The mediating role of work alienation in the effect of workplace loneliness on nurses’ performance

Heterogeneity of work alienation and its relationship with job embeddedness among Chinese nurses: a cross-sectional study using latent profile analysis

OBJECTIVE

To identify the distinct profiles of work alienation among Chinese nurses, examine the demographic factors associated with profile memberships, and then explore the relationship between latent categories of work alienation and job embeddedness.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey of 523 nurses was conducted from July to August 2023. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was performed to identify distinct profiles of nurses based on three aspects: powerlessness, helplessness, and meaningfulness. A multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to explore the predictors of profile membership. Hierarchical regression analysis was carried out to examine the association between profile memberships and job embeddedness.

RESULTS

Three subgroups of work alienation of nurses were identified: 23.1%, 57.8%, and 19.1% in the low work alienation group (profile 1), the moderate work alienation group (profile 3), and the high work alienation group (profile 2), respectively. Nurses with college degrees were more likely to be grouped into moderate work alienation. Nurses who did not work night shifts were more likely to have low or moderate levels of work alienation. Nurses earning 2,000-3,000 and 3,001-5,000 yuan per month were likely to be in the low work alienation group. The different categories of work alienation significantly predicted job embeddedness among nurses (ΔR2 = 0.103, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Work alienation has an important impact on clinical nurses' job embeddedness. Nursing managers should pay attention to the differences in individual work alienation status and adopt reasonable management strategies to improve the level of job embeddedness, ensure the quality of care, and reduce nursing turnover.

Linking abusive supervision to service sabotage through work alienation in nurses: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Abusive supervision has detrimental effects on nurses, but the mechanisms connecting abusive supervision to negative outcomes for nurses have not been well-established in the nursing literature.

AIM

This study aimed to investigate whether work alienation mediates the relationship between abusive supervision and nurses' service sabotage.

METHODS

This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from November to December 2021 with 204 nurses working at a teaching hospital in Damanhour, Egypt. Data were collected using a demographic information form, the Abusive Supervision Scale, the Work Alienation Scale and the Service Sabotage Scale. Study hypotheses were evaluated using structural equation modelling.

RESULTS

Our findings revealed a significant association between abusive supervision, work alienation, and service sabotage among nurses. Abusive supervision was found to be linked to nurses' service sabotage through work alienation.

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that nurses who are subject to abusive supervision are more likely to feel alienated, which increases the probability of them engaging in behaviours that have a negative impact on the quality of care they provide.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

No patient or public contribution.

Work alienation and quality of work life among nurses: A descriptive cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Work alienation in nursing can create various problems that affect the quality of work life of nurses, which should be addressed from different perspectives.

AIMS

This study investigated the relationship between work alienation and the quality of work life, aiming to determine the factors affecting nurses' quality of work life.

DESIGN

This is a descriptive and cross-sectional study that used the STROBE guidelines to prepare this study report.

METHODS

The study was conducted between March and June 2022 in Turkey with 303 nurses. It used an online questionnaire with a simple random sampling. Data were collected using a descriptive characteristics form, the Work Alienation Scale, and the Quality of Nursing Work Life Scale. The data were analyzed with Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis.

RESULTS

There was a significant negative correlation between work alienation and the quality of work life. Four independent variables with 58.2% impact on the nurses' quality of work life were identified, including participation in the decision-making process, the ability to use initiative during the production of the service, the significance of the work for the individual, and the type of institution.

CONCLUSIONS

The nurses' work alienation score was moderate, and their quality of work life score was high. An increase in the feeling of work alienation statistically decreased the quality of work life.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING AND HEALTH POLICY

Nurses who experience work alienation may face a decline in their quality of work life that may have an adverse effect on their work performance and work satisfaction.

Loneliness in the workplace: a mixed-method systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Loneliness is a risk factor for a range of mental and physical health problems and has gained increasing interest from policy-makers and researchers in recent years. However, little attention has been paid to loneliness at work and its implications for workers and employers.

AIMS

Identify workplace, health and personal factors associated with workplace loneliness.

METHODS

We searched five databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO and EBSCO Business Source Complete) for relevant articles published from 1 January 2000 to 23 February 2023. Quantitative data were synthesized using narrative synthesis and random-effects meta-analysis of correlation coefficients. Qualitative data were synthesized using thematic synthesis. Evidence quality was appraised using the Mixed-Methods Appraisal Tool.

RESULTS

We identified 49 articles meeting the inclusion criteria. Pooled results indicate that workplace loneliness was associated with lower job performance (r = -0.35, 95% CI -0.49, -0.21), reduced job satisfaction (r = -0.34, 95% CI -0.44, -0.24), worse worker-manager relationship (r = -0.31, 95% CI -0.38, -0.24) and elevated burnout (r = 0.39, 95% CI 0.25, 0.51). Qualitative results suggest links between loneliness and inadequate workplace social interactions and mental health problems. As most studies used cross-sectional data and few adjusted for potential confounders, the direction and robustness of the associations remain untested.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that loneliness is associated with poor occupational functioning and well-being among workers. Results also show that loneliness is associated with modifiable aspects of the work environment, suggesting that the workplace may offer a fruitful avenue for interventions targeting loneliness.

Work alienation and its relationship with job crafting and job embeddedness among a group of Iranian nurses during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic

Background

The difficult work conditions of nurses during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic can cause them work alienation. Work alienation is in turn associated with negative consequences such as turnover intention. Therefore, identifying the contributing factors of work alienation is essential.

Aim

This study aimed to assess the relationship of work alienation with job crafting and job embeddedness among a group of Iranian nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

A total of 332 eligible nurses participated in this descriptive correlational study. The data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, the work alienation measure, the job crafting scale and the global measure of job embeddedness.

Results

The mean scores of work alienation, job embeddedness and job crafting were 22.67 ± 6.46 (possible range: 7-49), 21.05 ± 3.65 (possible range: 7-35) and 77.54 ± 11.93 (possible range: 21-105), respectively. Work alienation had a significant inverse correlation with job embeddedness and job crafting. Job crafting and job embeddedness significantly predicted 44% of the variance of work alienation.

Conclusions

Around half of the variance of work alienation is explained by job crafting and job embeddedness. Nursing managers can use strategies to improve nurses' job embeddedness and job crafting in order to reduce the probability of their work alienation.

"Feeling Like an Island": Perceptions of Professional Isolation Among Emergency Nurses

INTRODUCTION

Professional isolation, feelings of being isolated from one's professional peers and lacking mentoring and opportunities for professional interaction, collaboration, and development, is a challenge for workers across the labor market. The notion of professional isolation is particularly prevalent in low-resource health care settings and is common among emergency nurses.

METHODS

This study explored the perceptions of professional isolation among emergency nurses working in a low-resource environment using individual interviews with 13 participants in 5 settings in Lesotho.

RESULTS

The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis and revealed an overarching theme of "feeling like an island" containing 3 categories, namely lack of interprofessional collaboration and consultation, skills mismatch, and enforced loneliness.

DISCUSSION

This study suggests that lack of interprofessional collaboration and consultation, skills mismatch, and enforced loneliness have influenced feelings of professional isolation among emergency nurses working in low-resource environments. The findings of this research lend support to the idea that communities of practice may have a potential impact in addressing professional isolation.

The Mediating Role of Job Stress Between Organizational Climate and Work Alienation Among Nurses in Emergency Departments: A Cross-sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Nurses suffer a certain degree of work alienation (a psychological state in which employees feel separated from their jobs because the jobs do not meet the needs of employees or do not match their expectations). It is necessary to identify predictors of work alienation and find effective interventions.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the influence of organizational climate and job stress on work alienation among nurses in emergency departments.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study conducted from June to August 2022. A convenience sampling method was adopted to invite 342 nurses from emergency departments in 12 tertiary public hospitals in 4 cities in China. Data were collected using self-reported questionnaires on organizational climate, job stress, and work alienation. Path analysis implemented by IBM AMOS 21.0 was used to explore the associations among organizational climate, job stress, and work alienation.

RESULTS

Job stress can positively affect work alienation among nurses in emergency departments (β = 0.44, P < .01). Organizational climate can directly and negatively affect work alienation (β = -0.33, P < .01); it can also negatively and indirectly affect work alienation through job stress (β = -0.20, 95% confidence interval: -0.252 to -0.146).

CONCLUSIONS

Job stress partially mediated the effect of organizational climate on work alienation among nurses in emergency departments. The findings provided a valuable perspective on predictors of work alienation among emergency department nurses.

The relationship between role ambiguity, emotional exhaustion and work alienation among chinese nurses two years after COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

work alienation is receiving increasing attention as a psychological risk at work, and little is known about the mechanisms of role ambiguity and work alienation in nurses in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. This article aims to examine how role ambiguity affects work alienation among Chinese nurses during the two years after COVID-19 pandemic and verify emotional exhaustion as mediators.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study design was used to recruit 281 Chinese nurses. Nurses completed online questionnaires containing demographic characteristics, role ambiguity, emotional exhaustion, and work alienation, and SPSS 26.0 and AMOS 24.0 were used for data analysis and structural equation modelling.

RESULTS

work alienation scores were (34.64 ± 10.09), work alienation was correlated with role ambiguity and emotional exhaustion (r1 = 0.521, r2 = 0.755; p < .01), and role ambiguity was positively correlated with emotional exhaustion (r = 0.512; p < .01). A mediating effect of emotional exhaustion between role ambiguity and work alienation held (mediating effect of 0.288, 95% CI: 0.221-0.369, accounting for 74.8% of the total effect).

CONCLUSION

Role ambiguity has a significant direct effect on nurses' feelings of alienation and exacerbates alienation through emotional exhaustion. Clarifying roles at work and being less emotionally drained are effective ways to reduce nurses' feelings of alienation.

Influence of empathy on work alienation among Chinese nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic: The mediating effect of ego depletion

Background

Nurses' work alienation has become increasingly serious due to the increase in workload and risk during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, no studies have investigated the link between empathy, ego depletion, and work alienation among Chinese nurses. The present study aimed to evaluate Chinese nurses' empathy, ego depletion, and work alienation and to examine whether nurses' ego depletion mediates the relationship between empathy and work alienation.

Methods

This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study involving 353 nurses from Shaanxi. The Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Health Professionals, Self-Regulating Fatigue Scale and Work Alienation Questionnaire were used to collect data through an online survey. Structural equation modeling was conducted to analyze the mediating model.

Results

Work alienation was negatively correlated with empathy (r = -0.305, p < 0.01) and positively correlated with ego depletion (r = 0.652, p < 0.01). Empathy was negatively correlated with ego depletion (r = -0.325, p < 0.01). Empathy can directly predict work alienation (β = -0.263, p < 0.01), while ego depletion has a mediating effect between empathy and work alienation (β = -0.309, p < 0.01), and the mediating effect accounts for 54.02% of the total effect.

Conclusion

Nurses' work alienation was at a moderate-to-high level. Improving empathy can reduce work alienation through less ego depletion. Nursing managers should discover nurses' work alienation as soon as possible. Interventions to improve empathy can help replenish nurses' psychological resources, thereby reducing ego depletion and work alienation.

Work alienation influences nurses' readiness for professional development and willingness to learn: A cross-sectional correlation study

Work alienation has a negative impact on nursing profession and may affect professional nursing development and willingness to learn during the era of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The aim of this study was to explore the perceived levels of professional development, willingness to learn, and work alienation during this pandemic among nurses in Jordan. It also assessed the influence of work alienation and sociodemographic factors on readiness for professional development and willingness to learn. We used a cross-sectional correlation study design using the Arabic readiness for professional development and willingness to learn and work alienation scales among 328 nurses working in Jordan University Hospital, Amman-Jordan. Data were collected during the period of October and November 2021. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (Mean ± Standard deviation), Pearson correlation coefficient (r), and regression analysis. The perceived levels of work alienation (3.12 ± 1.01) and readiness for professional development and willingness to learn (3.51 ± 0.43) among nurses were found to be at high levels during this era. Work alienation was negatively associated with readiness for professional development and willingness to learn (r = -0.54, p <0.001). The higher educational level of a nurse was found to be associated with a higher work alienation (r = -0.16, p = 0.008). Results indicated that work alienation had a direct influence on readiness for professional development and willingness to learn among nurses (R2 = 0.287, p < 0.001). Work alienation among nurses seems to be increased during the pandemic and it has reduced their readiness for professional development and willingness to learn. Nurse managers at hospitals must assess the perceived level of work alienation among nurses annually and design appropriate counseling interventions programs to reduce their work alienation and increase their willingness to learn.

Loneliness in Young Adult Workers

Loneliness is commonly associated with older people with the majority of research and interventions focusing on loneliness in aged and aging populations. However, loneliness seems to be on the rise for young adults more so than the elderly. Our research focusses on the experiences of young workers who report feeling lonely at work. We explore individual and organisational factors that may be contributing to loneliness, and comment on the consequences of feeling lonely at work. Qualitative data from 37 young adults from Western Europe suggest that these workers feel invisible at work, have a thwarted sense of belonging to their employing organisation, and often experience relational deficiencies due to automation and individualisation of work practices.

The role of cognition, affect, and resources in the influence of unreasonable tasks on work engagement: A moderated chain mediation model

Some studies have concentrated on the adverse effects of unreasonable tasks on work engagement. So far, however, the underlying mechanisms and boundary conditions of the relationship have not been adequately discussed. Based on the cognitive-affective systems theory and the job demands-resources model, this study constructs a chain mediation model in which unreasonable tasks influence work engagement through work alienation and negative affect and explores the moderating role of supervisor support in the model. An analysis of 427 questionnaires from multiple types of organizations shows that: Unreasonable tasks have a negative impact on work engagement; work alienation and negative affect play both separate and chain mediating roles in the negative effect of unreasonable tasks on work engagement, and supervisor support negatively moderates chain mediation by moderating the positive effect of unreasonable tasks on work alienation. This study re-investigates the relationship between unreasonable tasks and work engagement from cognitive, affective, and resource perspectives, which could be a valuable addition to established research and provide suggestions and assistance for management practice.

How workplace incivility leads to work alienation: A moderated mediation model

Workplace incivility remains a prevailing issue and has significant potential for harmful consequences. This study aims to investigate the influencing mechanism of workplace incivility on work alienation from the perspective of targets. Based on the social exchange theory, our research examines the role of interpersonal trust as a mediator along with the moderator of career resilience in the said association. Through a two-wave-time-lagged quantitative research design, a sample of 315 nurses from China was investigated with questionnaires on workplace incivility, work alienation, interpersonal trust, and career resilience. The results indicated that workplace incivility was positively related to work alienation with interpersonal trust as a mediator. Workplace incivility caused a decline in interpersonal trust, which led to work alienation. Career resilience buffered such an impact. High career resilience weakened the association linking workplace incivility to interpersonal trust. Organizations should pay more attention to workplace incivility and consider empowering nurses’ career resilience, which could alleviate the negative impact of workplace incivility.

The relationship between ego depletion and work alienation in Chinese nurses: A network analysis

Objectives

To investigate the network structure of ego depletion and work alienation in Chinese nurses and identify bridge items to provide suggestions to reduce ego depletion and work alienation.

Methods

A total of 353 nurses from three hospitals were enrolled in our cross-sectional study by convenience sampling from June to October 2021 in China. They completed an online survey, which included the Sociodemographic Questionnaire, Nurses’ Work Alienation Questionnaire, and Self-Regulating Fatigue Scale (SRF-S). The R packages qgraph, networktools, and bootnet were used to estimate the network model and calculate the indices.

Results

The correlation between ego depletion and work alienation was mainly positive. The correlation between “Sometimes I do not know what to do with the work instructions from my superiors” and “I have difficulties remembering things” was the strongest among the cross-community correlations (r = 0.14). The bridge strength centrality indices of “Sometimes I do not know what to do with the work instructions from my superiors,” “I always feel like a loser” and “I have difficulties remembering things” were the highest (z score = 3.15, 2.83, 1.43). The correlation stability coefficient of the centrality index was larger than 0.25.

Conclusion

Nurses’ ego depletion and work alienation are correlated. “Sometimes I do not know what to do with the work instructions from my superiors,” “I always feel like a loser” and “I have difficulties remembering things” act as bridges between ego depletion and work alienation communities, and should be the focus of nurses’ psychological tests. Our study provides potential targets for interventions to reduce work alienation from the perspective of ego depletion.

Predictors and Consequences of Work Alienation in Times of Crisis: Evidence from Two Longitudinal Studies During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The present research investigates whether employees felt more alienated from their work during the COVID-19 pandemic than before it, and examines the causes and consequences of this increase in work alienation. To do so, two longitudinal studies using data collected before (T1; October 2019 [Study 1] and November 2019 [Study 2]) and during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (T2; May 2020 [Studies 1 and 2]) were conducted (i.e., repeated measures). Data of both studies were analyzed using unobserved effects panel data models. Results of Study 1 (N = 197) indicated that employees reported higher levels of work alienation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Going one step further, results of Study 2 (N = 295) showed that this higher feeling of work alienation may be explained by an increase in professional isolation and a decrease in meaningfulness of work induced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Results also demonstrated that this increase in work alienation negatively affected employees' job satisfaction, affective commitment, and turnover intentions. Findings are discussed and practical implications for managers are identified.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-022-03372-9.

The effect of stress levels of nurses on performance during the COVID-19 pandemic: the mediating role of motivation

Background

During the COVID-19 pandemic, it is thought that nurses working at more intensive levels and in high-risk areas may increase their stress and decrease their motivations and performance.

Aims

This study aimed to determine the effects of stress and work stress on nurses’ motivations and performances.

Methods

An online, cross-sectional survey, which used self-assessment scales to measure perceived stress, perceived work stress, motivation, and work performance was used as a data collection tool. The target population was all working nurses in a hospital.

Results

One hundred and fourteen nurses completed the questionnaires. The results of the study show that the participants' perceived motivation level (3.131 ± 0.685), perceived stress level (2.885 ± 0.547), and perceived job stress level (3.202 ± 1.067) were at a medium level, while their perceived performance level (3.845 ± 0.783) was at a high level. According to correlation analyses results, increases in perceived stress levels of nurses decrease their motivations (r = −0.502) and performances (r = −0.603). Similarly, increases in perceived work stress levels of nurses decrease their motivations (r = −0.441) and performances (r = −0.534). According to the Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) analysis, motivation has a mediating role in the negative effect of perceived stresses on performance (β = −0.694) and augments such negative effect (β = −0.169). Similarly, motivation has a mediating role in the negative effect of perceived work stresses on performance (β = −0.295) and increases the negative effect of perceived work stress on performance (β = −0.097).

Conclusions

Nurses’ perceived stress and perceived work stress levels were not high, but an increase in these variables may decrease nurses’ motivation and performance. Thus, controlling nurses’ stress levels and identifying possible stress sources related to the COVID-19 pandemic are important to support nurses in their work.

Loneliness influences avoidable absenteeism and turnover intention reported by adult workers in the United States

Purpose

Loneliness is known to adversely impact employee health, performance and affective commitment. This study involves a quantitative cross-sectional analysis of online survey data reported by adults employed in the United States (n = 5,927) to explore how loneliness and other related factors may influence avoidable absenteeism and turnover intention.

Design/methodology/approach

Worker loneliness was assessed using the UCLA Loneliness Scale (Version 3). Composite variables were constructed as proxy measures of worker job and personal resources. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to examine independent variable effects on dependent outcomes of (a) work days missed in the last month due to stress (stress-related absenteeism) and (b) likelihood to quit within the next year (turnover intention).

Findings

The job resources of social companionship, work-life balance and satisfaction with communication had significant negative relationships to loneliness in the SEM, as did the personal resources of resilience and less perceived alienation. Results further show lonely workers have significantly greater stress-related absenteeism (p = 0.000) and higher turnover intention ratings (p = 0.000) compared to workers who are not lonely. Respondent demographics (age, race and gender) and other occupational characteristics also produced significant outcomes.

Practical implications

Study findings underscore the importance of proactively addressing loneliness among workers and facilitating job and personal resource development as an employee engagement and retention strategy.

Originality/value

Loneliness substantially contributes to worker job withdrawal and has negative implications for organizational effectiveness and costs.

Loneliness and Satisfaction with Life among Nursing Students in Poland, Spain and Slovakia during the COVID-19 Pandemic

(1) The COVID-19 pandemic poses threats to human life and health around the world. This study attempts to determine the correlation between loneliness and satisfaction with life among nursing students in Poland, Spain and Slovakia and to seek predictors of social and emotional loneliness among the students. (2) A total of 756 nursing students from Poland, Spain and Slovakia took part in the study. A diagnostic survey was applied as the research method, and the data were collected with the sense of loneliness measurement scale (de Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale–DJGLS) and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). (3) The mean age of the participants was 21.20 years (SD = 1.97). A correlation analysis revealed statistically significant, negative correlations, with an average and high strength, between the general sense of loneliness and its components (social loneliness and emotional loneliness) and satisfaction with life among students in Poland, Spain and Slovakia. A regression analysis showed one’s satisfaction with life to be a predictor of a sense of loneliness among nursing students in Poland, Spain and Slovakia in the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic. (4) Students with a stronger sense of loneliness also feel lower life satisfaction. It is important to take preventive and prophylactic actions concerning loneliness among students during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Moderating Effect of Psychological Well-Being on the Effect of Workplace Safety Climate on Job Stress

AIM

The main purpose of this study is to reveal the moderating effect of psychological well-being on the effect of workplace safety climate on job stress.

METHODS

: The cross-sectional study was designed inclusive of the use of the survey method. 291 healthcare professionals returned the survey forms, among those, 75.9% of the participants were women, and the mean age of the sample was 32.83±6.03. Most of the participants (66.6%) had a Bachelor's degree or higher. We analyzed the data using, a structural equation modeling framework used to test both direct and mediating effects. Hayes' (2013) Model 4 was used to identify the mediating role of psychological well-being on the effect of workplace safety climate on job stress.

RESULTS

:According to the analysis results, the created model is significant, and psychological well-being plays a mediating role on the effect of workplace safety climate on job stress, reinforcing the negative effect of workplace safety climate on job stress.

CONCLUSION

Our results revealed that first the safety environment perceived by the employees reduces their stress. Second, psychological well-being plays a mediating role in relation to the effect of safety climate on job stress. This role contributes to the reduction of stress through the improvement of the safety climate.

Status of work alienation among nurses in China: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Work alienation is a common feeling of estrangement from the work and its context. Nurses are prone to feel alienated due to the high risk of infection, heavy workload, and the persistence of stress at high levels. Work alienation has serious negative outcomes, organizationally as well as personally. In recent years, the issue of work alienation among nurses has received considerable attention in China, but no systematic reviews have yet been published and its epidemiological status among Chinese nurses remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To systematically evaluate the status and distribution characteristics of work alienation among nurses in China.

METHODS

CINAHL, Embase, Web of Science, PubMed, CENTRAL, Wanfang, SinoMed, CNKI, and VIP were searched for cross-sectional studies before 10 January 2022 on the current status of work alienation among nurses. Two investigators independently screened the articles, extracted the data, and evaluated the risk of literature bias. Stata16.0 software was used for analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 12 studies were included, with 7,265 nurses involved. Meta-analysis results showed that the score of work alienation was 35.43 [95%CI (31.82, 39.04)]. Subgroup analysis showed that the scores of male and female nurses were 37.62 and 35.79 respectively; the scores of junior, undergraduate, and graduate nurses were 34.90, 37.15, and 40.02 respectively; the scores of primary, intermediate, and senior nurses were 36.95, 35.38, and 33.11 respectively; the scores of unmarried and married nurses were 38.59 and 36.70 respectively; the scores of nurses who had worked for 1~ <6 years, 6~10 years, and more than 10 years were 37.46, 36.69, and 32.89 respectively; the scores of nurses with salary <5,000 yuan, 5,000~10,000 yuan, and more than 10,000 yuan were 40.25, 37.19 and 34.52 respectively; and the scores of nurses in emergency department and intensive care units, internal medicine, surgery, and pediatrics were 37.25, 38.73, 36.28, and 31.98 respectively.

CONCLUSION

Chinese nurses had a moderate level of work alienation. The scores of nurses in the following categories were quite high: male, higher education levels, low-professional titles, unmarried, shorter clinical working time, lower income, working in internal medicine, and working in the emergency department and intensive care units. Managers should take effective measures as soon as possible to reduce the occurrence of nurses' sense of work alienation.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42022298746.

Modelling the role of social media usage in improving users well-being: a social enhancement model perspective

Purpose

Employees have gradually adopted social media sites and their applications that have been associated with enhanced communication and collaboration at the workplace. However, social technologies have both positive as well as negative consequences. The current study examines the impact of loneliness on employees' psychological well-being (PW); subsequently, the mediating role of social media use intensity (SMI) at the workplace. It also examines the moderating role of gender and management status of employees.

Design/methodology/approach

The present study conducted an online and offline survey using a cross-sectional design. Data were collected from 206 working professionals from the IT industry in India. Structural equation modelling was applied to analyse data.

Findings

Results revealed that employee loneliness is positively associated with SMI. Employee's SMI was positively associated with enhanced PW. Unexpectedly, employee loneliness is positively and significantly related to PW. However, the moderating roles of gender and management status of employees were not supported.

Practical implications

The current study can help managers, policymakers and organizations better understand the role of employee social media use in the workplace. Using the insights and understanding offered by the study, social media can be effectively utilized in the workplace. The study recommends that organizations may allow the use of social media at the workplace. Social media resources may also be helpful in improving employee communication and digital literacy.

Originality/value

The current study is a pioneer work and contributes to the literature by examining the relationship between loneliness, SMI and PW. This study has essential theoretical and managerial contributions.

Mediating effect of work engagement between job characteristics and nursing performance among general hospital nurses

Objective

This study aimed to determine the effects of job characteristics and work engagement on the nursing performance of nurses working in general hospitals.

Methods

Data were collected from 169 nurses who are working in a general hospital in South Korea by using a cross-sectional descriptive survey design.

Results

Nurses’ job characteristics and work engagement showed positive effects on nursing performance. This effect was magnified when work engagement was used as a mediating variable.

Conclusions

The findings elucidate the factors influencing job performance and provide managers with important information for developing programs to improve the job skills and work engagement of nurses.

Gender Differences in the Effect of Workplace Loneliness on Organizational Citizenship Behaviors Mediated by Work Engagement

Purpose

Drawing on the self-determination theory and the social role theory, the purpose of this study was to test the moderating role of gender and the mediating role of work engagement in the relationship between workplace loneliness and organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs), and more importantly, the integrated moderated mediation model.

Methods

A total of 290 employees from various Chinese enterprises voluntarily participated in the two-wave surveys. Hierarchical regression and bootstrapping analyses based on Hayes’ Process Model were conducted to test the hypotheses.

Results

Results indicated that work engagement significantly mediates the association of workplace loneliness with OCBs. Gender serves as an important moderator in the relationship among workplace loneliness, work engagement, and OCBs that for female participants the indirect effect of work engagement linking workplace loneliness to OCBs was significant, but for male participants it was not.

Conclusion

This study advances the current understandings of the moderated mediation mechanism among workplace loneliness, gender, work engagement, and OCBs. It is suggested that work engagement serves as a mediator linking workplace loneliness to OCBs, especially for the female employees.

Structural empowerment, formal and informal power, and job performance quality: A moderated mediation analysis

AIM

To explore complex relationships among structural empowerment, formal power and informal power in predicting job performance quality.

BACKGROUND

Job performance is a major determinant of organisations' progress towards their goals and providing quality care. Job performance quality is an aspect of job performance and complex phenomenon that requires a more in-depth understanding of complex relationships predicting its quality in nurses.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional quantitative study. Participants were 195 nursing staff providing direct patient care in four hospitals in Jordan. Hayes process was used to examine moderated mediation relationship predicting job performance quality.

RESULTS

The proposed model in this study explained 86% of the variance in job performance quality. The results showed that structural empowerment effect on job performance quality was significant for direct and indirect paths. However, those effects varied at different levels of informal power.

CONCLUSION

This study suggested that the relationship between structural empowerment and job performance quality was none linear.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT

This study stresses the importance of considering complex relationships in promoting job performance quality. Understanding the nonlinear relationship between structural empowerment and job performance quality is expected to help nursing researchers, administrators and policymakers promote job performance quality.

Predicting workplace loneliness in the nursing profession

AIM

This study examined a model investigating how social interaction variables (leader-member exchange (interactions between managers and nurses), trust, and communication frequency) and work meaningfulness influence nurses' experiences of workplace loneliness.

BACKGROUND

As workplace loneliness can result in lower job satisfaction and a decrease in workers' health, understanding the contributing factors to loneliness at work is important.

METHOD

In this cross-sectional study, Turkish nurses (N = 864) completed self-report scales measuring social exchange between leaders and members, trust in leaders, communication frequency, work meaningfulness, and loneliness. To avoid fatigue and method variance influence, scales were completed over two testing times (separated by a month).

RESULTS

Workplace loneliness was associated with less social interaction with leaders (lower leader-member exchange and frequency of communication), less trust in leaders, and lower reports of meaningful work.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that workplace loneliness can be reduced when managers exchange more information and communicate more frequently with their nurses. Workplace loneliness is also reduced when nurses trust their leaders and find their work meaningful.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT

Managers supervising nurses need to be aware that workplace loneliness occurs and that their interactions and relationships with the nurses will have an impact on experienced workplace loneliness.

Surviving an infectious disease outbreak: How does nurse calling influence performance during the COVID-19 fight?

AIM

To assess the performance of front-line nurses, who believed they were living out their calling, during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

BACKGROUND

Although as a profession nursing generally requires high levels of performance, the disruption arising from an infectious disease outbreak increases the work stress and decreases the performance of front-line nurses. How this situation can be improved has yet to be thoroughly examined.

METHOD

We used a snowball sampling technique to recruit 339 nurses who were originally from outside Hubei but volunteered to join medical teams going to Hubei to tackle COVID-19.

RESULTS

Drawing on the theory of work as a calling, we found that living a calling had a positive effect on front-line nurses' performance through the clinical and relational care they provided. Perceived supervisor support strengthened these mediated relationships.

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate that despite the constraints associated with pandemics, front-line nurses who are living a calling are able to provide better clinical and relational care to infected patients, which in turn improves their performance.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT

The findings of this study suggest that hospitals can introduce career educational interventions to enhance nurses' ability to discern and live out their calling to improve their performance.

Nurses' Experiences of Promoting Healthy Aging in the Municipality: A Qualitative Study

The purpose of this study was to describe nurses’ experiences of promoting healthy aging in municipalities. A descriptive qualitative research design based on semi-structured interviews with 13 nurses was employed. The nurses described the importance of giving older adults the possibility to live as individuals, but also that the organization matters as too does the nurses’ own desire to work professionally and with passion. Nurses in the municipality noticed that in today’s world, there is a changing perspective of older adults. They more often want to continue their previous life and care greatly about quality of life and because of this, they also expect more service from their health care. Our study suggests that nurses should be supported to specialize in elderly care and measures should be taken to reduce the gap between vision and reality when it comes to team work.

Sexual harassment of nurses by patients and missed nursing care-A hidden population study

AIM

To raise awareness of a patient-related antecedent of missed nursing care.

BACKGROUND

Missed nursing care is negatively associated with patient outcomes; accordingly, hospitals employ strategies to mitigate missed care. While antecedents of missed nursing care resulting from the work environment of nurses are recognized, sexual harassment by patients is not.

METHODS

This study is a hidden population study using respondent-driven sampling. We analysed data from thirty letters of frontline nurses from a tertiary Israeli hospital using the six steps of Aronson's thematic analysis.

FINDINGS

Six themes emerged. Nurses (a) felt objectified and that the sacred nurse-patient therapeutic space was desecrated; (b) felt a lack of support from ward managers; (c) felt unprotected, lonely, and alienated; (d) did not share the experience with managers; (e) coped with sexual harassment by ending treatment quickly and later realized they missed some tasks; and (f) considered leaving nursing.

CONCLUSION (S)

Policymakers are called upon to adopt the eight steps suggested for effectively coping with sexual harassment by patients and thus to reduce missed nursing care.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT

Managers are called upon to modify their management style and to provide support to nurses who experience sexual harassment in order to alleviate their stress, which is an also antecedent of missed nursing care.

Work alienation and its gravediggers: Social class, class consciousness, and activism

Work activity is central to human psychology. However, working conditions under capitalist socioeconomic relations have been posited as psychologically alienating. Given the negative impact of work alienation on well-being and mental health, we conducted two studies of the relations between social class, work conditions, and alienation. We also examined factors that might counteract alienation – class consciousness and activism. The utility of a Marxist measure of social class – based on objective work relations – was compared with that of SES and subjective class measures. Study 1 surveyed 240 U.S. adults from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds using Amazon’s Mechanical Turk; Study 2 was a replication with 717 adults recruited via a sampling company. Across studies, alienation was predicted by perceived work exploitation, poor work relationships, and lack of self-expression, meaningfulness, self-actualization, autonomy, and intrinsic motivation at work. Only the Marxist class measure – not SES or subjective class measures – predicted alienation and alienating work conditions across studies. Working-class participants experienced more alienating work conditions and greater alienation. Alienation was correlated with class consciousness, and class consciousness was associated with activism. While SES measures have dominated the psychological study of social class, results suggest benefits to integrating Marxist measures and conceptions of social class.