The Influence of Mistreatment by Patients on Job Satisfaction and Turnover Intention among Chinese Nurses: A Three-Wave Survey

The affective event of mistreatment in the workplace has been recognized as an important factor influencing employee affect and behavior. However, few studies have logically explained and empirically clarified the link between mistreatment by patients and nurses’ job satisfaction and turnover intention. The current study aimed to explore the effects of mistreatment by patients on nurses’ job satisfaction and turnover intention through work meaningfulness and emotional dissonance, as well as the moderating role of hostile attribution bias. Using three-wave survey data collect from 657 nurses who worked in three hospitals in China, we found that mistreatment by patients had a negative effect on nurses’ job satisfaction through work meaningfulness, mistreatment by patients had a positive effect on nurses’ turnover intention through emotional dissonance. Furthermore, nurses’ hostile attribution bias acted as an effective moderator on the relationship. These findings help uncover the mechanisms and conditions in which mistreatment by patients influences nurses’ job satisfaction and turnover intention.