Mindful Self-Care, Self-Compassion, and Resilience Among Palliative Care Providers During the COVID-19 Pandemic

J Pain Symptom Manage. 2022 Jul;64(1):49-57. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2022.03.003. Epub 2022 Mar 12.

Abstract

Context: Given the adverse impact of COVID-19 on the wellbeing of palliative care providers, there is a growing need to better understand protective variables, such as self-care, mindfulness and self-compassion, as they relate to resilience.

Objective: To investigate mindful self-care, self-compassion, and resilience as reported by palliative care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Descriptive, cross-sectional survey. An electronic questionnaire captured data from validated instruments measuring each study variable, as well as participant demographics and perceived impacts of COVID-19 on professional quality of life.

Results: Positive, statistically significant correlations were found between mindful self-care, self-compassion, and resilience. These variables were also associated with greater satisfaction with professional life and perceived lessened impairment in physical and/or mental health due to a decrease in self-care activities stemming from altered routines during COVID-19. Those with higher resilience had worked in palliative care longer and also reported higher levels of self-compassion and mindful self-care, explaining 50% of variance. Self-compassion, satisfaction with professional life, and changes in self-care routine due to professional activities in the pandemic explained 44.3% of variance in mindful self-care. Self-compassion, female gender, and working as a frontline responder to the COVID-19 pandemic accounted for 35% variance in resilience levels.

Conclusions: Results from this study extend the currently limited knowledge of self-care, mindfulness and self-compassion, as protective variables related to resilience in palliative care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Further longitudinal studies into causal effects on health and wellbeing over time are needed.

Keywords: COVID-19; Mindfulness; Palliative care; Resilience; Self-care; Self-compassion.

MeSH terms

  • Burnout, Professional* / psychology
  • COVID-19*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Empathy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mindfulness* / methods
  • Palliative Care / psychology
  • Pandemics
  • Quality of Life
  • Self Care / methods
  • Self-Compassion