Self-Compassion Explains Less Burnout Among Healthcare Professionals

Overview

Journal Mindfulness (N Y)

Publisher Springer

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2020 Sep 15

PMID 32929384

Citations 17

Authors

Zeena Hashem

Pia Zeinoun

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

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 ( = 93).

Results: The sample demonstrated a high degree of Emotional Exhaustion ( = 27, SD = 11.79), average levels of Depersonalization ( = 9.46, SD = 6.35), and Personal Accomplishment ( = 34.95, SD = 6.58), and moderate levels of Self-compassion ( = 3.25). All burnout components were significantly and inversely associated with self-compassion, with the strongest association found between Emotional Exhaustion and Self-compassion ( = -.37, < .001). Self-compassion significantly explained burnout, above and beyond sociodemographic and occupational variables (Emotional Exhaustion: = .11, (1.85) = 12.71, < .01; Depersonalization: = .07, (1.85) = 6.73, = .01; Low Personal Accomplishment: = .11, (1.85) = 11.29, < .01).

Conclusions: Burnout is prevalent in the sample, yet self-compassion may be a possible protective factor.

Citing Articles

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