TY - JOUR
T1 - Compassion for others, self-compassion, quality of life and mental well-being measures and their association with compassion fatigue and burnout in student midwives
T2 - A quantitative survey
AU - Beaumont, Elaine
AU - Durkin, Mark
AU - Hollins Martin, Caroline J.
AU - Carson, Jerome
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Elsevier Ltd.
PY - 2016/3/1
Y1 - 2016/3/1
N2 - Background: compassion fatigue and burnout can impact on the performance of midwives, with this quantitative paper exploring the relationship between self-compassion, burnout, compassion fatigue, self-judgement, self-kindness, compassion for others, professional quality of life and well-being of student midwives. Method: a quantitative survey measured relationships using questionnaires: (1) Professional Quality of Life Scale (2) Self-Compassion Scale (3) Short Warwick and Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (4) Compassion For Others Scale. Participants: a purposive and convenience sample of student midwives (n=103) studying at university participated in the study. Results: just over half of the sample reported above average scores for burnout. The results indicate that student midwives who report higher scores on the self-judgement sub-scale are less compassionate towards both themselves and others, have reduced well-being, and report greater burnout and compassion fatigue. Student midwives who report high on measures of self-compassion and well-being report less compassion fatigue and burnout. Conclusion: student midwives may find benefit from 'being kinder to self' in times of suffering, which could potentially help them to prepare for the emotional demands of practice and study. Implications: developing, creating and cultivating environments that foster compassionate care for self and others may play a significant role in helping midwives face the rigours of education and clinical practice during their degree programme.
AB - Background: compassion fatigue and burnout can impact on the performance of midwives, with this quantitative paper exploring the relationship between self-compassion, burnout, compassion fatigue, self-judgement, self-kindness, compassion for others, professional quality of life and well-being of student midwives. Method: a quantitative survey measured relationships using questionnaires: (1) Professional Quality of Life Scale (2) Self-Compassion Scale (3) Short Warwick and Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (4) Compassion For Others Scale. Participants: a purposive and convenience sample of student midwives (n=103) studying at university participated in the study. Results: just over half of the sample reported above average scores for burnout. The results indicate that student midwives who report higher scores on the self-judgement sub-scale are less compassionate towards both themselves and others, have reduced well-being, and report greater burnout and compassion fatigue. Student midwives who report high on measures of self-compassion and well-being report less compassion fatigue and burnout. Conclusion: student midwives may find benefit from 'being kinder to self' in times of suffering, which could potentially help them to prepare for the emotional demands of practice and study. Implications: developing, creating and cultivating environments that foster compassionate care for self and others may play a significant role in helping midwives face the rigours of education and clinical practice during their degree programme.
KW - Burnout
KW - Compassion fatigue
KW - Self-compassion
KW - Self-judgement
KW - Student midwives
KW - Well-being
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84959913895&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.midw.2015.11.002
DO - 10.1016/j.midw.2015.11.002
M3 - Article
C2 - 26628352
AN - SCOPUS:84959913895
VL - 34
SP - 239
EP - 244
JO - Midwifery
JF - Midwifery
SN - 0266-6138
ER -