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The present study aims to explore and compare psychosocial risks and work overload among nursing professionals in the field mental health and psychiatry in Chile. Quantitative, observational and cross‐sectional research was designed for this purpose. Nurses from community, ambulatory, hospital and emergency units in mental health and psychiatry in Chile were recruited between January and May 2022. Instruments of psychosocial variables and an occupational psychosocial risk scale based on the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire were used. Descriptive and correlational statistics were used, as well as independent samples t‐tests, Factorial Anova and post‐hoc analysis with Bonferroni correction. As a result, 174 nursing professionals were recruited, 79.3% female, average age 33.9 years. One‐third belonged to the Metropolitan Region of Chile. The highest psychosocial risk was obtained by nurses over 30 years of age, from the Metropolitan Region, with more than 16 patients under their care, at the hospital or psychiatric emergency level. Significant differences were observed in work overload and psychosocial risks according to personal and work characteristics of the professionals, as well as of the users and health services. The levels of psychosocial risk and work overload of mental health and psychiatric nurses were reported, as well as the comparison of these according to personal, sociodemographic, and work characteristics. In order to improve the quality of work life of these professionals and the quality of these services, it is essential to develop interventions focused on the dimensions addressed, as well as to define norms and policies that ensure a workload in accordance with international standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to psychosocial risks and workplace violence is associated with a higher prevalence of workers' mental health problems. The purpose of the present study was to examine the mediating role of workplace violence between psychosocial risks (ISOSTRAIN, effort-reward imbalance), organizational background (tyrannical leadership) and mental health problems (distress) among 1023 workers in three high complexity public hospitals in three regions of Chile. It was hypothesized that exposure to psychosocial risks and some organizational features (tyrannical leadership) is associated with lower levels of mental health and that part of this effect is mediated by exposure to workplace violence. A questionnaire was applied including the Negative Act Questionnaire Revised (NAQ-R), the Psychological Distress Screening, the Destructive Leadership Scale, the Effort-Reward Imbalance Questionnaire and the Job Content Questionnaire. Path analysis showed that exposure to psychosocial risks, tyrannical leadership and workplace violence increase levels of workers' distress. Part of the effect of psychosocial risks and tyrannical leadership on mental health is mediated by exposure to workplace violence. The article finishes by discussing the need to move forward in developing protocols and prevention of psychosocial risks and workplace violence, particularly in the context of public health work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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