Journal of Client-centered Nursing Care (Nov 2024)
Examining the Moderating Role of Self-Compassion in the Relationship Between Psychache, Compassion Fatigue, and General Well-Being among Nurses in the Aftermath of COVID-19
Abstract
Background: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) pandemic has placed unprecedented strain on healthcare staff, particularly nurses, who have been at the forefront of providing care and support during this global crisis. As nurses continue to navigate the aftermath of the pandemic, they are confronted with various psychological challenges, including psychache and compassion fatigue, which may significantly impact their psychological wellbeing. This study investigated the moderating role of self-compassion in the relationship between psychache and compassion fatigue with general wellbeing among nurses at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Nigeria. Methods: The study adopted a cross-sectional correlational design. We used convenience sampling to recruit 554 nurses from a tertiary hospital in southwestern Nigeria between 2022 and 2023. Scales of psychological wellbeing (SPWB), psychache scale, compassion fatigue scale (CFS), and self-compassion scale-short form (SCS-SF) were used to elicit data through computer-assisted personal interviews (CAPIs). Subsequently, the collected data were analyzed using the IBM/SPSS software, version 23 sub-programs, including mediation moderation of Hayes PROCESS macro model 1, zero-order correlation, and the t test. A significance level of 0.05 was considered for all statistical analyses. Results: The results reveal that psychache has a significant negative correlation with psychological wellbeing (r552=-0.25, P<0.01), whereas self-compassion is positively correlated with psychological wellbeing (r552=0.24, P<0.05). Also, compassion fatigue negatively correlates with psychological wellbeing (r552=-0.15, P<0.01). The result also indicates that self-compassion moderates the relationship between psychache and psychological wellbeing (β=0.03; SE=0.01; 95% CI, -0.07%, -0.00%) but not the relationship between compassion fatigue and psychological wellbeing (β=0.27; SE=0.017; 95% CI, -0.007%, 0.061%]. The study also reveals a significant difference between male scores (Mean±SD 42.96±10.45) and female scores (Mean±SD 50.69±12.67) on psychological wellbeing (t547=-7.12; P=0.001; 95% CI, -9.78%, -5.54%; d=0.66). Conclusion: The study highlights nurses’ psychological challenges after the COVID-19 pandemic and underscores the importance of self-compassion and gender-specific roles in addressing them. The study serves as a clarion call for healthcare institutions to adopt a more holistic and tailored approach to safeguarding the mental wellbeing of their frontline workers.
