Workplace violence and psychoneurological symptoms in nurses

For nurses, workplace violence (WV) is a serious occupational hazard. WV and occupational stress are inversely correlated. Sleep issues and headaches are early cognitive indicators of distress. This cross-sectional study aims to determine the frequency of verbal or physical abuse directed against nurses and investigate the link between WV and headaches and sleep issues. 550 nurses and nursing assistants (445 female, 80.9%; mean age 48.0±9.98 years) were asked to complete a standard questionnaire that included the Violent Incident Form (VIF), which asked about violent episodes experienced, the Headache Impact Test (HIT-6), which asked about headaches, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Inventory (PSQI) about sleep quality, and the effort/reward imbalance questionnaire (ERI) about occupational stress. 7.5% of employees reported experiencing physical violence in the preceding year, while 17.5% reported non-physical violence. Workers who encountered violence had a higher risk of headaches and sleep issues in univariate logistic regression models. The connection between physical violence and headache remained significant after controlling for sex, age, work type, and ERI (adjusted odds ratio aOR= 2.25; confidence interval CI95%=1.11;4.57). In a multivariate logistic regression model adjusted for sex, age, job type, and ERI, all types of WV were substantially linked to poor sleep (aOR= 2.35 CI95%= 1.44;3.85). Additionally, the effects of headaches and the quality of sleep were linked to WV. The incidence of long-lasting psychoneurological symptoms, such as headaches and poor sleep, that interfere with work ability of nurses and patients’ safety, may be decreased with WV prophylaxis. KEY MESSAGES: • Workplace violence is associated with headache and sleep disturbances in nurses. • Prevention of workplace violence could reduce neuropsychological disorders in nurses.