Development and psychometric validation of the media-influenced healthcare violence perception scale in Türkiye

English (OpenAlex)

BACKGROUND: Violence against healthcare professionals is a growing public health concern with significant implications for workforce sustainability, work-life integration, quality of care, and patient safety. Although the prevalence and consequences of violence in healthcare are well documented, the ways in which media exposure shapes public perceptions, emotional responses, and the psychosocial well-being of healthcare workers remain insufficiently measured. This study aimed to develop and psychometrically validate the Media-Influenced Healthcare Violence Perception Scale (MHVPS). METHODS: An item pool was generated from the literature and refined through expert review. The scale was administered to two independent adult samples in Türkiye. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted in the first sample (n = 191), and confirmatory factor analysis was performed in the second sample (n = 502). Construct validity and reliability were examined using factor loadings, internal consistency coefficients, and widely accepted model fit indices. RESULTS: A three-factor structure was identified, representing media-induced desensitization, mediated legitimization of healthcare violence, and media-driven fear of victimization. The model explained 62.8% of the total variance and demonstrated excellent fit (χ²/df = 2.73; Comparative Fit Index = 0.96; Tucker–Lewis Index = 0.95; Root Mean Square Error of Approximation = 0.06; Standardized Root Mean Square Residual = 0.05). Internal consistency was high for the overall scale (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.84; McDonald’s omega = 0.85). CONCLUSION: The MHVPS is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring perceptions of violence toward healthcare professionals as influenced by media exposure. The scale offers valuable insights into how media narratives can shape psychosocial stress, emotional exhaustion, and fear responses that disrupt healthcare professionals’ well-being and work-life integration. Findings may support public health research, inform workforce resilience initiatives, and guide violence-prevention and media-regulation strategies aimed at improving healthcare working environments. MHVPS can also help stakeholders understand how media-derived perceptions contribute to challenges in work-life integration. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Not applicable.