It is well known that there are many social, economic and health problems associated
with an aging population. In terms of the labor market, an aging population means a
decline in the working-age population and an aging workforce.
This phenomenon is a particularly pressing problem in the Italian healthcare sector,
where there is little generational turnover.
Another phenomenon that is increasing dramatically in the healthcare sector is the rise
in aggression in the workplace.

Studies show a higher incidence in the healthcare sector. Older healthcare workers are
generally considered to be more frail than younger workers, although their experience
may have greater work self-efficacy and more effective coping strategies due to their
experience.

The aim of the present quantitative study, conducted in two healthcare organizations in
northwestern Italy, is to investigate the relationship between aging (measured by
seniority, which is strongly positively correlated with age), workplace aggression and
work self-efficacy. The sample consists of 1264 employees, including 302 women, 953
men and 9 non-binary gender.

The results show that age and seniority correlate negatively with episodes of aggression,
while self-efficacy (WS-E) increases with age (A) and seniority (JS). In contrast, self
efficacy is negatively correlated with episodes of aggression.
A linear regression that includes aggression as a dependent variable confirms the
relationships identified by correlation, but not the moderating effect between JS and
WS-E: JS (β -.132, <.001); WS-E (β -.117, <.001); JS*WSF (β .012, ˃.05).

Although the role of moderation needs to be further explored, the initial results of this
study show that older and more experienced workers are less likely to experience
aggression, probably due to their skills and greater work experience. In this sense, the
aging of the population is not a risk factor, but a protective factor.