Acoso laboral y salud mental de los trabajadores del sector sanitario en un Centro Médico privado Guayaquil.

Abstract

Workplace bullying and psychological distress are relevant occupational health and safety concerns, particularly in healthcare settings. This study aimed to describe exposure to negative acts associated with workplace bullying and the level of psychological distress among healthcare personnel at a private medical center in Guayaquil. A quantitative, observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted with 44 participants from different healthcare areas. Exposure to negative acts was assessed using the Short Negative Acts Questionnaire (S-NAQ), while psychological distress was evaluated using the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12). The mean S-NAQ score was 13.04, below the cutoff score of 15 used in this study to identify exposure to workplace bullying behaviors. The highest-scoring negative acts were excessive workload, persistent criticism, and shouting or humiliating treatment. The mean GHQ-12 score was 17.38, corresponding to a moderate level of psychological distress. The highest scores were observed for difficulty making decisions, work-related emotional distress, and loss of self-confidence. The findings indicate a low overall level of exposure to negative acts alongside moderate psychological distress. Given the descriptive design of the study and the absence of a statistical association analysis between the two instruments, the findings do not allow causal relationships to be established or the observed psychological distress to be attributed to workplace bullying behaviors. Future research should consider additional psychosocial and organizational factors.