Association between self-assessed empathic skills, depressive symptoms and job satisfaction: A descriptive correlational study in Greek-speaking critical care nurses in Cyprus

Abstract

Background: Critical care nurses face occupational hazards impacting their psychological well-being, job satisfaction, and ability to perform clinical duties effectively, including fostering empathic relationships with healthcare users.

Aim: To assess in nurses employed in Emergency Departments, Cardiovascular Care, Intensive Care and Neonatal Intensive Care Units in the Republic of Cyprus: a) the degree of self-assessed depressive symptoms, job satisfaction, and empathic skills, and b) the relationship between these variables, and possible correlations with demographic characteristics.

Methods: A correlational, cross-sectional design was employed in 150 critical care nurses (RR: 39.68%). In 2018, a self-reported questionnaire captured socio-demographic and educational/vocational details, alongside measurement tools for depressive symptoms (CES-D), empathic skills (JES-HP), and work satisfaction (IWS-Part B) among participants.

Results: Mean scores for CES-D, IWS-Part B, and JES-HP were 14.4(±9.7), 184(±18.6), and 99(±14.7). respectively. Self-assessed depressive symptoms correlated negatively with job satisfaction (r=-0.296, p<0.001) and empathic skills (r=-0.270, p<0.001). Neonatal ICU nurses showed 5.7 points lower depressive symptoms than ED counterparts (b=-5.7, p=0.052). ICU nurses scored 10.4 points higher on IWS-Part B than ED nurses (b=10.39, p=0.015). Participants with 4-5 years of current work experience reported 12.7 points lower on IWS-Part B compared to <1 year (b=-12.7, p=0.042). Similarly, 10-13 years of experience correlated with 16.8 points lower empathic skills (b=-16.8, p=0.015).

Conclusion: The relationship between depressive symptoms, job satisfaction and empathic skills was confirmed but is required in-depth qualitative and quantitative exploration for informed longitudinal and interventional studies.