Iranian nurses’ perceptions of organizational silence and its relationship with organizational justice
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Organizational silence among nurses can hinder communication, reduce team effectiveness, and compromise patient safety. Although multiple factors contribute to silence, the role of organizational justice remains underexplored in nursing contexts. This study examined nurses’ perceptions of organizational silence and its relationship with organizational justice in three public hospitals affiliated with Khoy University of Medical Sciences, including inpatient wards, ICUs, emergency departments, and operating rooms. A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed. A total of 309 nurses were selected using a proportionate stratified random sampling method. Data were collected using validated questionnaires on organizational silence and organizational justice, along with a single-item measure of job satisfaction. Analyses included descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, and hierarchical multiple regression. Among 309 participating nurses, acquiescent silence had the highest mean score, while defensive silence was lowest. Organizational justice was moderately and inversely correlated with organizational silence ( r = − 0.31, p < 0.001). In hierarchical regression, demographic and job-related variables explained 28.9% of the variance in silence, and adding organizational justice increased the explained variance to 35.5%. Perceived organizational justice, particularly interactional and procedural fairness, was associated with lower levels of organizational silence among nurses. Strengthening fair communication, transparent decision-making, and respectful interpersonal interactions may help create a climate that encourages speaking up and enhances psychological safety. Not applicable.
Source: BMC Nursing
Language: English
Subfield: Leadership and Management
Field: Nursing
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,090
OpenAlex ID: W7221663683
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