# The Relationship Between Stress of Conscience and Quiet Quitting in Nurses: The Mediating Role of Compassion Fatigue

## TL;DR

This study explores how stress of conscience and compassion fatigue relate to quiet quitting among nurses in Turkey.

## Contribution

The study adapts and validates the Quiet Quitting Scale in Turkish and identifies compassion fatigue as a mediator between stress of conscience and quiet quitting.

## Key findings

- Stress of conscience, compassion fatigue, and quiet quitting are positively associated.
- Compassion fatigue partially mediates the relationship between stress of conscience and quiet quitting.
- Supportive work environments may reduce quiet quitting by addressing ethical concerns and preventing compassion fatigue.

## Abstract

Background/Objectives: In recent years, quiet quitting has attracted increasing attention in nursing research and is conceptualized as a phenomenon in which nurses perform their professional duties at a minimal level without physically leaving their jobs. This study aimed to adapt the Quiet Quitting Scale into Turkish, evaluate its psychometric properties, and examine the relationships between stress of conscience, compassion fatigue, and quiet quitting among nurses. Methods: This is a descriptive, correlational, and methodological study. This study was conducted between 20 February and March 2025 with the participation of 205 nurses working in a university hospital in Turkey. The data were collected using the Nurse Descriptive Information Form, Stress of Conscience Questionnaire, Compassion Fatigue-Short Scale, and Quiet Quitting Scale. Results: The results indicated positive associations between stress of conscience, compassion fatigue, and quiet quitting. Mediation analysis revealed that compassion fatigue had a significant indirect effect on the association between stress of conscience and quiet quitting, while the direct relationship remained significant, suggesting partial mediation. Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of supportive work environments where nurses can address ethical concerns and access interventions aimed at preventing compassion fatigue. Organizational strategies that promote psychological well-being may help sustain nurses’ work engagement and reduce quiet quitting.