Auftretenshäufigkeit und gesundheitliche Korrelate spezifischer Formen psychischer Gewalt im Gesundheitswesen: Eine Sekundärdatenanalyse auf Basis einer repräsentativen Stichprobe

Abstract

Background

Psychological violence in the workplace poses a significant risk to employee health. In patient-centered care contexts, it often takes the form of abusive behavior by people outside the workplace, such as patients or their relatives and associates. This article examines the prevalence of psychological violence, which manifests itself in derogatory, harassing, or humiliating behavior by third parties towards healthcare workers, and analyzes its associations with the health of those affected.

Methods

The analyses are based on data from a representative Germany-wide study on bullying in the workplace (August 2023–January 2024). The prevalence of psychological violence was determined descriptively; health associations were examined using binary logistic regression models.

Results

Of 547 healthcare workers, 16.5% reported psychological violence in the last six months. Repeated incidents of violence were significantly associated with depressive symptoms, anxiety, stress, and poorer general health; no associations with days of incapacity to work were found. No significant associations were found for rare incidents.

Discussion

Psychological violence is a structurally embedded risk factor in the healthcare sector that can only be explained to a limited extent by individual characteristics or general characteristics of the employment situation. Repeated exposure is clearly associated with health impairments and points to the need for organizational prevention measures.

Conclusion

Psychological violence by third parties should be systematically monitored and taken into account in occupational risk assessments. Preventive protective measures are key to maintaining employee health and reliable care. Further research on prevalence, risk factors, and effective interventions in German healthcare is needed in order to develop and sustainably implement evidence-based protection concepts.