Impact of nurses' emotional intelligence and self-compassion on occupational burnout: A correlation study

To cope up with the stressors and to make correct decisions in critical conditions and to enhance the quality of health care services the nurses adopt measures like emotional intelligence and self-compassion.

A nonexperimental descriptive correlation research design was used to collect data from 450 staff nurses working in different wards of Mahatma Gandhi hospital, Jaipur, Rajasthan, from 01/08/2023 to 30/9/2023 by convenient sampling technique. The dropout rate was 4.44%. A demographic information form and three valid and reliable research questionnaires were used that is, trait emotional intelligence questionnaire short form (TEIQue-SF), self-compassion scale, and Maslach Burnout Inventory. A descriptive and Pearson correlation analysis was used.

The findings showed that most of the nurses had average level of emotional intelligence (88.60%) and moderate level of self-compassion (63.95%). Majority of nurses have moderate risk for emotional exhaustion (55.58%) and depolarization (73.72%). Totally, 45.58% had high risk for personal achievement. Positive correlations was found between self-compassion-emotional intelligence (r = 0.28, P < 0.01). Negative correlations was observed between self-compassion and occupational burnout (r = -0.33, P < 0.01); and between emotional intelligence and occupational burnout (r = -0.31, P < 0.01).

Recommended for health policy makers and nursing managers to impart continuous training sessions for nurses to promote their emotional intelligence and self-compassion and thus reducing burnout.