Perceived stress, self-compassion and job burnout in nurses: the moderating role of self-compassion

Abstract

Background Job burnout is more prevalent among nurses than other medical team members and may have adverse effects on the mental and physical health of both nurses and their patients. Aims To evaluate the associations between job burnout as a dependent variable with perceived stress and self-compassion as independent variables, and test the buffering role of self-compassion in the link between perceived stress and job burnout in nurses. Methods This is a cross-sectional study with a convenience sampling method. A total of 150 nurses from four hospitals in Tehran, Iran participated in this study and completed three questionnaires, namely the Perceived Stress Scale, the Self-Compassion Scale and the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory. Results Partial least square-structural equation modelling showed greater levels of perceived stress associated with greater levels of job burnout (β = 0.795, p < 0.001), and greater levels of self-compassion associated with lower levels of job burnout (β = –0.512, p < 0.001) in nurses. The results of the interaction-moderation analysis showed that self-compassion diminished the effect of perceived stress on job burnout in nurses. Conclusions The results of this study not only showed a significant association between perceived stress and job burnout in nurses, but also increased our understanding about the buffering role of self-compassion in the link between perceived stress and job burnout in nurses.

Relational leadership

“…They found that nurses who reported higher perceived stress belonged to units that, on average, had lower Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) scores. Abdollahi researched the buffering role of self-compassion regarding frontline nurses' perceived stress and job burnout, showing that improvements in self-care, specifically the emotional aspect of improved self-compassion, mitigated stress 18…”

Perceived stress and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder in nurses: A moderated mediation model of maladaptive cognitive emotional regulation and psychological capital

“…It has been proved that the occurrence of disastrous and traumatic events will cause mental disorders ( 9 ), and the influence of objective events is determined to some extent by an individual's perception of the pressure resulting from the event ( 10 ). Compared with objective measurement of stressors, the perception of a stressful environment influences the individual's response more strongly ( 11 ). Lazarus and Folkman define perceived stress as an individual's response to an environment perceived as a threat to their ability and health ( 12 ).…”

Providing not prescribing: fostering a culture of wellbeing in nursing

“…One such characteristic, the desire to help, may put nurses at risk of compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma (Giovannoni, 2017). Whilst working in a culture receptive to and supportive of our needs will help lessen stress and burnout so too would showing loving kindness and compassion towards oneself (Abdollahi et al, 2020 When faced with adversity being able to be one's authentic self has a positive association with building a therapeutic relationship with others. Authenticity is a key attribute of person-centeredness according to Dewing and McCormack (2016), but it is not always easy to genuinely demonstrate: it takes practice.…”

“…(Dunning et al, 2021, p. 140) Influencers of perceived stress include lack of staff and long hours, both areas of concern documented in the paper by Cowie (2005): these are still resonant today. More recently, Abdollahi et al (2020) described the immediate and long-term consequences of holding negative feelings related to stressful situations as 'terrifying, unchangeable and uncontrollable, it is likely that the nurse's negative perceived stress may lead to job burnout'. They also highlighted that if the nurse has 'positive beliefs in the face of the situation, the nurse is more likely to find the situation controllable, changeable and an opportunity to learn, and may be less likely to experience job burnout.'…”

“…Perceived stress is a reaction to loss of control which presents as 'A threat to one's abilities or health' (Abdollahi et al, 2020). Gilbert's (2006) compassion-focused therapy approach explains this in three emotional regulatory systems: the 'threat' system, the 'drive' system and the 'affiliative' system.…”