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

Author

Listed:
  • Ilaria Buonomo

    (Department of Human Sciences, LUMSA University, 00193 Rome, Italy)

  • Paolo Emilio Santoro

    (Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy
    Department of Women, Children and Public Health Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy)

  • Paula Benevene

    (Department of Human Sciences, LUMSA University, 00193 Rome, Italy)

  • Ivan Borrelli

    (Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy)

  • Giacomo Angelini

    (Department of Human Sciences, LUMSA University, 00193 Rome, Italy)

  • Caterina Fiorilli

    (Department of Human Sciences, LUMSA University, 00193 Rome, Italy)

  • Maria Rosaria Gualano

    (Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy)

  • Umberto Moscato

    (Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy
    Department of Women, Children and Public Health Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy)

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 (M age = 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.

Suggested Citation

  • Ilaria Buonomo & Paolo Emilio Santoro & Paula Benevene & Ivan Borrelli & Giacomo Angelini & Caterina Fiorilli & Maria Rosaria Gualano & Umberto Moscato, 2022. "Buffering the Effects of Burnout on Healthcare Professionals’ Health—The Mediating Role of Compassionate Relationships at Work in the COVID Era," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-15, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:15:p:8966-:d:869827
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Giacomo Angelini & Ilaria Buonomo & Paula Benevene & Piermarco Consiglio & Luciano Romano & Caterina Fiorilli, 2021. "The Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT): A Contribution to Italian Validation with Teachers’," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-18, August.
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    3. Simona De Stasio & Paula Benevene & Alessandro Pepe & Ilaria Buonomo & Benedetta Ragni & Carmen Berenguer, 2020. "The Interplay of Compassion, Subjective Happiness and Proactive Strategies on Kindergarten Teachers’ Work Engagement and Perceived Working Environment Fit," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-17, July.
    4. Vincenza Capone & Roberta Borrelli & Leda Marino & Giovanni Schettino, 2022. "Mental Well-Being and Job Satisfaction of Hospital Physicians during COVID-19: Relationships with Efficacy Beliefs, Organizational Support, and Organizational Non-Technical Skills," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-18, March.
    5. Shenjiang Mo & Junqi Shi, 2017. "Linking Ethical Leadership to Employee Burnout, Workplace Deviance and Performance: Testing the Mediating Roles of Trust in Leader and Surface Acting," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 144(2), pages 293-303, August.
    6. Fahri Karakas & Emine Sarigollu, 2013. "The Role of Leadership in Creating Virtuous and Compassionate Organizations: Narratives of Benevolent Leadership in an Anatolian Tiger," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 113(4), pages 663-678, April.
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    8. Ilaria Buonomo & Caterina Fiorilli & Luciano Romano & Paula Benevene, 2020. "The Roles of Work-Life Conflict and Gender in the Relationship between Workplace Bullying and Personal Burnout. A Study on Italian School Principals," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-17, November.
    9. Ilaria Buonomo & Caterina Fiorilli & Paula Benevene, 2020. "Unravelling Teacher Job Satisfaction: The Contribution of Collective Efficacy and Emotions Towards Professional Role," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-11, January.
    10. Pablo Zoghbi-Manrique-de-Lara & Mercedes Viera-Armas, 2019. "Does Ethical Leadership Motivate Followers to Participate in Delivering Compassion?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 154(1), pages 195-210, January.
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    1. Ilaria Buonomo & Martina Pansini & Sara Cervai & Paula Benevene, 2022. "Compassionate Work Environments and Their Role in Teachers’ Life Satisfaction: The Contribution of Perceived Collective School Performance and Burnout," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-14, October.
    2. Fangcao Lu & Carlos King Ho Wong & Emily Tsui Yee Tse & Amy Pui Pui Ng & Lanlan Li & Joyce Sau Mei Lam & Laura Bedford & Daniel Yee Tak Fong & Patrick Ip & Cindy Lo Kuen Lam, 2023. "The Impact of a Health Empowerment Program on Self-Care Enablement and Mental Health among Low-Income Families: Evidence from a 5 Year Cohort Study in Hong Kong," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-16, March.
    3. Noorhidayu Monyati Mohamed Noor & Mohd Ismail Ibrahim & Suhaily Mohd Hairon & Maizun Mohd Zain & Mohd Saiful Nazri Satiman, 2023. "Predictors of Healthcare Workers’ Compassionate Care Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study from Patients’ Perspective in Kelantan, Malaysia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-15, January.

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