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: ΔR ² = .11, F (1.85) = 12.71, p < .01; Depersonalization: ΔR ² = .07, F (1.85) = 6.73, p = .01; Low Personal Accomplishment: ΔR ² = .11, F (1.85) = 11.29, p < .01).

Conclusions

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

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s12671-020-01469-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.