Relationship Between Perfectionism And Self-Forgiveness: Mediating Role Of Self-Compassion Among Health Care Professionals

Abstract

Health Care Professionals strive for perfectionism due to nature of their work, as minor mistakes can have serious complications in patient health and well-being. Literature review showed a gap in quantitative research on relation between subtypes of perfectionism, self-forgiveness and self-compassion, specially among health care professionals. The purpose of present study was to identify the relationship between self-compassion, perfectionism subtypes (self-oriented perfectionism and socially prescribed perfectionism) and self- forgiveness, and to investigate the mediating role of self-compassion in the relationship between perfectionism and self-forgiveness among health care professionals. Sample (N = 600) health care professionals, out of which (N=300) were males and (N=300) were females, were selected through purposive sampling. Age range of participants was 23-40 years. Self- Compassion Scale (Raes et al., 2011), Heartland Self-Forgiveness scale (Thompson et al., 2005), and Multidimensional Perfectionism scale (Hewitt et al., 1991) were used. Result showed that self-compassion and self-forgiveness are negatively linked with both self- oriented perfectionism and socially prescribed perfectionism. Self-Compassion is positively linked with Self-Forgiveness. Females scored higher in self-forgiveness as compared to males. Self-compassion was greater in participants of age 35 to 40 years as compared to other groups.     Furthermore, mediation analysis suggests 20.3% variance in self-forgiveness by self-compassion. Self-compassion and self-forgiveness can help health care professionals in professional grooming, dealing better with the clients and coping with the negative effects of perfectionism.