Keywords
Harassment prevalence
Institutional differences
Psychological impact
Pakistan
How to Cite
Abstract
Background: Harassment in nursing education is a pervasive issue, particularly in Pakistan's hierarchical academic settings. Female nursing students face verbal exploitation, psychological intimidation, gender discrimination, and sexual harassment from administrative staff, leading to psychological distress, academic decline, and career attrition. Despite global evidence, data from South Asian contexts like Peshawar remain scarce, necessitating localized investigation.
Objectives: Assess prevalence and types of harassment experienced by nursing students.Evaluate psychological, academic, and professional impacts of harassment.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study surveyed 180 BSN students (100% female) from public (KTH) and private (Rehman) nursing colleges in Peshawar. Stratified random sampling ensured representation. Data collected via structured questionnaires covered demographics, harassment experiences (15 types), and impacts. Analysis employed descriptive/inferential statistics (SPSS v25).
Results: Study result showed concerning harassment trends among students. Three-quarters (75%) reported harassment impacting mental well-being or learning. KTH students faced significantly higher harassment across most indicators compared to Rehman. 12/15 indicators (e.g., unfair criticism: KTH M = 2.86 vs. Rehman M = 2.42 ;). Key issues include role ambiguity (56% pressured beyond duties), widespread credit theft (75% affected), and sexual harassment (22.2% experienced inappropriate comments). Deliberate exclusion was reported "sometimes" by 38.8%, while 28.9% encountered gender or ethnicity-based discrimination.
Conclusion: Harassment is widespread in Peshawar’s nursing colleges, with KTH exhibiting higher rates. Urgent institutional reforms—anti-harassment policies, mentorship, mental health support, and role clarity—are needed to ensure safer learning environments and retain nursing talent.