Mediating Role of Empathy Between Self-Compassion and Secondary Traumatic Stress in Nurses.
Mediating Role of Empathy Between Self-Compassion and Secondary Traumatic Stress in Nurses.
Hanieh Poursheikhali,Shabnam Hashemzadeh Mohammadieh,Shekoofeh Mottaghi
2026 · DOI: 10.1097/JFN.0000000000000594
Journal of Forensic Nursing · 0 Citations
TLDR
Fostering self-compassion and empathy in nursing education and practice to build resilience and reduce STS risk among health care professionals is suggested.
Abstract
AIM
To investigate the mediating role of empathy in the relationship between self-compassion and secondary traumatic stress (STS) among nurses.METHODS
A descriptive correlational design was used. Data were collected from 300 nurses in five hospitals in Kerman, Iran, using validated scales measuring self-compassion, empathy, and STS.RESULTS
Structural equation modeling revealed significant negative correlations between self-compassion and STS (r=-.23, p<0.001) and between empathy and STS (r=-.37, p<0.001). Self-compassion was positively associated with empathy (r=.41, p<0.001). Empathy partially mediated the self-compassion-STS relationship, with an indirect effect of -0.15 (p<0.05).CONCLUSION
Self-compassion reduces STS both directly and indirectly by enhancing empathy. Results suggest fostering self-compassion and empathy in nursing education and practice to build resilience and reduce STS risk among health care professionals.