Helper Syndrome and Pathological Altruism in nurses – a study in times of the COVID-19 pandemic
BackgroundPathological Altruism and the concept of Helper Syndrome are comparable. We focused on Schmidbauer’s description because it provides a comprehensive and testable definition. Nevertheless, this concept of Helper Syndrome has not yet been empirically investigated in a sample of helping profe...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1150150/full |
| _version_ | 1797661252492722176 |
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| author | Victoria E. Maringgele Martin Scherr Wolfgang Aichhorn Andreas K. Kaiser |
| author_facet | Victoria E. Maringgele Martin Scherr Wolfgang Aichhorn Andreas K. Kaiser |
| author_sort | Victoria E. Maringgele |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundPathological Altruism and the concept of Helper Syndrome are comparable. We focused on Schmidbauer’s description because it provides a comprehensive and testable definition. Nevertheless, this concept of Helper Syndrome has not yet been empirically investigated in a sample of helping professionals.AimTo investigate whether nurses working with covid-19 patients are more likely to have Helper Syndrome compared with individuals from non-helper professions.MethodsThe online survey took place between April 2021 and February 2022, in urban and rural regions of Salzburg, during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nurses (n = 447) and controls (n = 295) were compared regarding Helper Syndrome characteristics. To measure characteristics of Helper Syndrome the following questionnaires were used: WHO-Five (WHO-5), selected scales of the Personality, Style and Disorder Inventory (PSSI) and the Freiburg Personality Inventory-Revised (FPI-R), the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). Insecure gender identity and self-assessment of having a Helper Syndrome was measured by a Likert scale.ResultsIn both groups, Helper Syndrome was detected (nurses 29.5%, controls 30.5%). Participants with Helper Syndrome showed significant differences in personality styles and traits, namely significantly higher scores for Foreboding-Schizotypical Personality Style, Spontaneous-Borderline Personality Style, Amiable-Histrionic Personality Style, Ambitious-Narcissistic Personality Style, Loyal-Dependent Personality Style, Helpful-Selfless Personality Style, Carefully-Obsessive Personality Style, Optimistic-Rhapsodic Personality Style, Social Orientation, Strain, Emotionality and lower well-being. The only difference between nurses and controls was that nurses were significantly less open aggressive.ConclusionFor the first time, we were able to demonstrate Schmidbauer’s concept of Helper Syndrome. According to our data, we found a subgroup of individuals similar to Schmidbauer’s description of Helper Syndrome, but this sample was independent of helping or non-helping profession. These individuals seem to be at higher risk for psychiatric disorders. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T18:42:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-68286c63f597460e8fbd66f071d09ee4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T18:42:43Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-68286c63f597460e8fbd66f071d09ee42023-10-12T09:23:38ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782023-10-011410.3389/fpsyg.2023.11501501150150Helper Syndrome and Pathological Altruism in nurses – a study in times of the COVID-19 pandemicVictoria E. MaringgeleMartin ScherrWolfgang AichhornAndreas K. KaiserBackgroundPathological Altruism and the concept of Helper Syndrome are comparable. We focused on Schmidbauer’s description because it provides a comprehensive and testable definition. Nevertheless, this concept of Helper Syndrome has not yet been empirically investigated in a sample of helping professionals.AimTo investigate whether nurses working with covid-19 patients are more likely to have Helper Syndrome compared with individuals from non-helper professions.MethodsThe online survey took place between April 2021 and February 2022, in urban and rural regions of Salzburg, during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nurses (n = 447) and controls (n = 295) were compared regarding Helper Syndrome characteristics. To measure characteristics of Helper Syndrome the following questionnaires were used: WHO-Five (WHO-5), selected scales of the Personality, Style and Disorder Inventory (PSSI) and the Freiburg Personality Inventory-Revised (FPI-R), the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). Insecure gender identity and self-assessment of having a Helper Syndrome was measured by a Likert scale.ResultsIn both groups, Helper Syndrome was detected (nurses 29.5%, controls 30.5%). Participants with Helper Syndrome showed significant differences in personality styles and traits, namely significantly higher scores for Foreboding-Schizotypical Personality Style, Spontaneous-Borderline Personality Style, Amiable-Histrionic Personality Style, Ambitious-Narcissistic Personality Style, Loyal-Dependent Personality Style, Helpful-Selfless Personality Style, Carefully-Obsessive Personality Style, Optimistic-Rhapsodic Personality Style, Social Orientation, Strain, Emotionality and lower well-being. The only difference between nurses and controls was that nurses were significantly less open aggressive.ConclusionFor the first time, we were able to demonstrate Schmidbauer’s concept of Helper Syndrome. According to our data, we found a subgroup of individuals similar to Schmidbauer’s description of Helper Syndrome, but this sample was independent of helping or non-helping profession. These individuals seem to be at higher risk for psychiatric disorders.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1150150/fullPathological AltruismCOVID - 19health care professionalsHelper Syndromenurseswell-being |
| spellingShingle | Victoria E. Maringgele Martin Scherr Wolfgang Aichhorn Andreas K. Kaiser Helper Syndrome and Pathological Altruism in nurses – a study in times of the COVID-19 pandemic Frontiers in Psychology Pathological Altruism COVID - 19 health care professionals Helper Syndrome nurses well-being |
| title | Helper Syndrome and Pathological Altruism in nurses – a study in times of the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full | Helper Syndrome and Pathological Altruism in nurses – a study in times of the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_fullStr | Helper Syndrome and Pathological Altruism in nurses – a study in times of the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Helper Syndrome and Pathological Altruism in nurses – a study in times of the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_short | Helper Syndrome and Pathological Altruism in nurses – a study in times of the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_sort | helper syndrome and pathological altruism in nurses a study in times of the covid 19 pandemic |
| topic | Pathological Altruism COVID - 19 health care professionals Helper Syndrome nurses well-being |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1150150/full |
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