Workplace bullying and employee hopelessness in the healthcare industry: A mediation–moderation model

Orientation: Nurses play a vital role in the healthcare industry; however, workplace bullying (WB) is a prevalent issue in this profession. The impact of bullying in the nursing profession severely undermines their ability to deliver high-quality services in the healthcare industry. Research purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the mediation effect of emotional exhaustion (EE) and the moderating effect of social support (SS) on the relationship between WB and employee hopelessness (EH). Motivation for the study: Although WB studies are well established in the nursing profession, the problem persists, especially in Africa; hence, further research is required to examine the role of moderating factors that reduce the impact of bullying on workers. Research approach/design and method: Following a positivist paradigm, 320 nurses from public hospitals were systematically sampled, and the data were analysed using SmartPLS4. Main findings: While EE positively mediated the relationship between WB and EH, SS negatively moderated this relationship. Practical/managerial implications: In line with the findings of this research, policymakers must provide adequate support mechanisms to address WB. Regulatory bodies, such as the Ministry of Health officials, can create guidelines for the healthcare industry to follow in protecting vulnerable groups, such as women, from being bullied. Contributions/value-add: By examining the moderating effect of SS, this study responds to calls for research that investigates factors mitigating the impact of WB on employee well-being. This study is also the first to examine a mediation–moderation model in the context of public hospitals in Zimbabwe.