The Effect of Workplace Violence on the Health of Healthcare Workers: Empirical Evidence From a Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study in China.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the causal relationship between workplace violence and health outcomes among healthcare workers, addressing gaps in evidence on its mechanisms and heterogeneous effects.

METHODS

A nationally representative cohort of 4,255 Chinese healthcare workers was surveyed via four-stage stratified sampling. Causal effects were estimated using multiple linear models and ordered logit model, with robustness checks via propensity score matching and instrumental variables to mitigate endogeneity.

RESULTS

Workplace violence reduces the probability of healthcare workers experiencing improved health by 12.9% (p = 0.000), with this effect persisting even after considering endogeneity. Physical violence had the most substantial impact, while psychological and verbal violence also contributed. Professional values mediated the effect. Vulnerable subgroups included women, younger workers, lower-ranking staff, and non-tertiary hospital employees.

CONCLUSION

This study provides causal evidence that workplace violence undermines the health of healthcare workers, with implications for hospital policies and occupational safety standards. Interventions should prioritize physical violence prevention, support for high-risk groups, and value-based resilience training.