Caring for Vulnerable Patients: Examining Job Satisfaction as a Mediator Between Perceived Stigma and Organizational Commitment

AIM: This study investigated the role of perceived stigma in predicting organizational commitment among nurses, examining job satisfaction as a potential mediating variable. BACKGROUND: Perceived stigma in the healthcare environment is increasingly recognized. However, the mechanisms linking stigma to organizational commitment, such as job satisfaction, remain underexplored. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from March to June 2025 among 313 nurses from various healthcare settings in Egypt. Data were collected using validated instruments measuring perceived stigma, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment. Pearson correlation analyses were used, and a mediation analysis was performed using the PROCESS macro to determine the significance of indirect effects. RESULTS: Perceived stigma was negatively correlated with job satisfaction (r = -0.140, p < 0.05) and its subscales and showed a weak correlation with the organizational commitment subdomains. Mediation analysis indicated that stigma significantly predicted lower job satisfaction (β = -0.312, p = .013), which in turn was positively associated with organizational commitment (β = 0.227, p < .001). The direct effect of stigma on commitment was positive and significant (β = 0.213, p = .028). In contrast, the indirect effect through job satisfaction was negative and significant (β = -0.071, 95% CI [-0.141, -0.015]), supporting a partial mediation model. DISCUSSION: These findings underscore that while stigma may have a complex direct influence, its negative effect on commitment operates significantly through the reduction of job satisfaction. CONCLUSION: Job satisfaction partially mediates the relationship between perceived stigma and organizational commitment. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING AND HEALTH POLICY: Healthcare policies and managerial interventions designed to reduce workplace stigma and proactively enhance job satisfaction are essential strategies for strengthening organizational commitment and improving nurse retention.