Workplace bullying as a predictor of emotional intelligence and self-efficacy among nurses
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Abstract
Objectives: To examine the relationship between workplace bullying, emotional intelligence, and self-efficacy among nurses, and to explore differences across age groups and educational levels.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from February to May 2024 in six government, semi-government, and private hospitals of Sialkot, Pakistan. A purposive sample of 196 nurses (aged 21–60 years) who reported workplace bullying was recruited. Data were collected using a demographic sheet and validated Urdu versions of the Negative Act Questionnaire-Revised (NAQ-R), Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS-U), and General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE-U). Analyses were performed using SPSS v.21.
Results: Workplace bullying showed a significant weak negative correlation with emotional intelligence (r = –0.262, p < 0.01) but no significant association with self-efficacy. Emotional intelligence demonstrated a moderate positive correlation with self-efficacy (r = 0.471, p < 0.01) and significantly predicted it, explaining 22.2% of the variance (R² = .222, F (1,194) = 55.260, p < .01). Age-based comparisons revealed that bullying decreased, while emotional intelligence and self-efficacy increased with age, particularly among nurses aged 31–60 years. Education-based analysis showed that intermediate-qualified nurses reported the highest levels of emotional intelligence (93.5%) and self-efficacy (71%) with fewer bullying experiences, whereas degree-holders reported comparatively higher bullying and lower emotional intelligence.
Conclusion: Workplace bullying negatively influences nurses’ emotional intelligence, whereas emotional intelligence positively predicts self-efficacy. Enhancing emotional intelligence through training and fostering a supportive organizational culture may buffer the adverse effects of bullying and improve resilience, particularly among younger and more highly qualified nurses.
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