Professionalization of empathy and predictors of helping professionals' burnout

Abstract

The article presents the results of a study of empathy in connection with the severity of symptoms of burnout among nurses. To assess empathy we used Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) by M. Davis, to measure burnout level - Maslach Burnout Test (MBT). As a result of the regression analysis of the data, the main hypothesis of the study was confirmed: it is the level of personal distress as a phenomenon of empathy dysregulation that contributes to the development of symptoms of helping professionals' burnout. “Positive” empathic processes (perspective taking, fantasy and empathic concern) could serve as a means of burnout prevention. Personal distress is seen in its relationship with alexithymia (measured by Toronto Alexithymia Scale TAS-20-R) and psychological mindedness (propensity to psychological thinking, measured by Psychological Mindedness Scale by H. Conte) as the characteristics that reflect emotional regulation and coping strategies. The work experience of nurses did not act as a predictor of burnout indicators.