Attitude and "Self-Compassion and Purpose" as Factors Influencing Nurses' Intentions to Engage in Mindful Self-care in the Perianesthesia Setting.

Abstract

Purpose: This study examined relationships among variables shaping intention to engage in mindful self-care in nurses working in the perianesthesia setting.

Design: The study employed a cross-sectional design guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior to explore relationships between variables.

Methods: An online survey, approved by the ethics board, collected data from 85 perianesthesia nurses recruited via the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses Listserv. Participants completed the Modified Theory of Planned Behavior Questionnaire and the Mindful Self-care Scale.

Findings: Perceived behavioral control (r = 0.318, P = .003) and attitude (r = 0.616, P < .001) showed positive correlations with intentions to engage in self-care, while subjective norms had no significant association (r = -0.025, P = .821). Mindful awareness, perceived behavioral control, and self-compassion and purpose correlated significantly with most variables, except subjective norms. Regression analyses demonstrated attitude (β = 0.51, t = 5.63, P ≤ .001) and self-compassion and purpose (β = 0.29, t = 2.54, P = .013) as significant factors influencing the intention of perianesthesia nurses to engage in mindful self-care. Overall, the model for intent to engage in mindful self-care demonstrated a good fit using the significant factors from the Theory of Planned Behavior, F(8, 76) = 9.33; P = .001 with an adjusted R² of 0.44. On average, perianesthesia nurses engaged in mindful self-care 2 to 3 days per week.

Conclusions: This cross-sectional study of perianesthesia nurses found attitude and self-compassion and purpose to be significant predictors of intention to engage in self-care for an average of 2 to 3 days per week. Findings from this study add evidence that positive attitude and self-compassion and purpose significantly influence nurses' intentions to engage in self-care, suggesting these factors are key targets for interventions to improve nurses' well-being and performance.