Narcissus, exhausted: Self-compassion mediates the relationship between narcissism and school burnout

The relationship between the Dark Triad and academic burnout mediated by perfectionistic self-presentation

Individuals with dark personality traits are more prone to burnout, but this was not yet investigated in academia. Perfectionistic self-presentation (PSPS), an interpersonal expression of perfectionism, could be an explaining factor. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between the dark triad (Machiavellianism, vulnerable and grandiose narcissism, and psychopathy) and academic burnout, and whether the PSPS total score and its dimensions (perfectionistic self-promotion, nondisplay of imperfection, and nondisclosure of imperfection) mediates this. We expected that higher dark triad traits would be associated with higher academic burnout and that this would be explained by higher PSPS. Hypotheses included expectations for each PSPS dimension as well. Questionnaires were completed by 304 bachelor/master students (Mage = 22.81 years). Mediations were performed for each dark triad trait with total PSPS and each of its dimensions separately as mediator, and academic burnout as dependent variable. Total PSPS and almost all of its dimensions positively and significantly mediated the relation between Machiavellianism as well as psychopathy and academic burnout (small effect sizes). In contrast, only the PSPS dimension nondisplay of imperfection was a significant, positive mediator of the relation between grandiose narcissism and academic burnout (medium effect size). The other mediations with grandiose or vulnerable narcissism were non-significant. Future research should investigate this further, for instance by using the standard dark triad scales. Finally, this study offers insights for interventions and prevention of academic burnout by highlighting the unique impact of each dark triad trait. For example, those high on Machiavellianism may benefit from tools to deal with cynicism and perfectionism, ultimately lowering the risk for academic burnout.

Neural rhythms of narcissism: Facets of narcissism are associated with different neural sources in resting-state EEG

Trait narcissism is characterized by significant heterogeneity across individuals. Despite advances in the conceptualization of narcissism, including the increasing recognition that narcissism is a multidimensional construct, the sources of this heterogeneity remain poorly understood. Here, we used a neural trait approach to help better understand "how," and shed light on "why," individuals vary in facets of trait narcissism. Participants (N = 58) first completed personality measures, including the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI), and then in a second session sat passively while resting-state electroencephalography (rs-EEG) was recorded. We then regressed source-localized rs-EEG activity on the distinct facets of narcissism: Grandiose Exhibitionism (GE), Entitlement/Exploitativeness (EE), and Leadership/Authority (LA). Results revealed that each facet was associated with different (though sometimes overlapping) neural sources. Specifically, GE was associated with reduced activation in the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (DMPFC). EE was associated with reduced activation in the DMPFC and right lateral PFC. LA was associated with increased activation in the left anterior temporal cortex. These findings support the idea that trait narcissism is a multidimensional construct undergirded by individual differences in neural regions related to social cognition (the DMPFC), self-regulation (right lateral PFC), and self-referential processing (left anterior temporal cortex).

Longitudinal associations between capacity to be alone, life satisfaction, self-compassion, anxiety, and depression among Chinese college students

Although the world has entered the post-pandemic period, the mental health and life satisfaction of college students still need to be addressed. However, previous literature has primarily focused on negative variables and has paid little attention to positive variables, such as self-compassion and the capacity to be alone. Therefore, this longitudinal study aims to investigate the relationships between the capacity to be alone, self-compassion, life satisfaction, depression, and anxiety among college students. This study analyzed data from 1460 Chinese college students who completed an online survey at two time-points one year apart. We employed cross-lagged analysis and constructed longitudinal mediation models to explore the relationships between five variables (i.e., capacity to be alone, self-compassion, life satisfaction, depression, and anxiety). Our findings indicate that depression and life satisfaction could negatively predict each other over time. Self-compassion in wave 1 could negatively predict depression and anxiety in wave 2. Higher life satisfaction in wave 1 was associated with a lower capacity to be alone in wave 2. We also found reciprocal positive predictive relationships between depression and anxiety, and life satisfaction and self-compassion. Life satisfaction mediated the relationship between self-compassion and psychopathological variables (i.e., depression and anxiety). Additionally, self-compassion mediated the association between life satisfaction and psychopathological variables and the association between capacity to be alone and psychopathological variables. Our study highlights the significance of early identification and intervention in depression and anxiety. We also discovered the possible self-soothing function of self-compassion as well as the importance of fostering positive personal characteristics.

The association between maternal parenting perceived by early childhood teachers and burnout: the mediating effect of self-compassion and teacher efficacy

Given the increasing importance of early childhood teachers, this study aims to identify whether past maternal parenting is related to burnout through the double mediation of teacher self-compassion and teacher efficacy, using model comparison. To this end, a survey was conducted with 329 early childhood teachers in Korea. The positive maternal parenting perceived by teachers was negatively related to burnout through teachers' self-compassion and efficacy. Positive maternal parenting reduced burnout by increasing self-compassion and consequently teacher efficacy. Teachers' self-compassion was more closely related to burnout than teacher efficacy, which was treated as an important variable in relation to teachers. These results suggest that early childhood teachers' self-compassion is a significant variable in relation to burnout and suggestions are provided for specific support programs to promote teacher self-compassion.

Structural impairment and conflict load as vulnerability factors for burnout - A cross-sectional study from the German working population

Introduction

Individual vulnerability and resilience factors are increasingly studied in burnout research. This is especially true for clinical variables that translate directly into intervention programs from a psychodynamic perspective. For example, few studies have examined the relationship between structural impairment and the individual spectrum of motivational conflicts according to the Operationalized Psychodynamic Diagnosis system (OPD) in relation to burnout. To substantiate previous findings, we hypothesized that structural impairment as well as motivational conflicts are related to burnout, but that structural impairment explained additional variance and mediated a possible relationship between conflicts and burnout.

Method

The present cross-sectional study was carried out on a sample of the German working population (N = 545). Questionnaires were used to measure structural impairment (OPD-SQS), the conflict-modes along with the category K0 (OPD-CQ), as well as burnout (BOSS-I/-II).

Results

Structural impairment, a number of conflict modes, and burnout were significantly associated. Moreover, structural impairment explained additional variance in burnout. The requirements for the conflict-specific mediation models were given for 9 of the 12 OPD conflict modes. In these models the impact of the conflict modes on burnout was mediated by structural impairment.

Discussion

The current study broadens the comprehension of the relations between structural impairment, the conflict modes and burnout. In addition it higlights the role of structural impairment in predicting burnout risk and possible prevention approaches.

When Do Narcissists Burn Out? The Bright and Dark Side of Narcissism in Surgeons

This study addresses narcissism as an important psychological factor for the prediction of burnout. Previous research has produced inconsistent findings on whether narcissism is beneficial or detrimental to the development of burnout which is due to the fact that narcissism is viewed as an overall construct rather than on a dimensional level. This study applied a two-dimensional approach to narcissism in burnout. Three hundred-fifty-two surgeons from Germany were asked to complete the Maslach Burnout Inventory and the Narcissistic Admiration and Rivalry Questionnaire. Linear regression analyses revealed that high scores in admiration predicted high personal fulfillment, low emotional exhaustion, and depersonalization. For rivalry, the opposite picture emerged. The results indicate that admiration seems to have a protecting effect, whereas rivalry appears to promote burnout severity.

Narcissistic traits and compassion: Embracing oneself while devoiding others

Grandiose narcissistic traits refer to exploitative and arrogant attitudes, while vulnerable narcissistic traits entail hypersensitivity to judgment and low self-esteem. Little is known about how individuals with narcissistic traits can improve their attitudes toward themselves and others. The current research puts self- and other compassion forward as possible targets to alleviate some of destructive patterns of narcissism. Generally, self-compassion (SC) has previously been associated with beneficial effects on psychological wellbeing, while other compassion (OC) is advantageous for interpersonal relationships. This study explored the relationship between narcissistic traits and the efficacy of experimental compassion inductions. Student and community participants (N = 230, M age = 27.41, 65.2% female) completed grandiose and vulnerable narcissistic trait, SC and OC state questionnaires, and either an SC or OC induction. It was expected that individuals with higher narcissistic traits (particularly grandiose traits) would benefit from the inductions and show higher SC after but would have greater difficulty showing meaningful increases in OC (especially OC directed at the general population). The results indicated that individual differences in grandiose and vulnerable narcissistic traits are related to the magnitude of improvements following the inductions: the theorized lack of SC in individuals with vulnerable oversensitivity to judgment traits seems possible to be counteracted through different types of compassion exercises. Moreover, higher grandiose exploitativeness-entitlement and global vulnerable narcissistic traits related to less increases than others. However, directly inducing OC in individuals with these traits was linked to greater OC improvements than improvements after inducing SC. Overall, the present findings suggest that self-compassionate behavior can be improved in individuals with high oversensitivity and that other compassionate behavior could potentially be increased if, specifically, other compassion exercises are utilized when higher levels of certain narcissistic traits are present.

The Protective Role of Self-Compassion in the Relationship between Perfectionism and Burnout in Portuguese Medicine and Dentistry Students

Recent studies have documented the high prevalence of burnout among medicine and dentistry students, with potentially catastrophic consequences for both students and patients. Both environmental and personality factors play a part in burnout; perfectionism, a common trait in medicine students' personalities, has been linked to psychological distress and increasing students' vulnerability to burnout. Self-compassion, i.e., treating oneself kindly through hardship, has recently emerged as a buffer between perfectionism and psychological distress. While using a novel three-factor conceptualization of perfectionism (BIG3), this study aims to analyze if self-compassion has a protective role in the relationship between perfectionism and burnout, in a sample of medicine and dentistry students, through mediation analysis. We found that self-compassion significantly mediated the relationship between all three forms of perfectionism and burnout: as a partial mediator in self-critical and rigid perfectionism, as well as a full mediator in narcissistic perfectionism. Our findings underline self-compassion's relevance in burnout prevention and management, supporting its use as an intervention target in burnout reduction programs and strategies.

Resilience as a mediator between compassion fatigue, nurses' work outcomes, and quality of care during the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

Nurses in the frontline of the battle against COVID-19 are highly vulnerable to compassion fatigue (CF), which may affect their mental health, work effectiveness, and patient safety outcomes. However, no studies have investigated nurses' CF in relation to job outcomes and care quality during the pandemic.

AIMS

This study aims to examine the mediating role of resilience in the relationship between CF and frontline nurses' job outcomes (job satisfaction and turnover intention) and care quality.

DESIGN

An online, cross-sectional survey containing five self-report scales was used to collect data from 270 frontline nurses in selected hospitals in the Philippines.

RESULTS

Overall, 38.5% of frontline nurses experienced medium to high CF during the second wave of the pandemic. Increased CF was associated with poorer nurse-reported quality of care (β = -0.145, p = 0.019), lower job satisfaction (β = -0.317, p = 0.001), and higher organizational turnover intention (β = 0.301, p = 0.001). Moreover, resilience fully mediated the relationship between CF and quality of care (β = -0.088, p = 0.169), and partially mediated the relationship between CF and job satisfaction (β = -0.259, p = 0.001), and CF fatigue and organizational turnover intention (β = 0.272, p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Frontline nurses are at risk of developing CF during the pandemic. Psychological resilience reduces the negative impact of CF on frontline nurses' job satisfaction, turnover intention, and the quality of care in their assigned unit. Proactive measures to reduce CF should be prioritized by nursing administrators. Resilience-promoting interventions could foster job satisfaction and retention in nurses and, hence, the quality of care delivered in their units.

The Relationship Between the Dark Triad Personality Traits, Motivation at Work, and Burnout Among HR Recruitment Workers

We focus on the Dark Triad personality traits (Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy) and their relationships to the mechanisms of motivation and level of burnout that people experience at work. From the motivational perspective, the needs associated with the Dark Triad traits might be satisfied in work environments by selecting different goals or motives. Moreover, the selection of different goals and motives may be related to the level of burnout syndrome that some people develop. We use the Short Dark Triad Personality Test, Barbuto’s Motivation Sources Inventory, and Oldenburg Burnout Inventory to measure triad traits, preferred work motives, and level of burnout, respectively. The results show that in general, some part of the relationship between the Dark Triad traits and burnout is mediated by the motivational sources. As expected, the Dark Triad traits are more closely related to external sources of motivation (especially instrumental motivation), which are in turn partly associated with higher levels of burnout. The results also suggest that the trajectory of the relationship between the Dark Triad traits and burnout via motivation sources is different from expected, presenting a background for discussion.