TITLE:
Counterproductive Work Behaviors in a Saudi Tertiary Healthcare Organization
AUTHORS:
Adel Omar Bataweel, Khalid Al Ghamdi, Fahad Al Ateeg
KEYWORDS:
Personality Traits, Primary and Secondary Psychopathy, Bullying, Violence, Counterproductive Behavior, Behaviour Committee, Nursing
JOURNAL NAME:
Psychology,
Vol.14 No.12,
December
12,
2023
ABSTRACT: Background:
Counterproductive work behaviors, such as
violence, and anti-social behaviors, such as bullying, are serious issues in healthcare. It can lead to poor patient care outcomes,
loss of staff morale, and a decline in the organization’s
performance. This study explored nursing personality traits (Big Five Inventory
[BFI]), primary and secondary psychopathy, and demographic data to determine whether
victims and perpetrators of counterproductive
behaviors have specific characteristics that distinguish them from others. Design:
A cross-sectional, self-administered online survey was conducted with nurses
in a Saudi tertiary healthcare organization. Methods: This study included all nursing
staff (2400) with a simple random sample of n = 824. Participants completed an online
self-report survey that included demographic information, followed by questionnaires
to measure personality traits and primary and secondary psychopaths. Results: 46.5%
of the nurses in the study were exposed to violence, 54.2% were exposed to anti-social
behaviors such as bullying, and 16.7% were perpetrators of counterproductive behavior.
Perpetrators had significantly lower agreeableness scores than other staff members,
odds ratios (OR) 3.00 [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.17-4.15], and
significantly higher openness scores (OR) 0.52 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.35-0.79]. Victims
of anti-social behaviors such as bullying had significantly lower scores for primary
psychopathy (OR) 1.04 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02-1.06] and
significantly higher scores for second psychopathy (OR) 0.96 [95% confidence interval
(CI) 0.92-0.99], neuroticism (OR) 0.73 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.57-0.95], and
openness (OR) 0.66 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.50-0.88] Conclusion:
The study was unique in that it examined perceptions, actual behavior, and predictors
using personality and psychopathy traits. Perpetrators had significantly lower scores
in agreeableness compared to other staff, and they shared significantly high scores
in openness traits with the victims. Victims, on the other hand, had significantly
high scores in secondary psychopathy and neuroticism. This study offered a global
leadership solution through the effective use of a behavior committee.