Relationship Between Workplace Bullying, Spirituality And Job Burnout In Pediatric Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract Background: Workplace bullying threatens public health as a serious social problem globally. The nursing field is one of the hardest hit areas where bullying is breeding. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships and pathways between workplace bullying, workplace spirituality and job burnout in Chinese pediatric nurses. Methods: The sample of this cross-sectional study consists of 402 pediatric nurses who worked at six hospitals in Hubei Province, China. The data were collected using a sociodemographic data questionnaire, Negative Acts Questionnaire-Revised, Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey and Workplace Spirituality Scale. The model was tested using path analysis techniques within structural equation modeling.Result: The research data supported the proposed model. Workplace bullying had positive and direct effects on the burnout of pediatric nurses. Workplace spirituality partially mediated the relationship between workplace bullying and burnout.Conclusions: Workplace spirituality plays an important role in correctly recognizing and evaluating work stressors. Workplace spirituality may reduce the incidence of bullying and burnout in pediatric nurses. Nursing managers should first acknowledge the existence of workplace bullying. Next, they need to consider and cultivate the workplace spirituality of pediatric nurses, with the aim of creating a healthy working environment and ensuring the stability of the nursing team.