The Partial Mediator Role of Satisficing Decision-Making Style Between Trait Emotional Intelligence and Compassion Fatigue in Healthcare Professionals

Abstract

Background: Compassion fatigue (CF) represents a relevant issue for healthcare professionals. Currently, it is still unclear which psychological mechanism might lead to CF and which might protect workers from that. Decision-making styles, as well as emotional intelligence, might partially account for the presence of CF. Specifically, we hypothesized that a satisficing decision-making style would mediate the relationship between emotional intelligence and CF. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted on physicians and nurses from Italian Medical Departments. Three self-reported questionnaires were administered to collect data in accordance with our aims. A mediation model with Structural Equation Modeling on the relationship between trait emotional intelligence (TEI) and CF through the maximizing decision-making style was performed. Results: We found a significant relationship between TEI and CF (β = −0.28, SE = 0.04, p < .001). The maximizing style partially mediated this relationship (β = −0.04, SE = 0.01, p < .001). Moreover, negative relationships were found between sex (male), working hours, sleep quality, and CF. Conversely, a positive relationship between age and CF was demonstrated. Conclusions: Being emotionally intelligent resulted as a protective factor for developing CF, while the decision-making styles shaped the risk of developing CF.

Eliciting empathetic drives to prosocial behavior during stressful events

“…This difference is consistent with the neurobiological literature indicating independence between these two systems ( Christov-Moore et al, 2014 ). Overall, stress leads to depersonalization and emotional exhaustion ( Park et al, 2015 ) and increases arousal ( Crenshaw et al, 2019 ), compromising our ability to be in touch with others’ emotions, feelings, and thoughts (i.e., a state of detachment from our emotions and those of others; Morelli et al, 2015 ; Depow et al, 2021 , Filipponi et al, 2022 ). Data from healthcare professionals are exciting in this regard.…”