Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gbm5v Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T04:18:59.107Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Meaning of work and personal protective factors among palliative care professionals

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 March 2019

Beatriz Moreno-Milan ,
Antonio Cano-Vindel ,
Pedro Lopez-Dóriga ,
Leonardo Adrián Medrano  and
William Breitbart
Beatriz Moreno-Milan*
Affiliation:
Palliative Care Department, Fuenfria Hospital, Cercedilla, Madrid, Spain
Antonio Cano-Vindel
Affiliation:
Faculty of Psychology ComplutenseUniversity of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Pedro Lopez-Dóriga
Affiliation:
Department of Geriatrics, University Hospital of Getafe, Madrid, Spain
Leonardo Adrián Medrano
Affiliation:
Faculty of Psychology, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
William Breitbart
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York
*
Author for correspondence: Beatriz Moreno Milán, Department of Clinical & Health Psychology, Fuenfria Hospital, Carretera de las Dehesas, s/n, 28470 Cercedilla, Madrid, Spain. E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective

Healthcare professionals who work in palliative care units face stressful life events on a daily basis, most notably death. For this reason, these professionals must be equipped with the necessary protective resources to help them cope with professional and personal burnout. Despite the well-recognized importance of the construct “meaning of work,” the role of this construct and its relationship with other variables is not well-understood. Our objective is to develop and evaluate a model that examines the mediating role of the meaning of work in a multidisciplinary group of palliative care professionals. Using this model, we sought to assess the relationships between meaning of work, perceived stress, personal protective factors (optimism, self-esteem, life satisfaction, personal growth, subjective vitality), and sociodemographic variables.

Method

Professionals (n = 189) from a wide range of disciplines (physicians, psychologists, nurses, social workers, nursing assistants, physical therapists, and chaplains) working in palliative care units at hospitals in Madrid and the Balearic Islands were recruited. Sociodemographic variables were collected and recorded. The following questionnaires were administered: Meaning of Work Questionnaire, Perceived Stress Questionnaire, Life Orientation Test-Revised, Satisfaction with Life Scale, Subjective Vitality Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and the Personal Growth Scale.

Result

The explanatory value of the model was high, explaining 49.5% of the variance of life satisfaction, 43% of subjective vitality, and 36% of personal growth. The main findings of this study were as follow: (1) meaning of work and perceived stress were negatively correlated; (2) optimism and self-esteem mediated the effect of stress on the meaning attached to work among palliative care professionals; (3) the meaning of work mediated the effect of stress on subjective vitality, personal growth, and life satisfaction; and (4) vitality and personal growth directly influenced life satisfaction.

Significance of results

The proposed model showed a high explanatory value for the meaning professionals give to their work and also for perceived stress, personal protective factors, and sociodemographic variables. Our findings could have highly relevant practical implications for designing programs to promote the psychological well-being of healthcare professionals.

Keywords

Meaning of workOptimismPalliative carePerceived stressPersonal growthProfessionalsSatisfaction with lifeSelf-esteemSpiritualityVitality
Type
Original Article
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 17 , Issue 4 , August 2019 , pp. 381 - 387
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2019 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aguilar, CA and Huertas, LA (2015) Burnout y afrontamiento en los profesionales de salud en una unidad de cuidados paliativos oncológicos. Psicología y Salud 25(1), 73–81.Google Scholar
Applebaum, AJ, Kulikowski, JR, Breitbart, W (2015) Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy for Cancer Caregivers (MCP-C): Rationale and overview. Palliative and Supportive Care 13, 1631–1641.10.1017/S1478951515000450Google Scholar
Arnoux-Nicolas, C, Sovet, L, Lhotellier, L, et al. (2016) Perceived work conditions and turnover intentions: The mediating role of meaning of work. Frontiers in Psychology, 7, 704.Google Scholar
Atienza, F, Pons, D, Balaguer, I, et al. (2000). Propiedades psicométricas de la Escala de Satisfacción con la Vida en adolescentes. Psicothema 12, 314–319.Google Scholar
Back, A, Rushton, C, Kaszniak, A, et al. (2015) Why are we doing this? Journal of Palliative Medicine 18, 26–30.Google Scholar
Balaguer, I, Castillo, I, García-Merita, M, et al. (2005) Implications of structured extracurricular activities on adolescent's well-being and risk behaviours: Motivational mechanisms. Oral presentation at the 9th European Congress of Psychology; Granada, Spain.Google Scholar
Batista, JM and Coenders, G (2000) Modelos de ecuaciones estructurales. Madrid: La Muralla.Google Scholar
Bostic, TJ, Rubio, DM, Hood, M (2000) A validation of the subjective vitality scale using structural equation modeling. Social Indicators Research 52, 313–324.Google Scholar
Boston, P, Bruce, A, Schreiber, R (2011) Existential suffering in the palliative care setting: An integrated literature review. Journal Pain and Symptom Management 41(3), 604–618.Google Scholar
Breitbart, W (2017) Meaning-centered psychotherapy in the cancer setting. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Byrne, BM (2001) Structural equation modeling with AMOS, EQS, and LISREL: Comparative approaches to testing for the factorial validity of a measuring instrument. International Journal of Testing 1(1), 55–86.Google Scholar
Castellano, E, Cifré, E, Spontón, C, et al. (2013) Emociones positivas y negativas en la predicción del burnout y engagement en el trabajo. Revista Peruana de Psicología y Trabajo Social 2(1), 75–88.Google Scholar
Chalofsky, N and Krishna, V (2009) Meaningfulness, commitment, and engagement: The intersection of a deeper level of intrinsic motivation. Advances in Developing Human Resources 11(2), 189–203.10.1177/1523422309333147Google Scholar
Chan, WCH, Tin, AF, Wong, KL Y (2015) Coping with existential and emotional challenges: Development and validation of the self-competence in death work scale. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management 50(1), 99–107.Google Scholar
Chittenden, EH and Ritchie, CS (2011) Work-life balancing: challenges and strategies. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 14, 870–874.10.1089/jpm.2011.0095Google Scholar
Diener, E, Emmons, R, Larsen, RJ, et al. (1985) The Satisfaction with Life Scale. Journal of Personality Assessment 49, 71–75.Google Scholar
Eckersley, G and Taylor, C (2016) Do experienced physiotherapists working in palliative care services show resilience to stress, burnout and depression? Journal of Pain and Symptom Management 5 (6), 771–936.Google Scholar
Ferrando, PJ, Chico, E, Tous, JM (2002) Propiedades psicométricas del test de optimismo Life Orientation Test. Psicothema 14(3), 673–680.Google Scholar
Fillion, L, Duval, S, Dumont, S, et al. (2009) Impact of a meaning-centered intervention on job satisfaction and on quality of life among palliative care nurses. Psycho-Oncology 18(12), 1300–1310.Google Scholar
Frankl, VE (1969) The will to meaning. New York: New American Library.Google Scholar
Humphrey, SE, Nahrgang, JD, Morgeson, FP (2007) Integrating motivational, social, and contextual work design features: A meta-analytic summary and theoretical extension of the work design literature. Journal of Applied Psychology 92(5), 1332.Google Scholar
Jerusalem, M (1993) Personal resources, environmental constraints, and adaptational processes: The predictive power of a theoretical stress model. Personality and Individual Differences 14, 15–24.Google Scholar
Levenstein, S, Prantera, C, Varvo, V, et al. (1993) Development of the perceived stress questionnaire: A new tool for psychosomatic research. Journal of Psychosomatic Research 37(1), 19–32.Google Scholar
Llorens, S, García-Renedo, M, Salanova, M (2005) Burnout como consecuencia de una crisis de eficacia: un estudio longitudinal en profesores de secundaria. Revista de Psicología del Trabajo y de las Organizaciones 21(1–2).Google Scholar
Medrano, LA and Muñoz-Navarro, R (2017) Conceptual and practical approach to structural equations modeling. Revista Digital de Investigación en Docencia Universitaria 11(1), 213–233.Google Scholar
Martín-Albo, J, Núñiez, JL, Navarro, J, et al. (2007) The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale: Translation and validation in university students. The Spanish Journal of Psychology 10(2), 458–467.Google Scholar
Milaniak, I, Wilczek, E, Ruzycka, K, et al. (2016) Role of personal resources in depression and stress in heart transplant recipients. Transplantation Proceedings 48(5), 1761–1766.Google Scholar
Moretti, L and Medrano, L (2014) Estructura factorial del cuestionario de estrés percibido en la población universitaria, Evaluar 14(1), 67–83.Google Scholar
Moutão, J, Alves, S, Cid, L (2013) Traducción y validación de la Subjective Vitality Scale en una muestra de practicantes de ejercicio portugueses. Revista Latinoamericana de Psicologia 45(2), 223–230.10.14349/rlp.v45i2.842Google Scholar
Olson, K and Kemper, KJ (2014) Factors associated with well-being and confidence in providing compassionate care. Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine 19(4), 292–296.10.1177/2156587214539977Google Scholar
Otero, JM, Luengo, A, Romero, E, et al. (1998) Psicología de la Personalidad. Manual de prácticas. Barcelona: Ariel Practicum.Google Scholar
Ryan, R and Frederick, C (1997) On energy, personality, and health: Subjective vitality as a dynamic reflection of well-being. Journal of Personality 65(3), 529–565.10.1111/j.1467-6494.1997.tb00326.xGoogle Scholar
Ryff, CD and Singer, BH (2006) Best news yet on the six-factor model of well-being. Social Science Research 35(4), 1103–1119.Google Scholar
Shanafelt, T (2009) Enhancing meaning in work: A prescription for preventing physician burnout and promoting patient-centered care. JAMA 302(12), 1338–1340.10.1001/jama.2009.1385Google Scholar
Shanafelt, T, West, C, Zhao, X, et al. (2005) Relationship between increased personal well-being and enhanced empathy among internal medicine residents. Journal of General Internal Medicine 20(7), 559–564.Google Scholar
Sinclair, S (2011) Impact of death and dying on the personal lives and practices of palliative and hospice care professionals. Canadian Medical Association Journal 8(2), 180–187.Google Scholar
Steger, MF, Dik, BJ, Duffy, RD (2012) Measuring meaningful work: The work and meaning inventory (WAMI). Journal of Career Assessment 20(3), 322–337.Google Scholar
Tei, S, Becker, C, Sugihara, G, et al. (2015) Sense of meaning in work and risk of burnout among medical professionals. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences 69(2), 123–124.Google Scholar
Van Dierendonck, D, Abarca, A, Díaz, D, et al. (2006) Adaptación española de las escalas de bienestar psicológico de Ryff. Psicothema 18(3), 572–577.Google Scholar
Villa George, FI (2013) El Desgaste Profesional en Trabajadores Mexicanos de la Salud: El Papel de las Expectativas Laborales y el Significado del Trabajo. In Moreno, Jiménez B and Garrosa, Hernández E (eds), Salud laboral. Riesgos laborales psicosociales y bienestar laboral. Spain: Pirámide Ediciones.Google Scholar
Westaby, J, Versenyi, A, Hausmann, R (2005) Intentions to work during terminal illness: An exploratory study of antecedent conditions. Journal of Applied Psychology 90(6), 1297–1305.Google Scholar
Winefield, AH and Tiggemann, M (1990). Employment status and psychological well-being: A longitudinal study. Journal of Applied Psychology 75(4), 455–459.Google Scholar