The mediating role of cognitive and affective empathy in the relationship of mindfulness with engagement in nursing
Abstract Background The work of health professionals is characterized by a high demand for psychological and emotional resources and high levels of stress. Therefore, the promotion of commitment and job well-being through strategies such as increased mindfulness, is important among nursing workers....
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doaj-67246dc294064d13918ceae61d3a6b1a2021-01-10T12:06:39ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582020-01-0120111010.1186/s12889-019-8129-7The mediating role of cognitive and affective empathy in the relationship of mindfulness with engagement in nursingMaría del Carmen Pérez-Fuentes0José Jesús Gázquez Linares1María del Mar Molero Jurado2María del Mar Simón Márquez3África Martos Martínez4Department of Psychology, University of AlmeríaDepartment of Psychology, University of AlmeríaDepartment of Psychology, University of AlmeríaDepartment of Psychology, University of AlmeríaDepartment of Psychology, University of AlmeríaAbstract Background The work of health professionals is characterized by a high demand for psychological and emotional resources and high levels of stress. Therefore, the promotion of commitment and job well-being through strategies such as increased mindfulness, is important among nursing workers. Although mindfulness has shown positive effects in the health field, few studies have explored the mechanisms and processes underlying these results. We investigated the mediating role of empathy (cognitive/affective) in the effect of mindfulness on the dimensions of engagement in nursing professionals. Methods Sample was comprised of 1268 Spanish nurses between 22 and 62 years old, that completed the Utrecht Labor Engagement Scale and the adapted versions of Mindful Attention Awareness Scale and Basic Empathy Scale. The relationship between variables to be included in the regression analyses, bivariate correlations were carried out, and the descriptive statistics of these variables were also found. To estimate the mediation model was used, in this case for multiple mediation effects. Results Mindfulness is found to affect the Vigor and Dedication factors of engagement through cognitive empathy. While for the Absorption factor, the affective component of empathy also exerts a mediating role, although weaker than cognitive empathy. Cognitive empathy, as an individual factor, was shown to have a mediating effect between mindfulness and the factors of engagement in healthcare workers. Conclusions The level of mindfulness influences engagement of nursing professionals positively, and this result is mediated mainly by cognitive empathy. Both mindfulness and empathy are modifiable individual factors, so their intervention by designing and implementing specific programs, can increase the commitment and wellbeing of professionals generating benefits to workers and to their patients.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-8129-7 |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
María del Carmen Pérez-Fuentes José Jesús Gázquez Linares María del Mar Molero Jurado María del Mar Simón Márquez África Martos Martínez |
spellingShingle |
María del Carmen Pérez-Fuentes José Jesús Gázquez Linares María del Mar Molero Jurado María del Mar Simón Márquez África Martos Martínez The mediating role of cognitive and affective empathy in the relationship of mindfulness with engagement in nursing BMC Public Health |
author_facet |
María del Carmen Pérez-Fuentes José Jesús Gázquez Linares María del Mar Molero Jurado María del Mar Simón Márquez África Martos Martínez |
author_sort |
María del Carmen Pérez-Fuentes |
title |
The mediating role of cognitive and affective empathy in the relationship of mindfulness with engagement in nursing |
title_short |
The mediating role of cognitive and affective empathy in the relationship of mindfulness with engagement in nursing |
title_full |
The mediating role of cognitive and affective empathy in the relationship of mindfulness with engagement in nursing |
title_fullStr |
The mediating role of cognitive and affective empathy in the relationship of mindfulness with engagement in nursing |
title_full_unstemmed |
The mediating role of cognitive and affective empathy in the relationship of mindfulness with engagement in nursing |
title_sort |
mediating role of cognitive and affective empathy in the relationship of mindfulness with engagement in nursing |
publisher |
BMC |
series |
BMC Public Health |
issn |
1471-2458 |
publishDate |
2020-01-01 |
description |
Abstract Background The work of health professionals is characterized by a high demand for psychological and emotional resources and high levels of stress. Therefore, the promotion of commitment and job well-being through strategies such as increased mindfulness, is important among nursing workers. Although mindfulness has shown positive effects in the health field, few studies have explored the mechanisms and processes underlying these results. We investigated the mediating role of empathy (cognitive/affective) in the effect of mindfulness on the dimensions of engagement in nursing professionals. Methods Sample was comprised of 1268 Spanish nurses between 22 and 62 years old, that completed the Utrecht Labor Engagement Scale and the adapted versions of Mindful Attention Awareness Scale and Basic Empathy Scale. The relationship between variables to be included in the regression analyses, bivariate correlations were carried out, and the descriptive statistics of these variables were also found. To estimate the mediation model was used, in this case for multiple mediation effects. Results Mindfulness is found to affect the Vigor and Dedication factors of engagement through cognitive empathy. While for the Absorption factor, the affective component of empathy also exerts a mediating role, although weaker than cognitive empathy. Cognitive empathy, as an individual factor, was shown to have a mediating effect between mindfulness and the factors of engagement in healthcare workers. Conclusions The level of mindfulness influences engagement of nursing professionals positively, and this result is mediated mainly by cognitive empathy. Both mindfulness and empathy are modifiable individual factors, so their intervention by designing and implementing specific programs, can increase the commitment and wellbeing of professionals generating benefits to workers and to their patients. |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-8129-7 |
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