The association between workplace bullying and the mental health of Jordanian nurses and its predictors: A cross-sectional correlational study

Background: Bullying at work is a major challenge that harms an employee's overall well-being, job happiness, and mental health. Objectives: To assess the relationship between workplace bullying and Jordanian nurses' mental health. Materials and Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional correlational design was used in this study, recruiting 146 nurses from three governmental hospitals in Jordan. A convenience sample was used. The study used the Negative Acts Questionnaire-Revised (NAQ-R) tool to measure the level of bullying as a negative behavior. Also, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-42) was used to assess nurse's mental status. Results: Most of the participants 54.8% were victims of frequent workplace bullying, while the mean score of the total DASS-42 scale (M = 43.45). About 64.4% of participants exhibited symptoms of depression, 58.8% exhibited symptoms of anxiety, and 46.6% exhibited symptoms of stress. A significant relationship between workplace bullying and mental health among Jordanian nurses was found (r = 0.75, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Bullying at work can harm a person's mental health, causing stress, worry, and depression. Like other professions, nursing can be the target of workplace bullying, which can take many different forms. However, maintaining a safe and respectful workplace is a priority for healthcare providers including nurses.