The association between compassion fatigue and nurses' creativity: the mediating role of ego depletion

Compassion fatigue is a prevalent occupational hazard among nurses that may undermine their creative performance, yet the underlying mechanism remains underexplored. This study aimed to examine the mediating role of ego depletion in the relationship between compassion fatigue and creativity among clinical nurses.

A cross-sectional design was adopted. A total of 1,055 nurses were recruited from four tertiary general hospitals in China between September 2024 and January 2025. Data were collected using a general information questionnaire, the Self‑Regulatory Fatigue Scale, the Professional Quality of Life Scale Version 5, and the Employee Creativity Scale. Structural equation modeling was applied to assess the mediating effect of ego depletion. Ultimately, 950 nurses completed the survey.

The results showed that: (1) Compassion fatigue among nurses was at a relatively high level, while ego depletion and creativity were at moderate levels. (2) Creativity was significantly and negatively correlated with both compassion fatigue and ego depletion, as well as with all subscale scores. (3) Compassion fatigue had a direct negative association with creativity. Mediation analysis further revealed that ego depletion partially mediated this relationship, with a significant indirect effect.

Ego depletion serves as a partial mediator in the link between compassion fatigue and creativity. These findings suggest that alleviating compassion fatigue and preventing ego depletion may help preserve nurses' professional vitality and sustain their creative performance. Nursing administrators should prioritise interventions targeting both factors.