Mediating effect of workplace violence on the relationship between empathy and professional identity among nursing students

Abstract

BackgroundStudies have reported that empathy had a positive effect on professional identity (PI) in nursing students. However, little was known about the mechanism underlying this relationship between empathy and professional identity in nursing students.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to analyze in depth the mediating effect of workplace violence (WVP) between empathy and professional identity in nursing students.MethodsA total of 405 nursing students participated and were investigated using the Chinese version of the Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Health Professional (JSE-HP), the scale of professional identity about nursing students, and the workplace violence Incident Survey in this study. Hierarchical regression was used to analyze the mediating effect of workplace violence on the relationship between empathy and professional identity among nursing students.ResultsThe score of nursing students' professional identity was 103.69 ± 17.79. Workplace violence had a significant negative correlation with empathy (r = −0.449, P < 0.001) and professional identity (r = −0.330, P < 0.001). Workplace violence accounted for 14.59% of the total mediating effect on the relationship between empathy and professional identity for nursing students.ConclusionsIn this study, the level of professional identity of nursing students was low. Workplace violence had a partially significantly mediating effect on the relationship between empathy and professional identity. Maybe, it was suggested that nursing students' professional identity might be improved and driven by a decrease in workplace violence. Targeted interventions at reducing nursing students' workplace violence should be developed and implemented. In addition, nursing managers and educators should be aware of the importance of empathy and improve professional identity in nursing students.

A cross-sectional survey on the relationship between workplace psychological violence and empathy among Chinese nurses: the mediation role of resilience

“…The Workplace Psychologically Violent Behaviors Instrument (WPVBI) was used to measure workplace psychological violences among nurses [ 26 , 27 ]. The WPVBI scale was developed by Dilek and Aytolan [ 17 ], and translated and revised by Xu et al [ 27 ]. The WPVBI scale consisted of 32 items and 4 dimensions in terms of isolation from work (11 items), attacks on professional status (9 items), attacks on personality (9 items), and direct negative behavior (3 items).…”

“…Empathy refers to a cognitive attribute and psychological competency which enables individuals to sense and perceive the thoughts, intentions, and motivations of others [ 17 ]. Nurses who experience workplace psychological violences could reduce work passion and impair empathy ability, which provides a clue to the mechanism of how workplace psychological violences impact nurse outcomes.…”