Associations Between Workplace Violence and Work Performance Among Nurses: A Longitudinal Study Based on Affective...

Area of Science:

• Nursing Research
• Occupational Health Psychology
• Organizational Behavior

Background:

• Workplace violence is a significant issue affecting healthcare professionals.
• Understanding the impact of different types of violence (physical vs. psychological) on nurses is crucial.
• The mediating roles of affective reactions and burnout in this relationship require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the chain-mediating effects of affective reactions and burnout on the relationship between workplace violence and work performance among nurses.
• To differentiate the impact of physical versus psychological workplace violence on nurses' work performance.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal study involving 1086 nurses in four tertiary hospitals in Shandong Province, China (October 2020-October 2022).
• Self-report questionnaires assessed workplace psychological violence, workplace physical violence, work performance, affective reactions (anxiety, depressive symptoms), and burnout.
• Data analysis employed multiple linear regressions and structural equation modeling using SPSS and AMOS.

Main Results:

• Workplace psychological violence, not physical violence, was significantly associated with reduced nurses' work performance.
• Burnout was found to mediate the relationship between workplace psychological violence and work performance.
• Affective reactions and burnout serially mediated the negative impact of psychological violence on work performance.

Conclusions:

• Interventions reducing anxiety, depressive symptoms, and burnout in nurses experiencing psychological violence can enhance work performance.
• Hospitals should implement strategies to prevent psychological violence and improve nurse performance through burnout screening and targeted support.
• Findings highlight the importance of addressing psychological violence and its consequences in nursing.