From lack of respect in the workplace to hidden absenteeism among psychiatric nurses: Mediated chain mediation effect

Wei Zong

Abstract

Objective: To explore the relationship between lack of respect in workplace and hidden absenteeism of psychiatric nurses.
Method: The study was conducted in March 2023 in Jiangsu, China, and comprised nurses working in psychiatry and
psychology departments of hospitals of different grades in the province. Demographic and professional data was collected,
and the lack of respect in the workplace, psychological disengagement, empathy fatigue, emotional exhaustion and hidden
absenteeism among the nurses were assessed. The chain mediation model was established to examine the mediating effect
of lack of respect in the workplace on hidden absenteeism. Data was analysed using SPSS 29
Results: Of the 1203 subjects with mean age 33.86±7.76 years, 1,087(90.36%) were females and 232(19.29%) were
specialised nurses. Absenteeism rate was significantly higher among specialty nurses, night nurses and those working in
psychiatry wards (p<0.001). Lack of respect in the workplace was positively correlated with empathy fatigue, emotional
exhaustion and hidden absenteeism (p<0.001), and psychological disengagement was negatively correlated with empathy
fatigue, emotional exhaustion and hidden absenteeism (p<0.001).
Conclusion: There was a mediated chain mediator between lack of respect in the workplace and hidden absenteeism of
psychiatric nurses. Empathy fatigue and emotional exhaustion played a mediated chain mediator, and psychological
detachment could regulate the mediation.
Keywords: Respect, Absenteeism, Nurse, Psychiatric, Emotional exhaustion, psychological detachment.