Buffering the Effects of Burnout on Healthcare Professionals’ Health—The Mediating Role of Compassionate Relationships at Work in the COVID Era

Abstract

Managing the COVID-19 pandemic posed several challenges for healthcare professionals, which likely heightened their risk of burnout (Amanullah and Ramesh Shankar, 2020) and, consequently, their general physical and mental health. Although it may not be possible to address and eliminate the causes of burnout, current research informs healthcare organizations about protective strategies to reduce its detrimental consequences. The promotion of compassionate interactions among healthcare professionals may play such a role. Compassion within healthcare organizations positively affects individual performance and well-being. Building on these considerations and within the framework of the Conservation of Resources theory, this study explores the relationships among burnout dimensions, received compassion at work, and general health in 711 Italian healthcare professionals (68.5% female), aged between 21 and 73 years (Mage = 36.4, SD = 11.2). Analyses were conducted to investigate the association between burnout and general well-being (H1) and between burnout symptoms and perceived compassion at work (H2); and the mediational role of compassion in the relationship between burnout symptoms and general well-being. H1 and H2 were confirmed (r < 0.01 for both), and a SEM model showed the mediating role of compassion at work in the association between burnout symptoms and general well-being (RMSEA < 0.08, SRMR < 0.08, CFI and TLI > 0.90). Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed in the paper.

Burnout syndrome in different teaching levels during the covid-19 pandemic in Brazil

“…This study identified that the lowest the quality of life scores, the higher the MBI. This corroborates the relationship between burnout symptoms and general well-being identified by Buonomo et al [41] in Italian healthcare professionals; Vinnikov et al [42] findings that several aspects of quality of life, such as fatigue, predicted more burnout in oncologists in Kazakhstan; and Vinnikov et al [43] findings that health-related quality of life aspects, such as fatigue and stress were associated with burnout in rescuers in Kazakhstan. Fatigue was one of the most mentioned categories in the teachers' comments in this study.…”

Burnout and quality of life in nursing staff during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…However, a study conducted during the pandemic showed the importance of promoting compassionate relationships at the working environment as a preventive strategy to reduce occupational risks in health services. Based on the protective effect of compassion, the authors believed that their study could contribute to the improvement of research instruments used to assess work related stress, since compassion is poorly assessed [ 44 ]. Therefore, assessing compassion could improve both the health of professionals and general wellbeing at work [ 44 ].…”

“…Based on the protective effect of compassion, the authors believed that their study could contribute to the improvement of research instruments used to assess work related stress, since compassion is poorly assessed [ 44 ]. Therefore, assessing compassion could improve both the health of professionals and general wellbeing at work [ 44 ].…”

Compassionate Work Environments and Their Role in Teachers’ Life Satisfaction: The Contribution of Perceived Collective School Performance and Burnout

“…Thus, it may be helpful to consider studies that, despite not addressing the effects of compassion on life satisfaction, account for its effects on general mental health outcomes. In this regard, healthcare practitioners’ studies showed that the higher the compassion experienced at work, the higher the general well-being [ 59 ].…”