Relationship Among Workplace Bullying, Job Satisfaction, Burnout, and Turnover Intention: The Mediating Role of Nurses’ Resilience

Abstract

Introduction: Nurses are often exposed to workplace bullying, which can result in declining job satisfaction, burnout, and a higher turnover intention. Resilience can help nurses cope with these adverse situations. Aim: To examine the relationships among workplace bullying, resilience, job satisfaction, burnout, and turnover intention in nurses and to investigate the mediating role of resilience in these correlations. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 239 nurses from three hospitals in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Between April and August 2024, data were obtained via an online survey, including personal and professional information, and Brazilian versions of validated instruments for measuring resilience, workplace bullying, and burnout. Data analysis was conducted using Spearman’s correlation test and structural equation modeling. Results: Of the participants, 80.33% were female, with a mean age of 37.11 (±9.10) years. Workplace bullying was found to have a significant negative correlation with resilience, reduced personal accomplishment, and job satisfaction, as well as significant positive correlations with emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and turnover intention. Workplace bullying had significant negative direct and indirect effects on job satisfaction, as well as significant positive direct and indirect effects on burnout. The effects of workplace bullying on job satisfaction and turnover intention were partially mediated by resilience. However, no mediating effect was found in the relationship between workplace bullying and turnover intention. Conclusion: Resilience partially mediated the relationships between workplace bullying and both job satisfaction and burnout, highlighting its protective role. However, no mediating effect was found with regard to turnover intention, suggesting that other factors influence nurses’ decisions to leave. Nurse managers can enhance professionals’ well-being by reducing workplace bullying and implementing strategies that strengthen resilience.