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EMPATHY AS A RISK FACTOR FOR BURNOUT
Abstract
Background: Empathy is one of the factors influencing burnout. However, the relationship between empathy and burnout is not clear-cut. In the literature it is argued that burnout decreases the level of empathy that empathy leads to burnout, or even that empathy prevents burnout. Objective: The main objective of the research was to determine the degree of empathy among registered nurses and its relationship to burnout. Methods: The research was conducted using a quantitative method that was applied to the research group consisting of 1751 registered nurses. Standardized questionnaires were used for data collection: MBI-GS (Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey) and IVE (Eysenck impulsivity inventory). Results: The research revealed a statistically significant difference in the level of empathy only between the groups of respondents who were emotionally burnt out (p <0.001 p <0.05). Research shows positive correlation between emotional exhaustion and the level of empathy (rs = 0.309 p <0.01) and between the level of empathy and depersonalization (rs = 0.147 p <0.05). No statistically significant correlation was found for the level of empathy and personal accomplishment. Conclusion: The survey results highlighted a significant positive correlation between the following variables: age and empathy, empathy and emotional exhaustion, and empathy and depersonalization. Employers´ efforts to engage as many emphatic nurses as possible may result in the risk of higher burnout syndrome incidence. Therefore, the employers should be aware of the fact and avoid burnout syndrome with proper coping strategies.
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