The Impact of Workplace Violence and Intimate Partner Violence on Depression Among Nurses: The Mediating Role of Impostor Syndrome

Background: Depression is a global mental health concern and demonstrates high prevalence among nurses, significantly impairing their quality of life. Previous studies have identified impostor syndrome (IS), workplace violence (WPV), and intimate partner violence (IPV) as risk factors for depression. It has been hypothesised that WPV and IPV may promote the development of IS, which in turn could lead to depression; however, these relationships have not been empirically confirmed. Aims: This study aimed to examine the mediating role of IS in the relationships between WPV, IPV, and depression among nurses. Methods: A multi-centre, cross-sectional survey was conducted with 742 enrolled nurses. The mediating effect of IS was analysed using bootstrap methods in SPSS Amos 28.0. Results: IS significantly mediated the relationship between WPV and depression (β=0.074, 95% CI 0.025 to 0.126), accounting for 35.41% of the total effect. IS also mediated the relationship between IPV and depression (β=0.074, 95% CI 0.028 to 0.123), accounting for 39.36% of the total effect. Conclusion: The findings indicate that IPV, WPV, and IS are significant predictors of depression in nurses. Exposure to IPV and WPV may exacerbate depressive symptoms by intensifying IS. For nurses who have experienced violence, early identification and intervention targeting IS are therefore crucial to mitigate the risk of depression.