Examining burnout and job satisfaction in a university context: Does self-compassion matter?

Abstract

Given that one-third of our adult lives are spent at work (Statistics Canada, 2011), being satisfied with one’s job has a profound impact on both institutions and individuals. Research highlights that stress and burnout (i.e., emotional exhaustion) are robust predictors of decreased job satisfaction. The purpose of the present study was to examine the role of self-compassion with these constructs. In the present study, 102 university personnel ranging in age from 23 to 65 years (M = 45.66, SD = 11.68) completed an online survey to indicate their degree of stress, burnout, job satisfaction, and self-compassion. Using multiple regression analyses, I first replicated past research and showed that increased stress was related to lower job satisfaction, in part because of its relationship with burnout. Building on past research, results also showed that selfcompassion was associated with low stress which, in turn, was associated with lower burnout. Although self-compassion was not directly related to job satisfaction, the results highlight the need for researchers to examine the role of self-compassion in populations beyond the healthcare sector. In addition to replicating the present findings, future research should use a longitudinal approach, potentially involving selfcompassion interventions, to further support the relationships uncovered here.