Patient Aggression in Healthcare: Effects on Stress, Burnout, and Turnover

In Episode 121, we turn our focus to a critical issue in healthcare: patient aggression and its impact on worker well‑being.We’re joined by Dr. Lisa Kath, Associate Professor of Psychology at San Diego State University, to discuss new research on how healthcare workers are affected not just by direct exposure to aggressive patient behavior, but also by witnessing and hearing about it.Drawing on data from pediatric healthcare settings, this conversation highlights how repeated exposure to patient aggression shapes stress, burnout, and turnover—and why the effects extend beyond the individual directly involved.We discuss:* Why frequency of exposure, not just extreme incidents, drives psychological harm * The surprising impact of witnessing or hearing about aggression, and how it increases stress and turnover intentions * Why nurses face higher risk due to constant bedside exposure * How workplace context (e.g., ER and behavioral health units) shapes exposure levels* What these experiences signal about organizational support and safety culture* Practical solutions, including peer support programs and post‑incident recovery strategiesYou can find Dr. Kath here: https://psychology.sdsu.edu/people/lisa-kath/You can read the paper here: https://www.pediatricnursing.org/article/S0882-5963(26)00173-9/fulltext This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit healthywork.substack.com