The impact of workplace violence against healthcare workers on organisational commitment and job satisfaction

This study examined differences in organisational commitment and job satisfaction among emergency department healthcare workers in Kars Province, Turkey, according to their exposure to workplace violence. Using a quantitative, cross-sectional design, data were collected from 127 healthcare professionals in Kars Province between July 2024 and February 2025 through a demographic questionnaire, the Meyer & Allen (1991) Organisational Commitment Scale, and the short form of the Brayfield & Rothe (1951) Job Satisfaction Scale. Findings show that 54.3% of participants experienced workplace violence, predominantly verbal and often perpetrated by patients' relatives. Exposure to violence significantly reduced organisational commitment (p = .047) and job satisfaction (p = .044). A positive relationship was identified between job satisfaction & organisational commitment (r = .367, p < .01), with normative commitment displaying the strongest link. The results highlight the need for targeted violence prevention strategies, training for less experienced staff, and institutional support systems to protect healthcare workers' well-being and enhance workplace outcomes.