Indirect exposure to healthcare violence through social media and its impact on healthcare workers’ anxiety: a cross-sectional study

This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the relationship between indirect exposure to healthcare violence through social media and anxiety levels among physicians and nurses in Turkey. Data were collected between September and December 2024 from 301 healthcare professionals (61 physicians, 240 nurses) employed in three private hospitals. The Healthcare Violence Anxiety Scale–Social Media (HVAS-SM), developed and validated within this study, was used. Construct validity was evaluated using exploratory factor analysis, and internal consistency was assessed with Cronbach’s α. Group differences and associations were analyzed using t-tests, ANOVA/Kruskal–Wallis tests, and correlation analyses. The HVAS-SM demonstrated strong psychometric properties (α = 0.928) with a five-factor structure explaining 71.8% of variance. A total of 79.1% of participants reported experiencing anxiety when exposed to healthcare violence news on social media. Anxiety was significantly higher among nurses, single participants, and those with prior exposure to violence. Age, work experience, and job satisfaction were negatively correlated with anxiety. Indirect exposure to healthcare violence through social media is a measurable psychosocial risk. Institutional strategies that focus on building resilience and improving media literacy are therefore necessary.