The impact of quality of work life on quiet quitting in healthcare workers: The mediating and moderating effects of compassion fatigue and psychological resilience

BackgroundQuiet quitting (QQ), characterized by reduced psychological engagement and minimal job effort, has become increasingly prevalent among healthcare workers. The quality of work life (QWL), compassion fatigue (CF), and psychological resilience (PR) are critical factors that may influence this phenomenon, especially within high-stress healthcare environments.ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine the interrelationships between quality of work life, quiet quitting, compassion fatigue, and psychological resilience among healthcare workers and to assess the mediating role of CF and the moderating role of PR in these associations.MethodsA quantitative research design was employed. Standardized scales were used to measure quality of work life, quiet quitting, compassion fatigue, and psychological resilience. Data were collected from healthcare workers and analyzed using SPSS version 25, AMOS 25, and the PROCESS macro plug-in to perform mediation and moderation analyses.ResultsFindings indicated that poor work environment and work conditions significantly increased levels of compassion resilience and quiet quitting. Compassion resilience was found to mediate the relationship between quality of work life and quiet quitting. Moreover, psychological resilience moderated the relationship between QWL and CF, with higher PR buffering the negative effects. The role type of healthcare workers also influenced the CF-QQ link, with direct care providers experiencing stronger effects.ConclusionsEnhancing QWL is crucial in reducing the risk of CF and preventing QQ. Promoting psychological resilience among healthcare workers may serve as a protective factor, particularly for those in direct care roles, to mitigate the adverse effects of challenging work environments.