The Relationship Between Cognitive Flexibility and Empathy Towards Others in Nurses: The Mediating Role of Self-Reassurance

The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between cognitive flexibility and empathy towards others in nurses, with an emphasis on elucidating the mediating role of self-reassurance. This applied study employed a descriptive-correlational design based on Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The statistical population comprised all nurses working in the emergency departments of hospitals affiliated with Larestan University of Medical Sciences (Imam Reza and Omidvar hospitals) in ۲۰۲۵. Considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a sample of ۲۱۰ individuals was selected. Data collection tools included the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (Dennis & Vander Wal, ۲۰۱۰), the Self-Reassuring Subscale (Gilbert et al., ۲۰۰۴), and the Empathy Towards Others Subscale (Mehrabian & Epstein, ۱۹۷۲). Data were analyzed using SPSS-۲۶ and AMOS-۲۴ software via descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and SEM. The results indicated that all direct paths in the model were significant at the p<۰.۰۰۱ level. Cognitive flexibility had a direct and positive effect on empathy (β=۰.۳۱, t=۴.۸۵) and a stronger impact on the mediating variable, self-reassurance (β=۰.۴۵, t=۶.۲۱). Furthermore, the direct path from self-reassurance to empathy was also significant (β=۰.۳۶, t=۵.۴۲). The results of the bootstrapping test with ۵۰۰۰ iterations revealed that the indirect effect of cognitive flexibility on empathy through self-reassurance was ۰.۱۶۲ Since the ۹۵% confidence interval [۰.۰۹۵,۰.۲۴۸] did not contain zero, the mediation hypothesis was definitively confirmed. Enhancing cognitive flexibility alone does not guarantee an increase in empathy; rather, this flexibility reaches its peak interpersonal efficacy when it leads to increased self-reassurance and decreased self-criticism at the intrapersonal level among nurses. These findings delineate new horizons for designing interventions, such as Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT), to improve the quality of care and prevent occupational burnout in emergency settings.

کلیدواژه ها:

Cognitive flexibility ، Empathy towards others ، Self-reassurance ، Emergency nurses.