THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PERCEIVED WORKPLACE GOSSIP AND COGNITIVE DISSONANCE AMONG NURSES IN SAUDI ARABIA
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Date
2025
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Saudi Digital Library
Abstract
Workplace gossip is a common psychosocial stressor in nursing that can undermine professional ethics, teamwork, and emotional well-being. In hierarchical and multicultural environments such as Saudi governmental hospitals, gossip may trigger cognitive dissonance, a psychological conflict between values and social interactions. This study aimed to examine the relationship between perceived workplace gossip and cognitive dissonance among nurses in northern Saudi Arabia.
A descriptive cross-sectional correlational design was conducted with 167 Saudi nurses using convenience sampling. Data were collected through an online self-administered survey including the Workplace Gossip Scale (WGS), the Cognitive Dissonance Scale (CDS), and a sociodemographic questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analyses were performed using SPSS v26.
Results showed moderate to high levels of both gossip and cognitive dissonance. Significant positive correlations were found, with workplace gossip predicting 23.2% of the variance in cognitive dissonance. The findings suggest that addressing gossip through ethical leadership, open communication, and resilience training is essential to support nurse well-being and improve healthcare quality.
Description
Background: Workplace gossip is a pervasive psychosocial stressor in nursing,
with the potential to undermine professional ethics, team dynamics, and
emotional well-being. In hierarchical and multicultural environments such as
Saudi governmental hospitals, gossip may trigger cognitive dissonance—a
psychological conflict arising from contradictions between values and social
interactions—yet this relationship remains empirically unexplored.
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Aim: This study aims to examine the relationship between perceived workplace
gossip and cognitive dissonance among nurses in governmental hospitals in
northern Saudi Arabia.
Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional correlational study was conducted
among 167 Saudi nurses using convenience sampling. Data were collected via
an online self-administered survey, comprising the Workplace Gossip Scale
(WGS) and the Cognitive Dissonance Scale (CDS), alongside a
sociodemographic questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation,
and multiple linear regression analyses were performed using SPSS v26.
Shapiro-Wilk tests confirmed normality (p > 0.05); Cronbach's alpha showed
high internal consistency (WGS α = .88, CDS α = .91). The sample’s mean age
was 37.36 years (SD = 9.03), with an average experience of 15.36 years.
Results: Perceived workplace gossip and cognitive dissonance were reported
at moderate to high levels (M = 57.58, SD = 4.74; M = 112.59, SD = 5.38
respectively). Significant positive correlations were found between gossip
dimensions and cognitive dissonance (r = .278 to .329, p < .05). Regression
analysis revealed workplace gossip predicted 23.2% of the variance in cognitive
dissonance (R² = .232, F = 12.74, p = .000). All subscales were significant
predictors (p < .01).
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Conclusion: Workplace gossip significantly contributes to cognitive
dissonance among nurses in Saudi Arabia. Addressing gossip through ethical
leadership, open communication, and resilience training is essential to protect
nurse well-being and healthcare quality.
Keywords
Workplace gossip, Nurses, Saudi Arabia, Nursing profession, Cognitive dissonance, Work environment, Psychological stress