Abstract

This study aims to investigate the differences in burnout, emotional labor strategies, affect intensity, and emotional clarity based on combinations of level of mindfulness and compassion. To achieve this, a total of 137 mental health professionals participated in this study, and they were classified into four groups based on their level of mindfulness and compassion using cluster analysis. Then, the differences among the groups were compared. The results of the multivariate analysis of covariance(MANCOVA) or multivariate analysis of variance(MANOVA) controlling for career experience, showed that the group with high levels of both mindfulness and compassion had the highest levels of positive affect intensity, emotional clarity for self and others, and genuine expression, while having the lowest levels of negative affect intensity, surface acting, and burnout. In comparison to the group with high levels of both mindfulness and compassion, the group with high or low level of either mindfulness or compassion had both positive and negative affect intensity at higher or lower levels. Additionally, they showed lower emotional clarity for self and others, and genuine expression. Conversely, they showed higher levels of surface acting and burnout. The group with low levels of both mindfulness and compassion experienced low levels of positive affect intensity and high levels of negative affect intensity. They also had the lowest levels of emotional clarity for self and others and genuine expression. In addition, they showed that the highest levels of surface acting, and burnout. Based on the results, the study discussed the balanced development of mindfulness and compassion to prevent burnout of professionals in the human service field, including mental health professionals. The implications and limitations of this study were further analyzed in the discussion section, including the direction for future research.