Izvorni znanstveni članak
https://doi.org/10.24141/2/10/1/9
Psychological Capital and Empathy Among Nurses in Psychiatric Care
Mare Silić Kirhmajer
orcid.org/0000-0002-6457-0403
; Psychiatric Clinic Sveti Ivan Zagreb, Croatia
*
Majda Grah
orcid.org/0000-0003-4778-4108
; Psychiatric Clinic Sveti Ivan Zagreb, Croatia
* Dopisni autor.
Sažetak
Introduction. Psychological capital is a construct
within positive psychology that includes hope,
self-efficacy, resilience, and optimism. Empathy is a
complex neurobiological, psychological, and social
phenomenon. In nursing, empathy is viewed as a multidimensional, dynamic process that is co-created
between nurse and patient, dependent on a trusting
therapeutic relationship and directed toward the
other while remaining self-aware.
Aim. The aim of the research was to examine the
empathy and psychological capital of nurses and the
relationship between empathy and psychological
capital with length of service in the field of psychiatry
and completed psychotherapy education.
Methods. A quantitative, nonexperimental study
was conducted at the Psychiatric Clinic Sveti Ivan in
Zagreb, Croatia. The shortened psychological capital
questionnaire (PCQ 12), the Jefferson Scale of Empathy
for Healthcare Professionals (JSE-HP), and the sociodemographic
questionnaire were used to conduct
the assessment among a sample of 67 psychiatric
nurses.
Results. The study participants achieved a high
level of psychological capital on average (M = 4.80,
SD = 0.57) and moderate levels of empathy with relatively
higher variability (M = 102.36, SD = 17.14). No
statistically significant associations were identified
between either psychological capital or empathy and
years of psychiatric work experience or psychotherapy
education.
Conclusion. The study found that psychiatric nurses
demonstrated generally high levels of psychological
capital and moderate levels of empathy. No statistically
significant associations were identified between
these results and either length of work experience in
psychiatry or completed psychotherapy education. Future
research should explore additional personal and
professional variables that may relate to psychological
capital and empathy in this population.
Ključne riječi
empathy; health workforce; nurses; psychiatric nursing; work experience
Hrčak ID:
345884
URI
Datum izdavanja:
27.3.2026.
Posjeta: 178 *