Non-linear effects of self-compassion and negative psychological states on nurses’ work engagement

Abstract The state has formulated relevant policies to improve nurses’ work engagement, but the research on work engagement among clinical nurses and related factors is limited and mostly linear. This study used an online questionnaire to investigate responses from 3352 nurses from East, West, South...

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Main Authors: Hongjuan Chang, Rui Zeng, Qianqian Gao, Yu Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-02-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-88352-2
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author Hongjuan Chang
Rui Zeng
Qianqian Gao
Yu Zhang
author_facet Hongjuan Chang
Rui Zeng
Qianqian Gao
Yu Zhang
author_sort Hongjuan Chang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The state has formulated relevant policies to improve nurses’ work engagement, but the research on work engagement among clinical nurses and related factors is limited and mostly linear. This study used an online questionnaire to investigate responses from 3352 nurses from East, West, South, North, and Central China. Threshold and saturation effects analysis were used to explore the possible non-linear relationship between self-compassion, negative psychological states, and work engagement. When the self-compassion score was ≤ 92, the work engagement level increased by 0.223 points for every 1-point increase of the self-compassion score, and the difference was statistically significant (β = 0.223, P < 0.001). When the negative psychological states scores were ≤ 41 and ≥ 72, for every 1-point decrease in the negative states score, the level of work engagement decreased by 0.430 and 3.660 points, respectively, and the difference between them was statistically significant (β = − 0.430, − 3.660, P < 0.001). In particular, the threshold effect was the most significant after 72 points. This study reveals the non-linear relationships between self-compassion, negative psychological states, and work engagement among clinical nurses, and it suggests nursing managers should target interventions based on cut-off points to maximize the contribution of self-compassion and negative psychological states to work engagement.
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spelling doaj-art-85e54f33a43a438bae793aeb911c04b82025-02-09T12:32:21ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-02-0115111010.1038/s41598-025-88352-2Non-linear effects of self-compassion and negative psychological states on nurses’ work engagementHongjuan Chang0Rui Zeng1Qianqian Gao2Yu Zhang3School of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and TechnologySchool of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and TechnologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical UniversityHenan Provincial Chest HospitalAbstract The state has formulated relevant policies to improve nurses’ work engagement, but the research on work engagement among clinical nurses and related factors is limited and mostly linear. This study used an online questionnaire to investigate responses from 3352 nurses from East, West, South, North, and Central China. Threshold and saturation effects analysis were used to explore the possible non-linear relationship between self-compassion, negative psychological states, and work engagement. When the self-compassion score was ≤ 92, the work engagement level increased by 0.223 points for every 1-point increase of the self-compassion score, and the difference was statistically significant (β = 0.223, P < 0.001). When the negative psychological states scores were ≤ 41 and ≥ 72, for every 1-point decrease in the negative states score, the level of work engagement decreased by 0.430 and 3.660 points, respectively, and the difference between them was statistically significant (β = − 0.430, − 3.660, P < 0.001). In particular, the threshold effect was the most significant after 72 points. This study reveals the non-linear relationships between self-compassion, negative psychological states, and work engagement among clinical nurses, and it suggests nursing managers should target interventions based on cut-off points to maximize the contribution of self-compassion and negative psychological states to work engagement.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-88352-2Self-compassionNegative psychological statesWork engagementNon-linear effectsNurses
spellingShingle Hongjuan Chang
Rui Zeng
Qianqian Gao
Yu Zhang
Non-linear effects of self-compassion and negative psychological states on nurses’ work engagement
Scientific Reports
Self-compassion
Negative psychological states
Work engagement
Non-linear effects
Nurses
title Non-linear effects of self-compassion and negative psychological states on nurses’ work engagement
title_full Non-linear effects of self-compassion and negative psychological states on nurses’ work engagement
title_fullStr Non-linear effects of self-compassion and negative psychological states on nurses’ work engagement
title_full_unstemmed Non-linear effects of self-compassion and negative psychological states on nurses’ work engagement
title_short Non-linear effects of self-compassion and negative psychological states on nurses’ work engagement
title_sort non linear effects of self compassion and negative psychological states on nurses work engagement
topic Self-compassion
Negative psychological states
Work engagement
Non-linear effects
Nurses
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-88352-2
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