Bullying Behaviors and Stress (Acute and Perceived) among Undergraduate Nursing and Midwifery Students: The Moderating Role of Gender and Academic Majors

Abdulaziz Mofdy Almarwani; Atallah Alenezi; Mohammed Almutairi; Fahad M Alhowaymel; Naif S Alzahrani; Hanan F Alharbi; Abdulaziz Fahad Abaoud

doi:10.3390/healthcare12161588

Bullying Behaviors and Stress (Acute and Perceived) among Undergraduate Nursing and Midwifery Students: The Moderating Role of Gender and Academic Majors

Healthcare (Basel). 2024 Aug 9;12(16):1588. doi: 10.3390/healthcare12161588.

Authors

Abdulaziz Mofdy Almarwani¹, Atallah Alenezi², Mohammed Almutairi³, Fahad M Alhowaymel², Naif S Alzahrani⁴, Hanan F Alharbi⁵, Abdulaziz Fahad Abaoud²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychiatric Nursing, College of Nursing, Taibah University, Medina 42353, Saudi Arabia.
² Department of Nursing Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Shaqra University, Shaqra 11961, Saudi Arabia.
³ Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, College of Nursing, King Saud University, Riyadh 12372, Saudi Arabia.
⁴ Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, College of Nursing, Taibah University, Medina 42353, Saudi Arabia.
⁵ Maternity and Pediatric Nursing Department, College of Nursing, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Background: Nursing and midwifery professionals' well-being may be affected by various factors, including the bullying of new nurses.

Purpose: To analyze the relationship between bullying behaviors, perceived stress, and acute stress among undergraduate nursing and midwifery students in Saudi Arabia, as well as the moderating role of gender and academic majors in this relationship.

Method: A cross-sectional correlation design was used, and data were collected from 322 undergraduate nursing and midwifery students enrolled in four major nursing universities in Saudi Arabia.

Results: Educational level, environment, and personal attacks had a significant negative impact on perceived and acute stress (social and non-social), while hostility toward academic achievement and direct negative behaviors had significant positive impacts on perceived and acute stress (social and non-social). Female nursing students reported a stronger impact of bullying behavior on their perceived stress, while male students reported a greater impact on social and non-social stress. Nursing students reported a stronger impact of bullying on perceived stress, while midwifery students reported a greater impact on social and non-social stress.

Discussion: Nursing educators should raise awareness about the harmful effects of bullying and emphasize the importance of creating a safe, supportive learning environment.

Keywords: Saudi Arabia; bullying; midwifery; nursing; stress; students; undergraduate.

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University Researchers Supporting Project number (PNURSP2024R441), Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The authors would like to also to thank the Deanship of Scientific Research at Shaqra University for supporting this work.