Search Results (95)

Background/Objectives: This quantitative cross-sectional study examined the relationships between self-efficacy, compassion fatigue, and the quality of nursing work life (QNWL) in primary care nurses from the Dammam and Riyadh regions of Saudi Arabia. This study examined how these factors varied according to gender, education, income, and years of experience. Methods: A total of 158 primary care nurses completed validated survey instruments, including the General Self-Efficacy Scale, Professional Quality of Life Scale—Version 5, and Work-Related Quality of Life Scale-2. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. Results: The results indicated that participants experienced elevated self-efficacy (M = 29.53, SD = 0.52), moderate compassion fatigue (M = 54.62, SD = 10.16), and moderate overall quality of work life (QWL) (M = 3.26, SD = 0.52). Positive correlations were identified between self-efficacy and QWL (r = 0.250, p < 0.05) and compassion satisfaction (r = 0.533, p < 0.05). By contrast, compassion fatigue was negatively correlated with QWL (r = −0.259, p < 0.05). Notable disparities in QWL were identified according to education level and years of experience, with nurses possessing advanced degrees and those with less experience having elevated QNWL scores. Conclusions: This study highlights the significance of promoting self-efficacy and mitigating compassion fatigue to improve the quality of nursing. Administrators and nurse leaders should consider strategies such as continuous professional development, psychological support, and effective workload management to enhance the well-being and retention of primary care nurses. Full article

Mental health difficulties in university students are an increasing concern, especially after the COVID-19 global crisis. This study used a cross-sectional design to analyze the effect of psychological factors on students’ psychological well-being. Participants were 190 university students enrolled in undergraduate or graduate programs at a public university. Based on previous research and grounded theoretical models, a conceptual model was proposed to analyze the influence of affect states/experiences (emotion regulation difficulties, anxiety and depression, perceived stress, self-compassion, gratitude, and satisfaction with life) on psychological well-being, including the indirect effect of emotions (negative emotions, positive activation emotions, self-efficacy emotions, prosocial emotions, and serenity emotions), using a path analysis. Multigroup analyses were also performed to test the moderating effect of gender and education level. Findings indicated that self-efficacy emotions had an indirect effect on the relationship between anxiety and depression, self-compassion, and psychological well-being. Both prosocial and self-efficacy emotions indirectly impacted the relationship between gratitude, satisfaction with life, and psychological well-being. Being a female and a bachelor student played a moderating role in the final model. The findings suggest that psychological interventions focused on self-efficacy and prosocial emotions are needed to increase psychological well-being in university students. Full article

Dance encompasses physical, emotional, and social elements, creating a dynamic platform for the exploration of well-being. As a therapeutic approach, dance movement further applies these dimensions to enhance emotional resilience, foster mindfulness, and improve overall mental health. This study examined the relationship between self-compassion and life satisfaction among 912 recreational dancers (80% female and 20% male) in Greece. Participants completed the Self-Compassion Scale and Satisfaction with Life Scale. Confirmatory Factor Analysis validated the five-factor self-compassion model, and regression analysis identified predictors of life satisfaction. Self-kindness emerged as a strong positive predictor (β = 0.258, p < 0.001), while isolation (β = −0.307, p < 0.001) and self-judgment (β = −0.083, p = 0.029) negatively predicted life satisfaction. Common humanity (β = 0.064, p = 0.066) and mindfulness (β = 0.004, p = 0.907) showed no significant predictive effect. The model explained 21.7% of the variance in life satisfaction (R² = 0.217). Small but statistically significant differences in self-compassion dimensions were observed across dance styles. Partner-oriented dancers such as those practicing tango reported slightly higher self-kindness and mindfulness, while ballet dancers showed a small increase in self-judgment and isolation. Life satisfaction remained consistent across styles, highlighting dance’s overall contribution to well-being. These findings suggest that integrating self-compassion training into dance education and psychotherapy, particularly within a Therapeutic-Based Art Pedagogy framework, may contribute to emotional resilience, foster social connection, and promote mental health, positioning dance as a potentially transformative tool for holistic development. Full article

Burnout and work-related stress are extensively studied among mental health professionals (MHPs) in countries around the world, but there is a paucity of research emanating from Greece’s hybrid healthcare system. In Greece, MHPs may encounter unique challenges with economic obstacles and in putting ongoing community-oriented mental healthcare policies into practice. This study aims, first, to assess the prevalence of burnout, compassion fatigue, and compassion satisfaction among Greek MHPs; and second, to examine the sociodemographic and work-related factors influencing these dimensions of professional quality of life. A total of 287 Greek MHPs (25.4% male, 74.6% female; M = 39.85 years, SD = 9.52) completed the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and the Professional Quality of Life Scale-5 (ProQOL-5). Sociodemographic and occupational data were also collected. Findings revealed that 11.8% of participants reported high emotional exhaustion, 19.9% high depersonalization, and 35.9% a high risk of reduced personal accomplishment. Almost half of the participants (48.8%) reported high levels of compassion satisfaction, suggesting that many MHPs continue to find fulfillment in their work. Notably, none of the participants reported high levels of compassion fatigue. Sociodemographic characteristics, such as gender, ethnicity, and marital status, as well as work-related factors, including employment sector, specialization, and years of experience, were related to MHPs’ professional quality of life. These results highlight the need for targeted strategies to address burnout and promote positive professional experiences among MHPs in Greece. Interventions should support well-being and enhance the rewarding aspects of mental health practice. Full article

The cases that dog trainers and behavior consultants face are often traumatic and emotionally challenging, especially under pressure from distressed clients. This study investigated whether more years of professional experience and higher levels of dog aggression contribute to burnout and whether the overall emotional toll of caring moderates these relationships. Eighty-six professionals completed the Professional Quality of Life Measure, which evaluates the positive aspects of caregiving and negative outcomes such as burnout and secondary traumatic stress. The analysis revealed that neither extended work experience nor increased dog aggression significantly predicted higher burnout levels, and the anticipated moderating effect of emotional strain was not observed. The levels of burnout and secondary traumatic stress in this sample were similar to those reported in other animal-care and human healthcare settings, while the satisfaction derived from caregiving remained relatively high. These results suggest that factors beyond years of experience and dog aggression—such as workplace support and individual coping mechanisms—may be more crucial in influencing burnout among these professionals. This study highlights the need for an expanded investigation of other possible influences, such as workplace support and personal coping mechanisms. Identifying specific challenges that dog trainers face and implementing strategies to offset burnout will create a healthier and more sustainable work environment and improve the quality of life for humans and their canine companions. Full article

Background/Objectives: Although self-compassion practice has been increasingly popular in the literature in recent years, the area of social work knows very little about it. To be self-compassionate is to treat oneself with love and respect. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between social workers’ professional quality of life (compassion satisfaction, secondary traumatic stress, and burnout) and self-compassion. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study consisted of 177 social workers in primary healthcare (PHC) in Greece. The Self-Compassion Scale (SCS), the Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL-5), and the participants’ personal, demographic, and professional information were all included in an electronic questionnaire that they had to fill out. Results: This study’s findings show that, although 43.2% of participants exhibited high levels of self-compassion, burnout and secondary traumatic stress were at low-to-moderate levels among the participants. Apart from the secondary traumatic stress and humanity dimensions, both the dimensions and the overall self-compassion scale showed a strong relationship with the aspects of professional quality of life. Burnout and secondary traumatic stress were significantly reduced, and compassion fulfilment were increased in environments that were supportive, socially supportive, work-related, hobby-filled, and religious. Conclusions: The integration of self-compassion into a comprehensive and methodical approach to employee wellness has the potential to enhance the physical and mental health of workers in healthcare environments. Full article

This study aims to reveal the significance of self-compassion, job satisfaction, calling, and affective commitment in the context of safety workers. The sample of the study consists of security personnel working in the public sector. The data were collected on a voluntary basis from 308 people through the survey method, using the convenience sampling method. SPSS 26 and AMOS 24 programs were used for analyzing the data of the study. Firstly, a confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to test the construct’s validity. The analysis revealed good goodness-of-fit values for the scales. In addition, the data showed a normal distribution, with the internal consistency (α) values indicating reliability. The Process Macro of SPSS was used for testing the hypothesis. The results indicate a positive and significant relationship between self-compassion and job satisfaction, calling, and affective commitment. Moreover, calling and affective commitment mediate the effect of self-compassion on job satisfaction. In other words, as the self-compassion levels of security sector employees increase, their calling increases, then their affective commitment increases, and subsequently, their job satisfaction increases. These findings show that the positive mood of the employees positively affects work outcomes such as job satisfaction. Full article

Purposes: The Body Awareness Questionnaire (BAQ) has been considered the best available measure of body awareness, but it is not currently available in Spanish. Methods: To address this shortcoming, a sample of 281 Spanish participants completed a survey with a Spanish version of the BAQ, as well as the Body Appreciation Scale (BAS-2), the Self-Compassion Scale-Short (SCS-S) and the New Sexual Satisfaction Scale-Short (NSSS-S). Results: Analysis of the Spanish BAQ showed good reliability: α = 0.82. Positive correlations with the BAS-2 and the SCS-S, and no significant correlation with the NSSS-S, support the convergent and discriminant validity of the Spanish BAQ. In conceptual validity, the Spanish BAQ further successfully discriminated between meditators and non-meditators, showing additional support for the conceptual validity of the measure. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) supported a two-factor structure, rather than a one-factor or four-factor version, as proposed for the original English version. Conclusions: The Spanish version of the BAQ has shown adequate reliability and validity and would be a good scale to continue exploring in clinical Spanish population samples, e.g., in patients with chronic pain, and non-clinical ones, e.g., after interventions in sexuality or sport. It could be an interesting questionnaire to assess outcomes of mindfulness-based interventions. Full article

Background and Objectives: Societies are obliged to ensure that children in need of protection grow up psychologically, socially, and physically healthy. To achieve that, various practices have been developed. One of these practices is the use of children’s homes sites. Accordingly, this study examined the relationships between the life satisfaction, attachment styles, and self-compassion levels of children in need of protection staying in children’s homes sites. It aimed to determine to what extent variables such as attachment style and self-compassion predict life satisfaction. In addition, whether life satisfaction differs according to gender, age, and the status of having a visitor was examined. Methods: The study sample consisted of 121 children between the ages of 8 and 14 who were staying in children’s homes sites in Istanbul between March and May 2022. The Satisfaction with Life Scale, the short form of the Self-Compassion Scale, the Three-Dimensional Attachment Style Scale, and the Personal Information Form were used with the participants. The researchers used the independent samples t-test, multiple linear regression analysis, Pearson product moment coefficient, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) during the analysis. Results: The findings showed that there was a significant positive relationship between secure attachment style and life satisfaction, anxious–ambivalent attachment, and self-compassion. Also, among the demographic variables, being visited by relatives was found to predict life satisfaction, while there was no relationship between life satisfaction and age and gender. Conclusions: The study findings were discussed within the framework of the literature, and suggestions based on the findings were presented. Full article

Assistance animal (AA) trainers could develop compassion satisfaction (CS) but also compassion fatigue (CF), due to potential exposure to suffering through working with people with disabilities. The negative outcomes associated with CF could result in fewer trainers and longer wait times for people in need. Using the Job Demands–Resources Model (JD-R), this study aimed to qualitatively identify the demands and resources of AA trainers and explore signs of CF and CS. Six trainers participated in semi-structured interviews, and five themes were identified. The Demands theme represented challenges trainers experienced, such as concerns about animal welfare and client wellbeing. The Resources theme represented personal characteristics and job aspects that assisted the trainers, like resilience and formal support from the employer. Negative Impacts included signs of CF and represented how participants were negatively affected by their job. Similarly, Positive Impacts included signs of CS and represented how participants were positively affected. Misguided Trainer Expectations represented the expectations trainers had starting the job compared to the reality of the role. The discovery of CF signs provides evidence of a previously unidentified psychosocial hazard for trainers. These findings should be used by training organizations to better support trainers. Full article

Although the psychological workplace hazards of compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue are a known risk factor for mental and emotional health distress for caring professionals, the extent of these hazards has not been explored in Alberta, Canada. Understanding and tracking the experiences of compassion fatigue and satisfaction of teachers and other educational workers was the primary focus of this three-year, cross-sectional research study. Methods: A multimethod, longitudinal study was conducted from June 2020 to May 2023. Data were collected at three different time points between 2020 and 2023 to explore the mental and emotional health of teachers and other educational workers, and the quantitative analysis of these data suggests that mental and emotional health distress is widespread and intensifying across Alberta. Findings: This paper discusses the extent of compassion fatigue and satisfaction across Alberta both at a general level and related to years of experience in the education field. Data analysis suggests worsening workplace wellbeing over time in both number and intensity, across gender and job role. Discussion: This article provides further evidence of the deepening crisis in education and contains some suggestions for policymakers, teacher educators, and system decision-makers invested in improving workplace wellbeing in educational settings. Full article

Background/Objectives: Compassion Fatigue (CF) is a critical issue among healthcare professionals, exacerbated by exposure to trauma and chronic workplace stress. This pilot study evaluates the effectiveness of a Mindfulness-Oriented Professional Resilience (MOPR) program, a structured intervention designed to mitigate CF and enhance resilience in healthcare professionals. The program integrates mindfulness practices, arousal modulation techniques, and resilience-building strategies over six weekly sessions. Methods: A sample of 73 healthcare workers (mean age 48.6, SD = 9.42) participated in the study, and pre–post data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA. Results: Results indicated significant improvements in professional quality of life, with increased Compassion Satisfaction (p < 0.001) and reductions in Burnout (p = 0.003) and Secondary Traumatic Stress (p < 0.001). Mindfulness skills improved significantly across four dimensions—Observing, Describing, Acting with Awareness, and Non-reactivity—with p-values ranging from <0.01 to <0.001. Arousal modulation showed increased Optimal Arousal Zone scores (p < 0.001) and reduced maladaptive stress responses, including Fight/Flight, Freeze, and Feigned Death (p < 0.05). Psychological well-being improvements were observed, particularly in Self-Acceptance (p = 0.014) and Positive Relations (p = 0.041). Conclusions: These findings suggest that the MOPR program is a promising intervention for healthcare professionals, supporting resilience and reducing the psychological burden of caregiving. Future controlled studies should explore its long-term efficacy in diverse clinical settings and in larger samples. Full article

Introduction/Background: Burnout is a three-dimensional syndrome characterized by exhaustion that appears when the professional is constantly exposed to a stressful work environment, as well as depersonalization and lower personal accomplishment. Professional quality of life at work can be defined as the satisfaction degree that a person feels when being or going to their workplace. Objective: To evaluate burnout and professional quality of life in healthcare professionals working in oncology and palliative care. Material and methods: A cross-sectional, observational, and descriptive study was carried out in a convenience sample of 337 healthcare professionals from a Portuguese Oncology Hospital. The assessment tools were a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), and the Professional Quality of Life—version 5 (proQOL-5) scales. Statistical analysis was performed using the IBM SPSS^® Statistics program (significance level of 95% (p ≤ 0.05)). Results: The majority of professionals were female (84%), with a median age of 41 years. Most professionals work in oncological care services (76.8%), with an average of 40 h a week. There were no statistically significant differences in MBI and ProQOL dimensions between the two groups studied (professionals working in oncology vs. palliative care). In the sample and group of professionals working with palliative patients, it was observed that lower levels of compassion satisfaction were related to higher levels of emotional exhaustion (p < 0.001). On the other hand, higher levels of satisfaction correlated with a greater sense of personal accomplishment (p < 0.001); higher levels of secondary traumatic stress were related to a greater tendency towards emotional exhaustion (p < 0.001) and depersonalization (p = 0.031). Discussion and conclusions: Working in oncology and palliative care may predispose one to the onset of burnout related to contact with distress and suffering. With this study, the authors intend to demonstrate that both scales (MBI and ProQOL) are complementary in the analysis of the prevalence of burnout and professional quality of life, particularly in the context of oncology and palliative care. The risk of compassion fatigue and burnout highlights the need to develop coping strategies to minimize this risk and improve the quality of life and bonding of health professionals. Full article

Social work professionals experience high levels of burnout, emotional exhaustion, and secondary traumatic stress (STS). This paper reports the findings of a pilot test of the Burn-Not-Out programme that aimed to reduce social workers’ burnout, STS, and depressive symptoms and to enhance compassion satisfaction (CS), using the mixed methods evaluation methodology. Hong Kong social workers participated in the programme between December 2023 and March 2024 and completed pre- and post-programme self-administered online surveys including the Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), healthy alongside self-constructed questions on boundary setting, and post-programme online focus group discussions. The results from 94 paired surveys revealed a concerning mental health profile of the participants at baseline, and, after programme participation, there were statistically significant reductions in burnout (Cohen’s d = 0.73) and depressive symptoms (Cohen’s d = 0.57) among the participants. The participants in the focus group reported that they valued the programme’s emphasis on healthy boundaries, one-on-one coaching, and the sense of being cared for, which contributed to their mental health improvement. This study highlights the urgent need for more research on the role of psychological capital in social workers’ resilience and calls for more empirical systemic interventions that can promote social workers’ mental wellness, with sustainable policies that ensure manageable workloads and adequate workplace support. Full article

Burnout and secondary traumatic stress (STS), also referred to as compassion fatigue, are undeniable negative consequences experienced by healthcare professionals when working with patients. As frontline healthcare professionals are essential to communities, it is crucial to understand their mental health and how they cope with negative psychological responses. This study investigated the relationships between burnout, STS, compassion satisfaction, dispositional empathy, and stress management among Japanese healthcare professionals and students taking care of patients in clinical practice. The participants were 506 Japanese healthcare professionals and students (doctors, nurses, medical students, and nursing students) affiliated with Japanese Ministry of Defense Hospitals. The data were collected from March 2020 to May 2021. We assessed burnout, STS, and compassion satisfaction using the Professional Quality of Life Scale, dispositional empathy using the Interpersonal Reactivity Index, and coping with stress using the Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory (Brief-COPE). Exploratory factor analysis of the Brief-COPE yielded three factors: active coping; support-seeking; and indirect coping. Personal distress, a self-oriented emotional empathy index, was related to higher burnout and STS scores and lower compassion satisfaction. Empathic concern, an other-oriented emotional empathy index, was associated with lower burnout and higher compassion satisfaction. Active coping strategies were associated with lower burnout and higher compassion satisfaction, whereas indirect coping strategies were associated with higher burnout and STS scores. In a comparison of empathy in professional categories, nurses presented higher personal distress than nursing students, and medical doctors showed lower fantasy tendencies than medical students. These results imply the complex relationships between empathy, coping strategies, and psychological responses among healthcare professionals. Further longitudinal study is needed to explore these complex relationships and to develop more precise and effective psycho-educational interventions to prevent burnout and STS. Full article