TITLE:
Self-Compassion and Empathy: Impact on Burnout and Secondary Traumatic Stress in Medical Training
AUTHORS:
David A. Richardson, Sara Jaber, Sarah Chan, Michelle T. Jesse, Hareena Kaur, Roopina Sangha
KEYWORDS:
Burnout, Secondary Traumatic Stress, Empathy, Self-Compassion, Well-Being
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Epidemiology,
Vol.6 No.3,
August
10,
2016
ABSTRACT: Objective: To determine how self-compassion
and empathy might influence the degree of burnout, secondary traumatic stress
and compassion satisfaction among medical students and residents. Methods:
Cross-sectional survey of medical students and select residency programs at
Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. Respondents completed the
Professional Quality of Life Scale (burnout, secondary traumatic stress and
compassion satisfaction), Neff’s Self-Compassion Scale, and the empathic
concern and personal distress subscales of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index.
Results: The response rate was 28.6%. 23.9% and 27.3% of medical trainees
reported high levels of burnout and secondary traumatic stress, respectively.
Females reported greater empathy but lower self-compassion than males. Greater
concern for others and oneself and lower personal distress predicted greater
pleasure derived from professional work. Less concern for others and lower
concern for oneself predicted greater burnout. Conclusions: Compassion for
oneself and for others within their care appears to ameliorate burnout and can
increase professional satisfaction. Initiatives to foster empathy and
self-compassion may enhance individual well-being.