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. 2021 Sep 13;18(18):9651.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph18189651.

The Role of Self-Compassion in the Job Demands-Resources Model, an Explorative Study among Crisis Line Volunteers

Renate Willems  1   2 , Constance Drossaert  2 , Peter Ten Klooster  2 , Harald Miedema  1 , Ernst Bohlmeijer  2
Affiliations

The Role of Self-Compassion in the Job Demands-Resources Model, an Explorative Study among Crisis Line Volunteers

Renate Willems et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

The job demands-resources (JD-R) model has hardly been studied in volunteer organizations and there is a scarcity of studies evaluating self-compassion as a personal resource within the JD-R model. The present study addresses these gaps in current knowledge, first by examining the applicability of the JD-R model in a crisis line volunteer organization. Second, self-compassion is examined, both in terms of its moderating role on the exhaustion process as well as its role on the motivation process. Structural equation modelling was used for the analyses. The influence on the organizational outcome 'compassion towards others' was examined using a multiple regression analysis. The results showed that the JD-R model has an acceptable fit on this sample and supports the central assumption that exhaustion and motivation are two independent but related processes. This study provides evidence that self-compassion is a valuable addition to the JD-R model, as it has an indirect effect on both processes, and increases the explained variance in compassion towards others by 7% through the exhaustion process and by 3% through the motivational process. These findings point to the importance of focusing on self-compassion in training and supervision in volunteer organizations.

Keywords: crisis line; job demands-resources model; personal resources; self-compassion; volunteering.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The job demands-resources model in crisis line volunteers.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Plots of the interaction between work-related demands (WR demands) and self-compassion (and subscales) in predicting distress. (a) self-compassion as moderator; (b) Recognizing suffering as moderator; (c) Feeling suffering as moderator; (d) Tolerating feelings as moderator; (e) Action to alleviate suffering.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Plots of the interaction between emotional strain and self-compassion (and subscales) in predicting distress. (a) self-compassion as moderator; (b) Recognizing suffering as moderator; (c): Feeling suffering as moderator; (d) Tolerating feelings as moderator; (e) Action to alleviate suffering.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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