The effect of mindfulness and self-compassion on compassion fatigue among nurses: a cross-sectional study.
Yıldız Öztürk, Hilal Seki Öz
Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da U S P August 28, 2026 DOI: 10.1590/1980-220x-reeusp-2026-0158en (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional correlational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 220 |
| Population | Clinical nurses in a public hospital |
| Measures | Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, Self-Compassion Scale-Short Form, Compassion Fatigue Short Scale |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Humans Cross-sectional studies Empathy Adult Nurses Nursing staff, hospital Hospitals, public Female Compassion fatigue |
| Key findings | Mindfulness and self-compassion were each negatively associated with compassion fatigue among nurses and were independent predictors in regression, jointly explaining 21.1% of the variance. The authors conclude that higher mindfulness and self-compassion predict lower compassion fatigue and propose integrating these practices into institutional strategies. |
Abstract
Objective: To examine the relationships between mindfulness, self-compassion, and compassion fatigue, and to determine the predictive roles of mindfulness and self-compassion on compassion fatigue among clinical nurses.
Method: This cross-sectional correlational study included 220 nurses in a public hospital between March and June 2024. Data were collected via Personal Information Form, Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, Self-Compassion Scale-Short Form, and Compassion Fatigue Short Scale.
Results: Mean scores were 61.78 ± 11.29 for mindfulness, 39.00 ± 6.87 for self-compassion, and 48.31 ± 20.28 for compassion fatigue. Mindfulness correlated positively with self-compassion (r = 0.33, p < 0.05) and negatively with compassion fatigue (r = -0.34, p < 0.05). Self-compassion was negatively associated with compassion fatigue (r = -0.40, p < 0.05). Multiple regression showed that mindfulness (β = -0.42) and self-compassion (β = -0.96) were significant independent predictors of compassion fatigue, jointly explaining 21.1% of the variance.
Conclusion: Higher mindfulness and self-compassion predict lower compassion fatigue among clinical nurses. These modifiable psychological assets offer robust protection against emotional depletion. Integrating mindfulness and self-compassion into institutional strategies holds potential to optimize nursing well-being.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Experienced meditators and nonmeditating comparison groups | 2008 | Cross-sectional study | |
| Neural Correlates of Dispositional Mindfulness During Affect Labeling Adult participants | 2007 | Observational cross-sectional | n = 27 |
| Assessing mindfulness in children and adolescents: Development and validation of the Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure (CAMM). School-aged children and adolescents | 2011 | Cross-sectional validation study | n = 1,413 |
| Mindfulness and self-compassion as predictors of psychological wellbeing in long-term meditators and matched nonmeditators Experienced meditators and demographically matched nonmeditators | 2012 | Cross-sectional study | n = 152 |
| Mechanisms of Action in the Inverse Relationship Between Mindfulness and Psychological Distress Undergraduates | 2008 | Cross-sectional, correlational |