Exploring the bidirectional relationship between job burnout and empathy in nurses: A longitudinal study

Objectives: This study explored the bidirectional relationship between job burnout and empathy among Chinese nurses. Methods: A nurse cohort was assessed longitudinally in 2020 (T1) and 2022 (T2). Participants completed the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI)-Human Services Survey and the Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Health Professionals. Results: Out of the 1090 nurses who participated in both assessments, 551 (50.6 %) exhibited job burnout. Nurses with no burnout, discontinued burnout, and newly developed burnout groups had higher levels of empathy than the persistent burnout group. There is a bidirectional negative association between empathy and job burnout, particularly in the depersonalization and low personal accomplishment. Notably, empathy did not predict the emotional exhaustion from burnout, but heightened emotional exhaustion predicted diminished empathy. Conclusion: The findings suggest a significant bidirectional negative association between empathy and job burnout, especially in depersonalization and low personal accomplishment. Notably, nurses without burnout, discontinued burnout, and newly developed burnout exhibited higher levels of empathy, emphasizing the potential impact of addressing and mitigating burnout on fostering empathetic behavior. Practice Implications: Interventions targeting both burnout and empathy are vital for nurses. Recognizing and addressing burnout can positively impact fostering empathetic behavior in nursing practice.