Psychosocial Safety Climate and Conflict Management Styles as Predictors of Workplace Bullying Among House Officers in Malaysian Public Hospitals: A Multicentre Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Workplace bullying (WPB) remains a persistent occupational hazard in Malaysian health care, particularly affecting house officers who face heavy workloads and rigid hierarchies. This study examined the prevalence of WPB among house officers in Malaysian public hospitals and explored its association with Psychosocial Safety Climate (PSC) and conflict management styles (CMS). A multicentre cross-sectional study was conducted across thirteen hospitals using validated instruments. Multivariable regression analyses identified key factors while adjusting for sociodemographic and institutional factors. WPB affected 23.4% of respondents. Higher PSC (β = −0.70; P ≤ .001), problem-solving CMS (β = −1.08; P ≤ .001), longer employment duration (β = −0.21; P = .032), and female gender (β = −4.32; P ≤ .001) were associated with lower WPB. Increasing age (β = 0.77; P = .033), ethnic minority (β = 5.79; P ≤ .001), and avoidance (β = 0.47; P = .049) and forcing (β = 0.99; P ≤ .001) CMS were associated with higher WPB. The findings highlight the importance of strengthening PSC and enhancing conflict management skills to promote safer and healthier working environments.