Objectives

to analyze adult attachment styles, self-compassion, vocation, health care demands, caring satisfaction, job satisfaction and burnout on compassion satisfaction (CS) in healthcare professionals.

Method

An online questionnaire was answered by 480 assistentially active healthcare professionals. Variables collected were socio-demographic, work experience, burnout and compassion satisfaction (ProQoL Quality of Life Questionnaire), self-compassion (by Neff), and attachment styles (Relation Questionnaire). Correlations, mean differences, multiple linear regression (MLR) and qualitative analysis of the emotional description of the job were analyzed.

Results

79.6% (382) were women, age average of 44.6 (SD = 10.86). CS score resulted significantly (p < .001) higher than burnout. Model for CS explained 51.5% of the variability (corrected R 2 = .515); as predictor variables (p < .001), people caring satisfaction (Beta = .309), vocation (Beta = .184), self-kindness (Beta = .158) and burnout (Beta = .306).

Conclusions

people caring satisfaction, vocation, self-kindness and absence of burnout directly influence compassion satisfaction. It is also indirectly influenced by mindfulness capacity, feelings of common humanity, secure attachment style and work team satisfaction. These are also factors that prevent from burnout, and which are directly related to concerned and fearful attachment styles, lack of self-compassion, self-judgement, over-identification and isolation.