Implications of psychological harassment on witnesses: an observational study in nursing staff

Abstract

[eng] Psychological harassment at work (mobbing) is considered a worldwide problem of great magnitude for nursing staff. Although hostility is described as a subjective behavior, the large number of witnesses suggests a reflection on the phenomenon. The aim of this study is to analyze the problem of psychological harassment from the point of view of the witnesses, and to find out the psychological impact of this phenomenon on them. We performed a cross-sectional study using self-administered questionnaires. The sample consisted of 204 nurses who were non-victims of mobbing. 28.4% (n = 58) of them reported to have observed hostile behavior toward coworkers. The most observed behaviors were professional discrediting, professional humiliation, rejection, scorn, and professional isolation. It was found that the witnesses of mobbing had significantly more symptoms of stress than non-witnesses, a greater desire to leave the profession, and a greater perception that nursing is an undervalued profession. The results indicate that mobbing in nursing is an objective behavior and its impact reaches observers thereof, who may be secondary victims of the phenomenon. The results indicate that mobbing in nursing is an objective behavior and its impact reaches observers thereof, which could be considered secondary victims of the phenomenon.