Workplace Bullying and Mental Health in Nurse Populations – A Meta-Analysis

Aim: Considering the vital role of nurses in healthcare, especially amidst the light of the COVID-19 pandemic and an aging society, understanding the implications of workplace bullying becomes crucial. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to summarize the cross-sectional literature on the association between workplace bullying and mental health in nurses. Methods: A systematic review of 37 relevant articles out of 8458 identified was conducted, using a random-effects model for statistical analysis, alongside assessments of moderating factors. Results: The cross-sectional data showed a positive association between workplace bullying and mental health issues (r = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.418 – 0.53, p < 0.001, k = 40), more specifically depression, anxiety, burnout, stress-related complaints, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and general mental health complaints. In this study, r represents Pearson’s correlation coefficient, 95% CI signifies the 95% confidence interval, p the...Show moreAim: Considering the vital role of nurses in healthcare, especially amidst the light of the COVID-19 pandemic and an aging society, understanding the implications of workplace bullying becomes crucial. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to summarize the cross-sectional literature on the association between workplace bullying and mental health in nurses. Methods: A systematic review of 37 relevant articles out of 8458 identified was conducted, using a random-effects model for statistical analysis, alongside assessments of moderating factors. Results: The cross-sectional data showed a positive association between workplace bullying and mental health issues (r = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.418 – 0.53, p < 0.001, k = 40), more specifically depression, anxiety, burnout, stress-related complaints, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and general mental health complaints. In this study, r represents Pearson’s correlation coefficient, 95% CI signifies the 95% confidence interval, p the significance level and k denotes the number of studies. Geographic differences in the data, (r = - 0.01, CI = -0.06 – 0.04, p = 0.61, k = 40) and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic (r = 0.05, CI = -0.09 – 0.19, p = 0.51, k = 32) were not associated with an impact on the association between workplace bullying and mental health. Gender (r = -0.004, CI = -0.01 – 0, p = 0.04, k = 37) and age (r = -0.01, CI = -0.02 - -0, p = 0.03, k = 30) had a small negative moderating effect on the relation. Key conclusions: Workplace bullying significantly impacts nurses’ mental health emphasizing the need for targeted interventions and robust support systems. Promoting a healthier work environment for nurses holds the potential to enhance both their well-being and overall patient care quality.Show less

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Workplace Bullying and Mental Health in Nurse Populations – A Meta-Analysis