of age were at lower risk of physical and psychological violence. Those who had a university education or higher faced a higher risk of psychological violence. The most common perpetrators were identified as patients. The aftermath reactions from the victims were varied, with the most prevalent being "telling the perpetrator to stop the violence", "telling friends or family," and "reporting the incident to a senior staff member". The perpetrators were mostly dealt with using a verbal warning, while the second-most common strategy was taking no action. Only 2.3% ‡6.8% of the victims notified the authorities about the violence because of the following primary reasons: "useless," "not important," and "fear of negative consequences." The major strategies that were adopted by employers to prevent violence included "security measures," "improvement of surroundings," and "training." Prevention of violence must be improved comprehensively using the strategies of physical facilities, management, education, and policies.

Development of Instrument of Bullying Behaviors in Nursing Education based on Structured Equation Modeling

Bullying behaviors experienced during nursing education negatively affect students, educators, quality of training, and patient care. The purpose of this study was to develop a valid, reliable, short, and comprehensive scale to measure the bullying behaviors of nursing students in the education environment. The Bullying Behaviors in Nursing Education (BBNE) tool was developed by adapting the Workplace Psychological Violence Behaviors scale. The data were collected from 442 nursing students from April to May 2017. The BBNE was tested using structural equation modeling, and validity and reliability results were obtained. Moreover, complementary statistics were determined, and the violence behaviors experienced by nursing students were reported. The full BBNE scale, with 30 items and four factors, was not verified (χ2/df=4.31); 12 items were excluded, and the modified structure with 18 items and four factors was verified (χ2/df=2.60; root-mean-square error of approximation=.06). The scale's Cronbach's α coefficient is .88, and the structure reliability is .92. Twenty-five percent of the 442 students scored 1 or higher in the total scale, showing that they were subject to bullying behaviors. The BBNE scale can be used to measure the bullying behaviors of nursing students in the education environment. When such behaviors are identified, students can struggle on the personal and organization level. Providing a safer and comfortable education environment for nursing students who are the guarantee of the future of health care will positively affect the quality of education and patient care in parallel.

Workplace Violence Toward Hospital Staff and Volunteers: A Survey of an Italian Sample

ABSTRACTInterest in the phenomenon of workplace violence has increased in recent years because such violence is evident in the healthcare sector. The prevalence and consequences of victimization among healthcare professionals have been well-investigated but not in volunteers who have direct and prolonged contact with patients and visitors. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of physical and psychological workplace violence, the psychological and emotional consequences for hospital staff and volunteers, and the coping strategies that they adopted. In the current study, both of these groups worked with patients suffering from chronic diseases in a hospital in northern Italy. The participants included 108 hospital staff and 96 volunteers in cardiology and oncology units. The results revealed that for the staff victims of physical or psychological violence, the increase in depressive and anxiety symptoms (both state and trait) corresponded to a greater use of coping strategies to avoid facing the event. For the volunteer victims of physical violence, an increase in state anxiety was associated with an attempt to cope with the discharge of emotion, whereas trait anxiety was associated with a coping strategy that represents a positive interpretation of life events. A worrisome finding was the number of staff and volunteer victims of physical and psychological violence who did not report these occurrences: only one third of staff and volunteers reported these events to management or to the police.