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The Relationship between Patients’ Demands and Workplace Violence among Healthcare Workers: A Multilevel Look Focusing on the Moderating Role of Psychosocial Working Conditions

Author

Listed:
  • Cristian Balducci

    (Department of Quality of Life Sciences, University of Bologna, 47921 Rimini, Italy)

  • Chiara Rafanelli

    (Department of Psychology “Renzo Canestrari”, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy)

  • Luca Menghini

    (Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy)

  • Chiara Consiglio

    (Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy)

Abstract

Workplace violence against healthcare workers is a widespread phenomenon with very severe consequences for the individuals affected and their organizations. The role played by psychosocial working conditions in healthcare workers’ experiences of violence from patients and their family members has received relatively scant attention. In the present study, we investigated the idea that psychosocial working conditions (workload, job control, supervisor support, and team integration), by affecting the well-being and job performance of healthcare workers, play a critical role in the relationship between patients’ demands and the escalation of workplace violence. Specifically, we tested the hypothesis that psychosocial working conditions moderate the relationship between patients’ demands and workplace violence. Participants were 681 healthcare workers distributed in 55 work groups of three public healthcare facilities in Italy. Multilevel analysis showed significant interactions between patients’ demands and each of the investigated psychosocial factors on workplace violence, which in all the cases were in the expected direction. The results suggest that improving the quality of the psychosocial work environment in which healthcare workers operate may be a critical aspect in the prevention of workplace violence.

Suggested Citation

  • Cristian Balducci & Chiara Rafanelli & Luca Menghini & Chiara Consiglio, 2024. "The Relationship between Patients’ Demands and Workplace Violence among Healthcare Workers: A Multilevel Look Focusing on the Moderating Role of Psychosocial Working Conditions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(2), pages 1-13, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:21:y:2024:i:2:p:178-:d:1332893
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sara Gostoli & Laura Nicolucci & Carlotta Malaguti & Chiara Patierno & Danilo Carrozzino & Cristian Balducci & Sara Zaniboni & Vittorio Lodi & Carmine Petio & Chiara Rafanelli, 2022. "Mental Illness and Work-Related Limitations in Healthcare Workers: A Preliminary Retrospective Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-14, July.
    2. Stefano Toderi & Cristian Balducci, 2018. "Stress-Preventive Management Competencies, Psychosocial Work Environments, and Affective Well-Being: A Multilevel, Multisource Investigation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-16, February.
    3. Paul Maurice Conway & Hermann Burr & Uwe Rose & Thomas Clausen & Cristian Balducci, 2021. "Antecedents of Workplace Bullying among Employees in Germany: Five-Year Lagged Effects of Job Demands and Job Resources," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-13, October.
    4. Sara Gostoli & Angelica D’Oronzo & Carlotta Malaguti & Francesco Guolo & Cristian Balducci & Regina Subach & Vittorio Lodi & Carmine Petio & Chiara Rafanelli, 2023. "Psychopathological Burden among Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic Compared to the Pre-Pandemic Period," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(24), pages 1-13, December.
    5. Hermann Burr & Cristian Balducci & Paul Maurice Conway & Uwe Rose, 2022. "Workplace Bullying and Long-Term Sickness Absence—A Five-Year Follow-Up Study of 2476 Employees Aged 31 to 60 Years in Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-10, June.
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