Compassionate self-care for nurses and midwives: A sequential explanatory mixed methods study
Background Awareness of being kind and compassionate to yourself is often overlooked despite emerging evidence that high levels of self-compassion decrease levels of anxiety and improves well-being. Aim To explore what being compassionate to yourself means to nurses and midwives and increase knowled...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025
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| Online Access: | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0897189725000886 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/98120 |
| _version_ | 1848766365355212800 |
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| author | Steen, Mary Othman, Shwikar Fereday, Jennifer Briley, Annette Xu, Qunyan Vernon, Rachael |
| author_facet | Steen, Mary Othman, Shwikar Fereday, Jennifer Briley, Annette Xu, Qunyan Vernon, Rachael |
| author_sort | Steen, Mary |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Background
Awareness of being kind and compassionate to yourself is often overlooked despite emerging evidence that high levels of self-compassion decrease levels of anxiety and improves well-being.
Aim
To explore what being compassionate to yourself means to nurses and midwives and increase knowledge and understanding of how self-compassion may enhance well-being.
Methods
Mixed methods study design was utilised to investigate and explore the influence of self-compassion on nurses and midwives' well-being. Phase 1 involved quantitative data collection and analysis. Phase 2 qualitative data were collected to expand on quantitative results.
Results
Fifty-four participants responded to a pre-workshop questionnaire, 55 completed immediate post-questionnaire, 28 completed a follow-up questionnaire six-eight weeks later. Five participants were interviewed to gain more insights of their experiences. Quantitative results showed significant increase in self-compassion scores immediately post-workshop, with an estimated improvement of 0.26 points (95 % CI: 0.14, 0.38, P < 0.001). Participants' anxiety significantly decreased by 0.5 units (95 % CI: −0.64, −0.36, P < 0.001). Mood changes were not statistically significant. Reflexive thematic analysis of qualitative data provided further insight into these changes resulting in three key themes: (1) “Awareness of self-compassion was the first step”, (2) “Care for yourself, before caring for others” (3) “Self-compassion strategies with everyday living activities”.
Conclusions
Self-compassion education can enhance nurses' and midwives' knowledge and understanding. Education can increase self-compassion strategies and skills to reduce anxiety levels. However, qualitative data confirmed the need for sustained reinforcement of self-compassion practices. Further research is recommended to confirm these initial findings and explore long-term impacts. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:49:59Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-98120 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:49:59Z |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-981202025-07-18T10:20:40Z Compassionate self-care for nurses and midwives: A sequential explanatory mixed methods study Steen, Mary Othman, Shwikar Fereday, Jennifer Briley, Annette Xu, Qunyan Vernon, Rachael Background Awareness of being kind and compassionate to yourself is often overlooked despite emerging evidence that high levels of self-compassion decrease levels of anxiety and improves well-being. Aim To explore what being compassionate to yourself means to nurses and midwives and increase knowledge and understanding of how self-compassion may enhance well-being. Methods Mixed methods study design was utilised to investigate and explore the influence of self-compassion on nurses and midwives' well-being. Phase 1 involved quantitative data collection and analysis. Phase 2 qualitative data were collected to expand on quantitative results. Results Fifty-four participants responded to a pre-workshop questionnaire, 55 completed immediate post-questionnaire, 28 completed a follow-up questionnaire six-eight weeks later. Five participants were interviewed to gain more insights of their experiences. Quantitative results showed significant increase in self-compassion scores immediately post-workshop, with an estimated improvement of 0.26 points (95 % CI: 0.14, 0.38, P < 0.001). Participants' anxiety significantly decreased by 0.5 units (95 % CI: −0.64, −0.36, P < 0.001). Mood changes were not statistically significant. Reflexive thematic analysis of qualitative data provided further insight into these changes resulting in three key themes: (1) “Awareness of self-compassion was the first step”, (2) “Care for yourself, before caring for others” (3) “Self-compassion strategies with everyday living activities”. Conclusions Self-compassion education can enhance nurses' and midwives' knowledge and understanding. Education can increase self-compassion strategies and skills to reduce anxiety levels. However, qualitative data confirmed the need for sustained reinforcement of self-compassion practices. Further research is recommended to confirm these initial findings and explore long-term impacts. 2025 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/98120 10.1016/j.apnr.2025.151986 English https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0897189725000886 Elsevier unknown |
| spellingShingle | Steen, Mary Othman, Shwikar Fereday, Jennifer Briley, Annette Xu, Qunyan Vernon, Rachael Compassionate self-care for nurses and midwives: A sequential explanatory mixed methods study |
| title | Compassionate self-care for nurses and midwives: A sequential explanatory mixed methods study |
| title_full | Compassionate self-care for nurses and midwives: A sequential explanatory mixed methods study |
| title_fullStr | Compassionate self-care for nurses and midwives: A sequential explanatory mixed methods study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Compassionate self-care for nurses and midwives: A sequential explanatory mixed methods study |
| title_short | Compassionate self-care for nurses and midwives: A sequential explanatory mixed methods study |
| title_sort | compassionate self-care for nurses and midwives: a sequential explanatory mixed methods study |
| url | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0897189725000886 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/98120 |