The moderating effect of psychological capital on the relationship between nurses’ perceived workplace bullying and emotional exhaustion: a cross-sectional study
Abstract Background Workplace bullying (WPB) is common in nursing profession, leading to adverse effects on nurses’ health and teamwork. Although it has been suggested that psychological capital (PsyCap) could potentially moderate the relationship between WPB and emotional exhaustion, there is curre...
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2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-02763-0 |
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| author | Xiao Peng Jing Ma Ying Chen Ying Han Hong Zhou Aiping Gong Fang Peng Xinzhang Sun Xingfen Wang Xunya Xiong Li Li Mengting Huang Qingsong Zeng |
| author_facet | Xiao Peng Jing Ma Ying Chen Ying Han Hong Zhou Aiping Gong Fang Peng Xinzhang Sun Xingfen Wang Xunya Xiong Li Li Mengting Huang Qingsong Zeng |
| author_sort | Xiao Peng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Workplace bullying (WPB) is common in nursing profession, leading to adverse effects on nurses’ health and teamwork. Although it has been suggested that psychological capital (PsyCap) could potentially moderate the relationship between WPB and emotional exhaustion, there is currently a lack of direct empirical evidence supporting this claim. Therefore, this study aims to examine how PsyCap moderates the relationship between WPB and emotional exhaustion in nurses. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out involving 1068 nurses using a general information questionnaire, Negative Acts Questionnaire-Revised, Psychological Capital Questionnaire-Revision, and emotional exhaustion subscale of the Chinese version of Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey. The PROCESS macro was utilized to examine the moderating effect of PsyCap. Results WPB led to emotional exhaustion among nurses (β = 1.488, P < 0.001), and PsyCap moderated this positive relationship (β = 0.300, P < 0.001). The group with high PsyCap exhibited lower levels of emotional exhaustion. However, as the perceived WPB increased, the disparity in emotional exhaustion between the high and low PsyCap groups diminished. Conclusions WPB significantly contributes to nurses’ emotional exhaustion. PsyCap mitigates this impact, but this effect is limited in organizations with high WPB. it is recommended that nursing managers mitigate the detrimental impact of WPB on nurses’ emotional well-being by both strengthening nurses’ individual PsyCap and implementing comprehensive strategies to reduce WPB behaviors. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5ec8e7e25c1644eba97b7a85778ccb3e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1472-6955 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Nursing |
| spelling | doaj-art-5ec8e7e25c1644eba97b7a85778ccb3e2025-02-02T12:15:08ZengBMCBMC Nursing1472-69552025-01-012411810.1186/s12912-025-02763-0The moderating effect of psychological capital on the relationship between nurses’ perceived workplace bullying and emotional exhaustion: a cross-sectional studyXiao Peng0Jing Ma1Ying Chen2Ying Han3Hong Zhou4Aiping Gong5Fang Peng6Xinzhang Sun7Xingfen Wang8Xunya Xiong9Li Li10Mengting Huang11Qingsong Zeng12Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze UniversityYangtze University Health Science CenterPingshan District People’s Hospital of ShenzhenDepartment of Gastroenterology, Xianning City Central HospitalYangtze University Health Science CenterYangtze University Health Science CenterYangtze University Health Science CenterYangtze University Health Science CenterDepartment of Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze UniversityOncology Department, Xianning City Central HospitalOncology Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze UniversitySchool of Nursing and Midwifery, Monash UniversityDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze UniversityAbstract Background Workplace bullying (WPB) is common in nursing profession, leading to adverse effects on nurses’ health and teamwork. Although it has been suggested that psychological capital (PsyCap) could potentially moderate the relationship between WPB and emotional exhaustion, there is currently a lack of direct empirical evidence supporting this claim. Therefore, this study aims to examine how PsyCap moderates the relationship between WPB and emotional exhaustion in nurses. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out involving 1068 nurses using a general information questionnaire, Negative Acts Questionnaire-Revised, Psychological Capital Questionnaire-Revision, and emotional exhaustion subscale of the Chinese version of Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey. The PROCESS macro was utilized to examine the moderating effect of PsyCap. Results WPB led to emotional exhaustion among nurses (β = 1.488, P < 0.001), and PsyCap moderated this positive relationship (β = 0.300, P < 0.001). The group with high PsyCap exhibited lower levels of emotional exhaustion. However, as the perceived WPB increased, the disparity in emotional exhaustion between the high and low PsyCap groups diminished. Conclusions WPB significantly contributes to nurses’ emotional exhaustion. PsyCap mitigates this impact, but this effect is limited in organizations with high WPB. it is recommended that nursing managers mitigate the detrimental impact of WPB on nurses’ emotional well-being by both strengthening nurses’ individual PsyCap and implementing comprehensive strategies to reduce WPB behaviors.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-02763-0Emotional exhaustionWorkplace bullyingPsychological capitalNursesModerating effect |
| spellingShingle | Xiao Peng Jing Ma Ying Chen Ying Han Hong Zhou Aiping Gong Fang Peng Xinzhang Sun Xingfen Wang Xunya Xiong Li Li Mengting Huang Qingsong Zeng The moderating effect of psychological capital on the relationship between nurses’ perceived workplace bullying and emotional exhaustion: a cross-sectional study BMC Nursing Emotional exhaustion Workplace bullying Psychological capital Nurses Moderating effect |
| title | The moderating effect of psychological capital on the relationship between nurses’ perceived workplace bullying and emotional exhaustion: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full | The moderating effect of psychological capital on the relationship between nurses’ perceived workplace bullying and emotional exhaustion: a cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | The moderating effect of psychological capital on the relationship between nurses’ perceived workplace bullying and emotional exhaustion: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The moderating effect of psychological capital on the relationship between nurses’ perceived workplace bullying and emotional exhaustion: a cross-sectional study |
| title_short | The moderating effect of psychological capital on the relationship between nurses’ perceived workplace bullying and emotional exhaustion: a cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | moderating effect of psychological capital on the relationship between nurses perceived workplace bullying and emotional exhaustion a cross sectional study |
| topic | Emotional exhaustion Workplace bullying Psychological capital Nurses Moderating effect |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-02763-0 |
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