Self-Compassion Explains Less Burnout Among Healthcare Professionals

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 (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. © 2020, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.