Another missing link to burnout and job performance: The mediator role of work self compassion

Abstract

This study presented and tested a model of the impact of work self-compassion (WSC) on burnout and role based performance while controlling for stable personality traits. WSC is a new construct first developed and validated in a pilot study (N= 682) and found to be reliable, suggesting that it could be used for research purposes in work settings. WSC is comprised of Work Self- Kindness (WSK), Common Work Challenges (CWC) and Work Specific Mindfulness (WSM).

My dissertation study proposed employees who exhibit WSC experience less burnout and higher levels of role based performance. Specifically, the model proposed that (1) WSC would serve as a mediator between self-compassion (SC), a psychological constructed rooted in Buddhist traditions, such that WSC would be a strong unique negative contributor towards burnout (BO) and a strong unique positive contributor towards role based performance (RBP) and (2) the personality trait of Honesty-Humility (H) of HEXACO would be mediated by WSC such that WSC would be a strong unique negative contributor towards burnout and a strong unique positive contributor towards role based performance.

Correlational and multiple regression results supported the relationships in the model related to SC, WSC and RBP. The multiple regression findings on the relationships among SC, WSC and BO were not in line with the priori model despite promising bivariate correlations. Moreover, bootstrapping revealed partial mediation on the effects of SC on BO through WSC, but the effect was a positive rather than negative contributor towards burnout.

The model was successful in establishing correlational relationships between H, WSC, BO and RBP, but was not successful in predicting the relationships among H, WSC, BO and RBP when multiple regressions and bootstrapping of the indirect effects were performed.

These findings expand on what researchers currently know about compassion in management research. Implications of these results and future research are discussed.