Impact of Empathy on Emotional Exhaustion: The Mediating Role of Self-Compassion among Psychology Students

The present study explored whether self-compassion explains the relationship between empathy and emotional exhaustion among psychology students. Using a cross-sectional design, data were collected from 39 participants through standardized self-report measures. Empathy was assessed using the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), emotional exhaustion using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI-EE subscale), and self-compassion using the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS-SF). Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, correlation, and mediation analysis via regression. Findings indicated that empathy was not significantly associated with either emotional exhaustion (r=-0.11) or self-compassion (r=0.09). In contrast, self-compassion showed a strong negative association with emotional exhaustion (r=-0.58, p<0.001) and emerged as a significant predictor. Mediation analysis did not support the hypothesized mediating role of self-compassion.