Psychosomatic symptoms among Palestinian nurses exposed to workplace aggression

Am J Ind Med. 2018 Jun;61(6):533-537. doi: 10.1002/ajim.22851. Epub 2018 Apr 19.

Abstract

Background: The study examined associations between workplace aggression (WPA) and psychosomatic symptoms in Palestinian nurses.

Methods: The 341 nurses, (62% females and 38% males), answered a WHO questionnaire and a psychosomatic symptoms checklist.

Results: A total of 27.3% of the nurses reported exposure to WPA of any kind within the last 12 months. After adjusting for covariates, female nurses exposed to WPA of any kind and those exposed to verbal aggression reported a higher symptom score: (1.5; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.3, 2.7), and (1.4; 95%CI 0.2, 2.6), respectively, than unexposed females. Male nurses exposed to bullying reported a higher symptom score: (3.2; 95%CI 1.0, 5.5) than unexposed males.

Conclusions: Exposure to WPA was associated with higher occurrences of psychosomatic symptoms for both sexes. The female nurses reacted most strongly to verbal aggression or to WPA of any type, while bullying was associated with the male nurses' symptoms.

Keywords: Psychosomatic symptoms; palestinian nurses; sex differences; workplace aggression.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aggression / psychology*
  • Arabs / psychology
  • Bullying / psychology*
  • Bullying / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Health Facilities
  • Humans
  • Linear Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Middle East / epidemiology
  • Nurses / psychology*
  • Nurses / statistics & numerical data
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Psychophysiologic Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Psychophysiologic Disorders / psychology*
  • Sex Distribution
  • Workplace / psychology*