title: Psychological violence in the workplace among Jordanian hospital nurses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purposes of the study are to (a) assess the incidence and frequency of psychological violence (verbal abuse) among Jordanian hospital nurses, (b) explore the complaints and the reactions of nurses to such violence, and (c) identify the factors that contribute to workplace violence and the management modalities from the Jordanian nurses' point of view.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive survey was used to investigate verbal abuse among a convenience sample of 422 Jordanian nurses. The Questionnaire of Workplace Violence, which was developed in 2003 by the International Labor office, International Council of Nurses, World Health Organization, and Public Services International, was used to collect the data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The findings indicated that almost 70% of participants was exposed to verbal abuse in the workplace. Patients' families were the main perpetrators of these incidents. The contributing factors to psychological violence as perceived by participants were related to administration, staff, patients and their families, workplace setting, and security. The majority of participants indicated that their employers had no polices against psychological workplace violence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Helpful strategies for reducing psychological violence include implementing security measures, restricting public access, and maintaining adequate staffing.
authors.affiliation: Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
authors.forename: Raeda Fawzi
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: AbuAlRub
authors.forename: Ali Hasan
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Al-Asmar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007597:Jordan; D008297:Male; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D064450:Workplace Violence / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Jordan; contributing factors; management; nurses; policies; survey; verbal abuse