Individual and organizational factors influencing workplace cyberbullying of nurses: A cross-sectional study

Workplace cyberbullying has emerged as a new issue. This study aimed to explore individual and organizational factors that affect nurses' workplace cyberbullying in hospital settings. A multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-report questionnaire. Three tertiary and 18 general hospitals were selected from one city in Korea. A total of 270 nurses with 6 months to 10 years of experience in the current department were enrolled. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to identify the factors associated with cyberbullying. Workplace cyberbullying was affected by self-labeled victimization due to face-to-face bullying, subjective health level, years of experience as a nurse (beta = 0.148, p = 0.009), and relation-oriented nursing organizational culture. Face-to-face bullying must be addressed to prevent workplace cyberbullying. It is important to assist nurses to maintain good health-considering that, new nurses with less than 1 year of experience are vulnerable to being victimized. Effective prevention strategies should be prepared to control workplace cyberbullying in clinical practice.

Automated summary

This study identified factors affecting workplace cyberbullying among nurses, including self-labeled victimization due to face-to-face bullying, subjective health level, years of experience as a nurse, and relation-oriented nursing organizational culture. Addressing face-to-face bullying and supporting nurses to maintain good health are crucial in preventing workplace cyberbullying, especially for new nurses with less than 1 year of experience. Effective prevention strategies should be implemented to control workplace cyberbullying in clinical practice.