Workplace bullying in midwifery: insights from a survey of New Zealand midwives

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore the prevalence and lived experiences of bullying among New Zealand midwives. Design/methodology/approach A two-phase study was designed to investigate midwife bullying in New Zealand. Phase I, reported in this article, concentrated on objective measures of bullying and identifying areas of focus for Phase II, a qualitative interview-based study. The Negative Acts Questionnaire-Revised (NAQ-R; Einarsen et al., 2009) was utilized via the Qualtrics platform to assess workplace bullying behaviours. In addition, open ended questions were included for each of the NAQ-R survey questions to gather a deeper insight into the kinds of bullying experienced by New Zealand midwives, as well as to guide us for the next phase (Phase II) of our study. Findings The findings of this study revealed that midwife bullying continues to be a pervasive issue in New Zealand. Quantitative data from NAQ-R scores indicated a large component of severe bullying (44.3%). Qualitative data highlighted the complexities of where bullying occurred, where it can come from and how it appears in New Zealand. Data showed that bullying of midwives originated from authority figures with themes of exclusion, false narratives, victim blaming and fear of speaking up. Impacts of bullying on victims included mental health concerns, employee turnover and effect of student learning; as well as negative effects on patient care. Originality/value The findings of this study highlight the intricacies of midwife bullying in New Zealand. Data from the objective NAQ-R instrument reveal that midwife bullying continues to be a persistent issue in New Zealand. Qualitative findings, help in contextualising the broader phenomenon of bullying amongst midwives, offering clarity on the dynamics at play within a specific New Zealand organisational or sociocultural settings. Results show that to tackle bullying effectively, a multi-faceted approach is needed including policy, and leadership. Results also help emphasise the need for further research in this area in the New Zealand context.