Prevalence of bullying in the nursing workplace and determinant factors: a nationwide cross-sectional Polish study survey

Abstract

ObjectivesIn the present study, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of bullying among Polish nurses, and to identify the most common negative acts, as well as individual and work-related risk factors for workplace bullying.MethodsCross-sectional study designed using an online survey. The total study sample was 404 nurses, each having over 6 months of working experience. Data were collected using the Polish version of the Negative Act Questionnaire-Revised. Linear stepwise regression analysis and logistic regression analysis were performed to assess predictors of greater reporting of perceived workplace bullyingResultsBullying was experienced by 65.84% of participants. Perceived workplace bullying was associated with sex (p=0.043), age (p=0.003), seniority (p=0.006), number of working hours per week (p=0.010) and position (p=0.029). Logistic regression analysis with the dependent variable of bullying according to Leymann’s rigorous criteria revealed that the model could include four variables: age from 50 to 59, seniority of 11–15 years,>45 working hours per week and a bachelor’s degree in nursing.ConclusionsAn alarming percentage of nurses were victims of bullying. Among all variables included in the regression model, the most significant predictors of perceived workplace bullying were age, seniority, work overtime and bachelor’s degree education. Bullying prevention and improvement of well-being at work must be addressed as part of an overall strategy to deal with turnover.

Prevalence of Workplace Bullying and Its Associated Factors among Workers in a Malaysian Public University Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…This study found that younger workers were more likely to be bullied than senior ones. This finding was similar to results reported in Poland 58 and the UK, 15 but inconsistent with findings from Portugal 33 and Spain. 21 …”

“…Those with longer working hours are often susceptible to greater work overload, which can increase one’s sensitivity to bullying and increase exposure to violence and abuse. 58 , 60 , 61 This logical apprehension was reversed in the current study, noting that hospital workers in this study who worked <40 hours per week reported greater susceptibility to bullying than those who worked ≥40 hours per week. However, this can plausibly be explained through a string of observations via an anticipated triple-variable effect.…”

“…Similar associations have been observed in previous studies. 48 , 57 , 58 Such vulnerability to bullying among junior staff could be caused by collapsed coping mechanisms for workplace stressors or the hierarchical structure within the organization that demands work beyond one’s capabilities while trying to adapt to a new organizational climate. 24 , 59 Similarly, workers who were not involved in patient care, such as administrative or clerical staff, were highly vulnerable to workplace bullying, and this finding was consistent with a previous study.…”

Workplace Violence Among Healthcare Workers in a Tertiary Medical City in Riyadh: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…However, no statistically significant associations were found between gender and any type of violence. Previous studies were not consistent in finding an association between gender and workplace violence [25][26][27]. However, female healthcare providers were found to have a higher risk of sexual harassment than their male counterparts [28].…”

Factors affecting work ability index among polish nurses working in hospitals – A prospective observational survey

“…Thus, about 65% of the nurses studied represent a group between 41–60 years of age, and nearly 85% are over 40 years old. Also, Serafin and Czarkowska‐Pączek (2019) observed that only 18.6% of nurses were aged below 29 years in their nationwide cross‐sectional Polish study survey. This trend is also observed in other counties around the world (Halcomb et al., 2018; Spiva et al., 2011).…”