The relationship between compassion fatigue, engagement and decent work among nurses: a cross-sectional study
Abstract Background Nurses face significant professional challenges arising from global pandemics, inadequate welfare protection, and declining social status. In this context, the decent working conditions for nurses are not adequately safeguarded. This study examines decent work status among Chines...
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| Format: | Article |
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2025-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Nursing |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-02721-w |
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| author | Yaping Feng Sui Li Weilan Ma Yaqian Chen Jingxuan Zhang Hong Luo Bowen Xue |
| author_facet | Yaping Feng Sui Li Weilan Ma Yaqian Chen Jingxuan Zhang Hong Luo Bowen Xue |
| author_sort | Yaping Feng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Nurses face significant professional challenges arising from global pandemics, inadequate welfare protection, and declining social status. In this context, the decent working conditions for nurses are not adequately safeguarded. This study examines decent work status among Chinese nurses and its links work engagement, and compassion fatigue. Methods This study is a cross-sectional research. Through the method of convenience sampling, five reputable hospitals in Hangzhou, China, were selected, and a total of 838 nurses were surveyed. Data collection was conducted from April to May 2023. We employed a comprehensive set of assessment tools, including an evaluation of demographic characteristics, the Decent Work Perception Scale (DWPS), the Chinese version of the Compassion Fatigue Short Scale (C-CFSS), and the Gallup Q12 survey scale. Results The findings of this study demonstrated that compassion fatigue was significantly negatively correlated with both decent work (r = -0.482, p < 0.001) and engagement (r = -0.461, p < 0.001). Additionally, decent work was significantly positively correlated with engagement (r = 0.811, p < 0.001). Mediation analysis revealed that compassion fatigue had a direct negative effect on decent work (β = -0.05, p < 0.001), while engagement partially mediated the relationship between compassion fatigue and decent work (β = -0.14, p < 0.001). Conclusion This study found that compassion fatigue and engagement significantly influence nurses’ perception of decent work, with engagement mediating this relationship. Future research should explore these mechanisms further and develop interventions to enhance engagement and reduce compassion fatigue, improving nurses’ perception of decent work. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5d20db6e0b5d49b0933d686603243b62 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1472-6955 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Nursing |
| spelling | doaj-art-5d20db6e0b5d49b0933d686603243b622025-01-26T12:22:47ZengBMCBMC Nursing1472-69552025-01-012411810.1186/s12912-025-02721-wThe relationship between compassion fatigue, engagement and decent work among nurses: a cross-sectional studyYaping Feng0Sui Li1Weilan Ma2Yaqian Chen3Jingxuan Zhang4Hong Luo5Bowen Xue6Afliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal UniversityHangzhou Normal UniversityHangzhou Normal UniversityHangzhou Normal UniversityHangzhou Normal UniversityAfliated Mental Health Center & Hangzhou Seventh People’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of MedicineAfliated Mental Health Center & Hangzhou Seventh People’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of MedicineAbstract Background Nurses face significant professional challenges arising from global pandemics, inadequate welfare protection, and declining social status. In this context, the decent working conditions for nurses are not adequately safeguarded. This study examines decent work status among Chinese nurses and its links work engagement, and compassion fatigue. Methods This study is a cross-sectional research. Through the method of convenience sampling, five reputable hospitals in Hangzhou, China, were selected, and a total of 838 nurses were surveyed. Data collection was conducted from April to May 2023. We employed a comprehensive set of assessment tools, including an evaluation of demographic characteristics, the Decent Work Perception Scale (DWPS), the Chinese version of the Compassion Fatigue Short Scale (C-CFSS), and the Gallup Q12 survey scale. Results The findings of this study demonstrated that compassion fatigue was significantly negatively correlated with both decent work (r = -0.482, p < 0.001) and engagement (r = -0.461, p < 0.001). Additionally, decent work was significantly positively correlated with engagement (r = 0.811, p < 0.001). Mediation analysis revealed that compassion fatigue had a direct negative effect on decent work (β = -0.05, p < 0.001), while engagement partially mediated the relationship between compassion fatigue and decent work (β = -0.14, p < 0.001). Conclusion This study found that compassion fatigue and engagement significantly influence nurses’ perception of decent work, with engagement mediating this relationship. Future research should explore these mechanisms further and develop interventions to enhance engagement and reduce compassion fatigue, improving nurses’ perception of decent work.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-02721-wNursesDecent workCompassion fatigueEngagement |
| spellingShingle | Yaping Feng Sui Li Weilan Ma Yaqian Chen Jingxuan Zhang Hong Luo Bowen Xue The relationship between compassion fatigue, engagement and decent work among nurses: a cross-sectional study BMC Nursing Nurses Decent work Compassion fatigue Engagement |
| title | The relationship between compassion fatigue, engagement and decent work among nurses: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full | The relationship between compassion fatigue, engagement and decent work among nurses: a cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | The relationship between compassion fatigue, engagement and decent work among nurses: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The relationship between compassion fatigue, engagement and decent work among nurses: a cross-sectional study |
| title_short | The relationship between compassion fatigue, engagement and decent work among nurses: a cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | relationship between compassion fatigue engagement and decent work among nurses a cross sectional study |
| topic | Nurses Decent work Compassion fatigue Engagement |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-02721-w |
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