The relationship between workplace violence, anxiety, and depression in nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic

Workplace violence severely affects nurses, and the COVID-19 pandemic has intensified this issue, resulting in physical and mental illness, which seriously affects their work and lives.

To analyze the relationship between workplace violence, anxiety, and depression among front line nurses in the fight against COVID-19.

This mixed-methods study simultaneously collected qualitative and quantitative data in three municipalities in Alagoas, Brazil, between January and June 2022. The qualitative data were derived from interviews with six nurses, using the thematic oral history technique. The quantitative data were derived from a questionnaire administered to 131 clinical and practical nurses.

The oral histories indicated anxiety-related feelings, such as fear, nervousness, worry, and panic, which made the workers vulnerable to violence. According to the quantitative data, 53.4% (n = 70) of nurses experienced violence, primarily psychological (n = 69; 52.7%). Anxiety and depression symptoms were present in 21.4% (n = 28) and 30.5% (n = 40) of the nurses, respectively, and violence was significantly associated with both anxiety (p = 0.003) and depression (p = 0.004).

The results show that nurses suffer a high prevalence of violence. The association between violence, anxiety, and depression reinforces the need for structural initiatives to combat violence and protect the lives of those who care for the health of the population.