Introduction: Aggression among nurses is a topic that is lively and often touched. However, the level of nurses’ aggression needs to be analyzed with regard to stress, personality traits, and sociodemographic variables.
The aim of this study was to assess the level of aggression among nurses with regard to stress, personality, sociodemographic data, and work-related factors.
Materials and methods: The study involved 189 nurses employed in West Pomeranian hospitals. The research instruments were: the Buss–Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ), the Neuroticism-Extroversion-Openness-Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), and a self-developed questionnaire concerning sociodemographic data.
Results: Chronic stress, longer work experience, neurotic personality, place of residence, and the form of employment, translate into aggression experienced by nurses. The general aggression rate according to the BPAQ was 69.9 ±18. According to the PSS-10, the largest group of respondents (38.62%) were nurses with the highest stress levels (7–10 sten scores). The nurses with higher perceived stress levels were more prone to anger, verbal aggression and hostility (p < 0.00).
Conclusions: Aggression in the nursing environment is common and is determined by the severe stress faced by nurses. Unquestionably, the levels of stress and aggression are directly proportional. The most common personality traits among nurses are conscientiousness and agreeableness. A higher level of neuroticism is associated with proneness to aggression. The level of aggression is determined by sociodemographic data, stress, and personality traits. Variables that characterize nurses showing aggressive behaviors are: having children, advanced age, and living in a city with a population of up to 100,000, as well as having several jobs and a contract for a specific task as a form of employment.
