IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i5p2740-d759588.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Protective Role of Self-Compassion in the Relationship between Perfectionism and Burnout in Portuguese Medicine and Dentistry Students

Author

Listed:
  • Ana Telma Pereira

    (Institute of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal)

  • Maria João Brito

    (Institute of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal)

  • Carolina Cabaços

    (Institute of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal)

  • Mário Carneiro

    (Institute of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal)

  • Frederica Carvalho

    (Institute of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal)

  • Andreia Manão

    (Institute of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal)

  • Ana Araújo

    (Institute of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal)

  • Daniela Pereira

    (Institute of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal)

  • António Macedo

    (Institute of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal)

Abstract

Recent studies have documented the high prevalence of burnout among medicine and dentistry students, with potentially catastrophic consequences for both students and patients. Both environmental and personality factors play a part in burnout; perfectionism, a common trait in medicine students’ personalities, has been linked to psychological distress and increasing students’ vulnerability to burnout. Self-compassion, i.e., treating oneself kindly through hardship, has recently emerged as a buffer between perfectionism and psychological distress. While using a novel three-factor conceptualization of perfectionism (BIG3), this study aims to analyze if self-compassion has a protective role in the relationship between perfectionism and burnout, in a sample of medicine and dentistry students, through mediation analysis. We found that self-compassion significantly mediated the relationship between all three forms of perfectionism and burnout: as a partial mediator in self-critical and rigid perfectionism, as well as a full mediator in narcissistic perfectionism. Our findings underline self-compassion’s relevance in burnout prevention and management, supporting its use as an intervention target in burnout reduction programs and strategies.

Suggested Citation

  • Ana Telma Pereira & Maria João Brito & Carolina Cabaços & Mário Carneiro & Frederica Carvalho & Andreia Manão & Ana Araújo & Daniela Pereira & António Macedo, 2022. "The Protective Role of Self-Compassion in the Relationship between Perfectionism and Burnout in Portuguese Medicine and Dentistry Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-14, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:5:p:2740-:d:759588
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/5/2740/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/5/2740/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Isabel Lasheras & Patricia Gracia-García & Darren M. Lipnicki & Juan Bueno-Notivol & Raúl López-Antón & Concepción de la Cámara & Antonio Lobo & Javier Santabárbara, 2020. "Prevalence of Anxiety in Medical Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Rapid Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-12, September.
    2. Beauregard, T. Alexandra, 2006. "Predicting interference between work and home : a comparison of dispositional and situational antecedents," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 892, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    3. Walburg, Vera, 2014. "Burnout among high school students: A literature review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 28-33.
    4. Panagiotis Zis & Artemios Artemiadis & Panagiotis Bargiotas & Antonios Nteveros & Georgios M. Hadjigeorgiou, 2021. "Medical Studies during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Impact of Digital Learning on Medical Students’ Burnout and Mental Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-8, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ke Ran Tee & Abdul Samat Ismail & Yong Heng Ang & Hidayah Husna Hishamuddin & Vinneeshah Jacob Paul & Azimatun Noor Aizuddin & Ida Zarina Zaini, 2022. "Prevalence of Anxiety and Burnout, and Coping Mechanisms among Clinical Year Medical Undergraduate Students in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-14, October.
    2. Arndt Büssing & Michaela Zupanic & Jan P. Ehlers & Angelika Taetz-Harrer, 2022. "Mental Stress in Medical Students during the Pandemic and Their Relation to Digital and Hybrid Semester—Cross-Sectional Data from Three Recruitment Waves in Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-18, September.
    3. Caterina Fiorilli & Daniela Barni & Claudia Russo & Vanessa Marchetti & Giacomo Angelini & Luciano Romano, 2022. "Students’ Burnout at University: The Role of Gender and Worker Status," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-15, September.
    4. Luciano Romano & Giacomo Angelini & Piermarco Consiglio & Caterina Fiorilli, 2021. "The Effect of Students’ Perception of Teachers’ Emotional Support on School Burnout Dimensions: Longitudinal Findings," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-7, February.
    5. Khalil ur Rahman & Tariq Anwar Khan & Kiramat Ullah, 2019. "Role Conflict, Marital Quality and Career Satisfaction: A Demographic Analysis of Dual Career Couples in Peshawar, Pakistan," Global Regional Review, Humanity Only, vol. 4(3), pages 195-205, September.
    6. Bentham Liang Sen Teh & Jin Kiat Ang & Eugene Boon Yau Koh & Nicholas Tze Ping Pang, 2023. "Psychological Resilience and Coping Strategies with Anxiety among Malaysian Medical Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-16, January.
    7. Emilijus Žilinskas & Giedrė Žulpaitė & Kristijonas Puteikis & Rima Viliūnienė, 2021. "Mental Health among Higher Education Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey from Lithuania," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-14, December.
    8. Szymon Szemik & Maksymilian Gajda & Aleksandra Gładyś & Małgorzata Kowalska, 2022. "The Association between COVID-19 Pandemic and the Quality of Life of Medical Students in Silesian Voivodeship, Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-14, September.
    9. Anne Theurel & Arnaud Witt & Rebecca Shankland, 2022. "Promoting University Students’ Mental Health through an Online Multicomponent Intervention during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-15, August.
    10. Natalia A. Woropay-Hordziejewicz & Aleksandra Buźniak & Rafał Lawendowski & Paweł A. Atroszko, 2022. "Compulsive Study Behaviors Are Associated with Eating Disorders and Have Independent Negative Effects on Well-Being: A Structural Equation Model Study among Young Musicians," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-19, July.
    11. Katharina Rathmann & Katharina Loter & Theres Vockert, 2020. "Critical Events throughout the Educational Career: The Effect of Grade Retention and Repetition on School-Aged Children’s Well-Being," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-30, June.
    12. Kacper Nijakowski & Anna Lehmann & Jakub Zdrojewski & Monika Nowak & Anna Surdacka, 2021. "The Effectiveness of the Blended Learning in Conservative Dentistry with Endodontics on the Basis of the Survey among 4th-Year Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-15, April.
    13. Adame-Sánchez, Consolación & González-Cruz, Tomás F. & Martínez-Fuentes, Clara, 2016. "Do firms implement work–life balance policies to benefit their workers or themselves?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(11), pages 5519-5523.
    14. Telmo Raul Aveiro-Róbalo & Luciana Daniela Garlisi-Torales & Marisella Chumán-Sánchez & César J. Pereira-Victorio & Mariana Huaman-Garcia & Virgilio E. Failoc-Rojas & Mario J. Valladares-Garrido, 2022. "Prevalence and Associated Factors of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in University Students in Paraguay during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-14, October.
    15. Kaiting Zhang & Yixiang Peng & Xiaowei Zhang & Liping Li, 2021. "Psychological Burden and Experiences Following Exposure to COVID-19: A Qualitative and Quantitative Study of Chinese Medical Student Volunteers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-13, April.
    16. Sharma, Anupam Joya & Subramanyam, Malavika Ambale, 2020. "Psychological responses to reservation-based discrimination: A qualitative study of socially marginalized youth at a premier Indian university," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    17. Clive Malietso Mukanzi & Thomas Anyanje Senaji, 2017. "Work–Family Conflict and Employee Commitment: The Moderating Effect of Perceived Managerial Support," SAGE Open, , vol. 7(3), pages 21582440177, August.
    18. María Giner-Murillo & Beatriz Atienza-Carbonell & Jose Cervera-Martínez & Teresa Bobes-Bascarán & Benedicto Crespo-Facorro & Raquel B. De Boni & Cristina Esteban & María Paz García-Portilla & Susana G, 2021. "Lifestyle in Undergraduate Students and Demographically Matched Controls during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Spain," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-17, July.
    19. Liliana Dumitrache & Elena Stănculescu & Mariana Nae & Daniela Dumbrăveanu & Gabriel Simion & Ana Maria Taloș & Alina Mareci, 2021. "Post-Lockdown Effects on Students’ Mental Health in Romania: Perceived Stress, Missing Daily Social Interactions, and Boredom Proneness," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-17, August.
    20. Ani Emilia Cernea-Radu, 2023. "The Relationship between Burnout and School Satisfaction Based on the Student’s Age," Research & Education, Weik Press SRL, issue 8, pages 77-96, July.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:5:p:2740-:d:759588. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.