10-09-2020 | ORIGINAL PAPER
Self-Compassion Explains Less Burnout Among Healthcare Professionals
Gepubliceerd in: Mindfulness | Uitgave 11/2020
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Objectives
Healthcare professionals are prone to experience burnout—a psychological syndrome resulting from chronic stressors at work. Some individual differences, like self-compassion—the non-judgmental observation of one’s own pain and failure, while understanding that these are part of being human—can protect against burnout.
Methods
We administered the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the Self-Compassion Scale, and the Stressful Life Events Scale to a sample of healthcare professionals (medical residents, nurses, and physicians) in Lebanon (N = 93).
Results
The sample demonstrated a high degree of Emotional Exhaustion (M = 27, SD = 11.79), average levels of Depersonalization (M = 9.46, SD = 6.35), and Personal Accomplishment (M = 34.95, SD = 6.58), and moderate levels of Self-compassion (M = 3.25). All burnout components were significantly and inversely associated with self-compassion, with the strongest association found between Emotional Exhaustion and Self-compassion (r = −.37, p < .001). Self-compassion significantly explained burnout, above and beyond sociodemographic and occupational variables (Emotional Exhaustion: ΔR2 = .11, F (1.85) = 12.71, p < .01; Depersonalization: ΔR2 = .07, F (1.85) = 6.73, p = .01; Low Personal Accomplishment: ΔR2 = .11, F (1.85) = 11.29, p < .01).
Conclusions
Burnout is prevalent in the sample, yet self-compassion may be a possible protective factor.