Moderating effects of professional self-concept in relationship between workplace bullying and nursing service quality among hospital nurses

Abstract

Purpose: To identify the effects of workplace bullying of hospital nurses on the quality of nursing service and to investigate the moderating effects of professional self-concept in the relationship between workplace bullying and quality of nursing service. Methods: The participants in this study were 280 nurses working in hospitals located in J Province. Data were collected from December 20, 2016, to January 20, 2017. A self-administered structured questionnaire was used. Data were analyzed using the SPSS/WIN 22.0 statistical program. Results: Workplace bullying had significant negative correlations with professional self-concept and nursing service quality. There was a significant positive correlation between professional self-concept and nursing service quality. Professional self-concept was the only variable to show a moderating effect in the relationship between the outcome of workplace bullying and quality of nursing service (β=-.12, p=.023). Conclusion: The findings from this study suggest building a systematic strategy to prevent workplace bullying at the organizational-level, where it threatens quality of nursing service and developing programs to promote professional self-concept, which can control the negative effect of workplace bullying.