Clinical empathy, barriers to compassion and flourishing in physicians

Differences between professional subgroups and association pathways

Abstract

The present study aimed to analyse the direct and indirect effects, via barriers to compassion, of clinical empathy on flourishing in physicians. A sample of 102 Portuguese physicians completed an online survey, which included self-report instruments assessing clinical empathy, barriers to compassion, and flourishing. Direct and indirect effects were analyzed using PROCESS statistical tool. Moderate to large differences were found for barriers to compassion and flourishing regarding physicians’ sex. Clinical empathy was moderately and positively correlated with flourishing and moderately and negatively correlated with barriers to compassion. The association between clinical empathy and flourishing was mediated by barriers to compassion (β = .13, 95% CI [.03, .25], R2 = .22). The results suggest that higher levels of physicians’ clinical empathy may lead to higher levels of flourishing, through the perception of fewer barriers to compassion in clinical practice. The creation and implementation of intervention programs designed to foster the development of clinical empathy skills, while envisioning greater flexibility of barriers to compassion, might increase positive mental health in medical professionals.