An analysis of the mediating effect of self-compassion on perceived stress and prosocial behavior among Intensive care unit nurses

Objective: To explore the relationship among perceived stress, prosocial behavior and self-compassion of ICU nurses. Methods: A total of 425 nurses from three grade A hospitals in Hunan Province were investigated with Chinese Perceived Stress Scale (CPSS), Prosocial Tendencies Measurement Scale (PTM) and The Self-compassion Scale(SCS). Results: Prosocial behavior and perceived stress was negatively correlated (r=-0.365, P=0.032), and a positive correlation with self-compassion (r=0.258, P<; 0.001), and a negative correlation between perceived stress and self-compassion (r= -0.457, P= 0.025). The mediating effect between perceived stress and prosocial behavior was ab =0.366× 0.512=0.188, accounting for 44.87% of the total effect. Conclusion: Self compassion plays a mediating role between perceived stress and prosocial behavior, and is an important variable influencing prosocial behavior of nurses. Therefore, nursing managers should take active intervention measures to improve the self-compassion level of ICU nurses, reduce their perceived pressure, and then improve the level of prosocial behavior.