The role of loneliness, work meaning and organizational support in compassion satisfaction among primary care professionals during the pandemic

Compassion satisfaction (CS) refers to the positive emotional reward derived from helping others, particularly in healthcare settings. This study examines the influence of emotional and social loneliness, positive meaning of work, and organizational support on CS among primary care professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this cross-sectional study, 261 professionals completed a questionnaire assessing emotional and social loneliness, positive meaning of work, perceived organizational support (POS), and professional quality of life. Results showed positive meaning of work as the strongest predictor of CS, followed by a negative association with emotional loneliness. While POS was positively related to CS, its contribution was comparatively modest, and social loneliness showed no significant effect. These findings suggest that CS among primary care professionals is more strongly associated with intrinsic work-related factors and emotional well-being than with external organizational conditions. Promoting a sense of meaning in work and addressing emotional loneliness may be key strategies for organizations to enhance professionals' well-being and job satisfaction, fostering a more humane and balanced approach to medical practice that ultimately benefits both patient care and organizational efficiency.