Skip to main content
Download PDF

Investigation of psychological factors related to compassion fatigue, burnout, and compassion satisfaction among nurses

BMC Nursing volume 22, Article number: 12 (2023) Cite this article

Abstract

Background

While compassion fatigue is evaluated positively in nurses, compassion fatigue and burnout are undesirable from the viewpoint of professionals, service providers, institutions and ultimately society. It is necessary to identify the factors that lead to undesirable results and to reduce their effects. This study aimed to investigate nurses’ levels of compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction, burnout, various psychopathological symptom levels, coping skills, and the relationship between them.

Methods

This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The participants were 356 nurses working in tertiary university hospitals in Istanbul (Türkiye). The Healthcare Professional Information Form, ProQOL-IV, Brief Symptom Inventory, and the Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced scale were used to collect data. Descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, and regression models were used to analyze the data.

Results

According to the findings, low-level burnout, moderate-high compassion satisfaction, and low-moderate compassion fatigue symptoms were detected. Low-level anxiety, depression, somatization, hostility, and negative self-esteem were found. According to the results of regression analysis, mental disengagement and planning coping strategies positively affect the synergy of compassion fatigue (p < 0.05). Turning religion and restraint coping have a positive effect on compassion fatigue (p < 0.05). While depression has a positive effect on burnout, nurses’ positive reinterpretation and growth strategy is effective in coping with burnout (p < 0.05). Positive reinterpretation and growth coping strategies are also effective in increasing job satisfaction (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Nurses showing somatization symptoms are risk factors for compassion fatigue, and nurses showing depression symptoms are risk factors for burnout, so they should be closely monitored and should be given support. Mental disengagement and planning coping strategies can reduce compassion fatigue, and positive reinterpretation and growth methods can reduce burnout and increase compassion satisfaction. It may be useful to provide counseling and training for nurses to use the right coping methods.

Peer Review reports

Introduction

Nurses are among the basic service providers of health services. Nurses, due to their duties, deal with the difficult treatment processes of the patients and witness the fears, helplessness, stressful and traumatic experiences of the patients. The nursing profession requires constant communication with people. In this process, the information obtained about the patients’ conditions while performing their care and treatment enables them to provide the best service to their patients [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10]. Nurses’ long-term therapeutic relationships with patients and patients’ relatives not only cause them to be exposed to more stress but also risk compassion fatigue [3]. In the process of bonding with patients, nurses can perceive positive or negative emotions that eventually lead to compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue [11]. While an inadequate working environment can be a risk factor for professional compassion fatigue, the satisfaction of being able to serve in an inadequate working environment for another professional may also occur [12].

Compassion fatigue may occur when the nurse cannot control her patients' emotions, is repeatedly exposed to stress and is unable to alleviate the patient's pain. Compassion fatigue decreases in the care capacity. Nurses may experience traumatic stress symptoms or posttraumatic stress disorder due to the intensity of compassion fatigue. Secondary traumatic stress is stress that occurs as a result of wanting to help or helping a person who is suffering or traumatized [1, 3, 5,6,7,8,9,10, 13].

Although comparison fatigue is similar to burnout, there is a difference between them [6, 7]. Burnout develops slowly and includes progressively worsening. Compasion differs from stress with symptoms such as a gradual increase in workload, lack of success, loss of idealism, and unsupportive work environment. Compasion stress can occur suddenly, and there is a sense of helplessness and confusion [6, 7, 14]. Burnout and compassion stress have negative features related to work. Both secondary trauma and burnout can cause difficulties in the life of the employee [12]. Nurse burnout is an occupational hazard that affects nurses, patients, organizations and society in general [15]. Burnout, patient care and outcomes (quality of care, patient safety, adverse events, patient dissatisfaction, medical errors, infections, pressure sores, patient falls), employee outcomes and job performance (organizational commitment, nurse productivity, turnover, job performance, general health, sickness absence, etc.) [15,16,17,18].

Compasion satisfaction is the positive feeling that about the task being done well, feeling of satisfaction from helping another, and the ability to make a positive contribution to the work environment or society [12, 14]. The feeling that the professional has fulfilled the requirements of his/her profession, the feeling of satisfaction experienced, reduces the professional’s secondary traumatic stress [19]. A sense of satisfaction is an important component in the development of compassion fatigue resilience [19]. Compassion satisfaction can be considered a protective factor from occupational psychological risks [20]. There was a negative relationship between burnout and compassion satisfaction [18, 21]. According to Yu and Gui (2022), while compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction directly affect mental health, burnout directly affects physical health [18]. Compasion satisfaction, which is a sense of satisfaction and achievement, and its negative state, compassion fatigue, are critical to nurses' well-being and therefore affect the quality of patient care [11]. Factors that can affect both compasion satisfaction and compassion fatigue and burnout (such as stress and coping methods) need to be well known.

Task-related stress can also cause health workers to experience various mental problems. Mental distress can affect the symptoms of compassion fatigue and burnout, which are a burden of caregiving. Hegney et al. [22]) found a negative relationship between compassion satisfaction and depression; they found a positive relationship between compassion fatigue and burnout and anxiety and a very weak positive relationship between burnout and depression [22]. In a study conducted with nurses during the COVID pandemic, it was found that job satisfaction affects compassion satisfaction, and mental health problems affect compassion fatigue and burnout [23]. As the symptoms of burnout and compassion fatigue increase, the quality of life associated with health decreases. Additionally, as compassion satisfaction increases, the quality of life related to health also increases [24]. The active coping method (Adaptive) positively affects Compass satisfaction, while passive coping creates a risk factor for compassion and burnout. It has been determined that it contributes positively to the development of empathy, resilience, social support, and compassion satisfaction [2]. It was determined that when newly graduated nurses use active coping methods, compassion satisfaction increases, burnout decreases and burnout and secondary traumatic stress are affected when they use passive coping methods [25]. Nurses who work in intensive care units have reported that methods of coping with stress were associated with burnout [26]. As a result, while self-sense satisfaction in nurses is evaluated positively, self-esteem fatigue and burnout are undesirable for employees, service recipients, the institution and ultimately society. It is important to notice and pay attention to prevent potential negative effects and to plan and implement interventions for the factors that cause them. It is necessary to know the factors that may affect them well and to take steps toward them. While there are many studies examining compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction, and burnout among nurses in the literature, there has been no study in which the levels of affect of these variables from psychological symptoms and coping skills are evaluated together, as far as we know. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between nurses' levels of various psychopathological symptoms and coping skills, compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction, and burnout levels.

The research questions are stated below.

  • 1. Do psychological symptoms affect Empathy Fatigue, Job Satisfaction and Job Burnout in nurses?

  • 2. Do nurses' coping methods affect Empathy Fatigue, Occupational Satisfaction and Occupational Burnout?

Methods

Study design

This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. A convenience sample method was used in this research. Before starting the research, we contacted the administrator of the tertiary hospital where the study was conducted, and informed consent was obtained from the participants after informing them about the research. The survey was conducted between October 25, 2019, and December 15, 2019. Online questionnaires were distributed to the nurses via Google Forms. Google Form surveys were sent to the e-mail addresses of all nurses by the nursing services management of the hospital. The Google Forms link was sent twice by the nursing services administration (15 days after the first posting). The participants completed the questionnaire and submitted it via their computers, mobile phones, or touchpads. Before the evaluation, the data obtained were prechecked. The questionnaire could be completed only once by each participant. The questionnaires included researcher information, and invalid questionnaires were excluded from in the study.

Population and samples

The population in this study was 853 nurses working in tertiary university hospitals in Istanbul (Türkiye). The participants were 356 nurses. The sample size was determined to be 266 nurses with the Known Sample Calculation Formula. Asgari The necessary sample size was found to be 266 when it was calculated according to 5% error and 95% confidence levels. The following formula was used to determine the sample size: (n = Nt2pq/d2 (N-1) + t2pq). It was calculated with 50% incidence (p), which is the maximum value in the sample calculation.

The questionnaire was distributed to a total of 853 nurses within the scope of the study to reach a larger group. This study was conducted with 356 volunteer participants. The response rate was determined to be 41.73%.

Measures

Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI)

The Brief Symptom Inventory was used to screen for various psychological symptoms [27]. The scale is a Likert-type self-report scale consisting of 53 items and 5 subscales (0 = None, 4 = Too much). Şahin & Durak (1994) conducted a Turkish validity and reliability study [28]. The internal consistency coefficients obtained from the total score of the scale were found to be 0.96, and the internal consistency coefficients of the subscales were found to vary between 0.65 and 0.86 [28]. In our study, the total Cronbach's alpha value of the scale is 0.97, and the Cronbach's alpha value of the subscales is between and.

The Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced Scale (COPE)

COPE was used to measure copin skills [29]. The scale, which aims to evaluate the coping attitudes used when faced with difficult or overwhelming events or problems in daily life, is a Likert-type self-report scale consisting of 60 questions and 15 subscales. (1 = I would never do such a thing, 4 = Mostly I do). Ağargün et al. [30] conducted a Turkish validity and reliability study [30]. Each subscale provides information about separate coping skills. The high scores obtained from the subscales of the scale give the possibility to comment on which coping attitude is used more by the individual. The subscales are as follows: 1. Positive reinterpretation and development, 2. The mental disengagement, 3. Focusing on the problem and revealing emotions, 4. Useful social support, 5. Active coping, 6. Denial, 7. Religious coping, 8. Joking, 9. Behavioral disregard, 10. Holding back, 11. Use of emotional social support, 12. Alcohol and substance use, 13. Acceptance, 14. suppressing other occupations, 15. Planning. The internal consistency coefficient of the Turkish version was 0.79, and the correlation validity between the subscales of the scale and the total scores ranged between 0.29 and 0.76 [30]. In our study, Cronbach's alpha value of the scales was determined to be 0.86. The Cronbach's alpha values of the subscales of the scale range from 0.27 to 0.87.

Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL)

The ProQOL-IV (Stamm [14]) was used to measure compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction, and burnout [14]. The scale is a 6-point Likert-type scale that was developed to measure the effects of providing care to other people, with a total of 30 items consisting of 10 items each (0 = Never, 5 = Very Often). Yeşil et al. [31] conducted a Turkish validity and reliability study [31]. The Cronbach's alpha value of the compassion satisfaction subscale in the Turkish version of the scale is 0.819, and the Cronbach's alpha value of the burnout subscale is 0.622. Cronbach's alpha value of compassion fatigue subscale is 0.835 [31]. In our study, Cronbach’s alpha values of the subscales were 0.86, 0.57, and 0.81 for compassion satisfaction, burnout, and compassion fatigue, respectively.

Healthcare professional ınformation form

This form was prepared by the researchers and included questions about age, sex, marital status, work style, and workplace stress factors.

Ethical considerations

All subjects gave their informed consent for inclusion before they participated in the study. Approval was obtained from the hospital where the study was conducted. The first page of the Google survey used in the study included an "Informed voluntary consent form". Just below the voluntary consent form, there were “I Agree” and “I Do Not Accept” buttons to participate in the study. The participant was able to move on to other questions after clicking “I Agree”. When he clicked “I do not accept”, he could not move on to other questions. It was assumed that the nurses who completed the questionnaire by clicking "I agree" agreed to participate in the study voluntarily. All methods were carried out in accordance with the relevant guidelines and regulations. The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Ethical approval was obtained from the Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine Clinical Research Ethics Council for the research, and then the study was started (Project identification code 2019/252, dated 02/22/2019).

Data analysis

SPSS version 21 software was used to analyze the survey data. Descriptive (frequency, percentage, minimum–maximum-mean scores, and standard deviation) analyses were used to determine the nurses’ demographic characteristics and scale scores. The normality of data distribution was evaluated using the Kolmogorov‒Smirnov and Shapiro‒Wilk tests, and it was found that a normal distribution was not provided. Accordingly, Spearman’s correlation coefficient and simple linear regression analysis (Newey‒West algorithm for providing assumptions) were used in the analysis of relationships between the variables. Finally, multiple linear regression models were performed to explain the effect of the subscales of the BSI and COPE scale on compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction, and burnout. The statistical results were considered significant at the level of p < 0.05.

Results

Most of the 356 nurses in this study were women (94%, n = 336) and married (61%, n = 216), and their average age was 35.86 ± 8.92 (range, 19–64) years. The average working time as a nurse was 14 ± 9.23 (range, 1–44) years. More than half of the nurses (51%, n = 181) reported that they choose their profession willingly, and 44% (n = 157) worked during the day. Descriptive information of nurses about workplace stress factors is included in Table 1. The mean and minimum and maximum values of the variables of the study are shown in Table 2. The correlation values between the Brief Symptom Inventory, the Evaluation of Coping Attitudes, and the Professional Quality of Life Scale subdimensions are given in Table 2. Multiple linear regression models were tested to explore the predictive power of psychological symptoms on ProQOL (Table 3, Model 1; Table 4, Model 1; Table 5, Model 1). Concerning compassion fatigue, psychological symptom variables (somatization) explained 19% of the variance in compassion fatigue (F [5, 350] = 16.46; p < 0.001) (Table 3, Model 1). Concerning burnout, psychological symptom variables (depression) explained 21% of the variance in burnout (F [5, 350] = 19.67; p < 0.05) (Table 4, Model 1). It was determined that compassion satisfaction was not affected by psychological symptoms.

Table 1 Workplace stress factors
Full size table
Table 2 Descriptive properties of the scales and correlational relationships between variables
Full size table
Table 3 Multiple regression analysis summary for BSI and COPE variables predicting compassion fatigue
Full size table
Table 4 Multiple regression analysis summary for BSI and COPE variables predicting burnout
Full size table
Table 5 Multiple regression analysis summary for BSI and COPE variables predicting compassion satisfaction
Full size table

Multiple linear regression models were tested to explore the predictive power of coping skills on compassion fatigue, burnout, and compassion satisfaction (Table 3, Model 2; Table 4, Model 2; Table 5, Model 2). Concerning compassion fatigue, coping skills variables (mental disengagement, turning to religion, restraint coping, and planning) explained 17% of the variance in compassion fatigue (F [15, 340] = 4.27; p < 0.001) (Table 3, Model 2). Concerning burnout, coping skills variables (positive reinterpretation and growth) explained 14% of the variance of burnout (F [5, 340] = 3.96; p < 0.001) (Table 4, Model 2). Concerning compassion satisfaction, coping skills variables (positive reinterpretation and growth) explained 12% of the variance of compassion satisfaction (F [5, 340] = 3.18; p < 0.001) (Table 5, Model 2).

Discussion

In this study, the ProQOL (compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction, and burnout) levels, psychological symptoms, and coping skills of nurses working at a tertiary university hospital were examined. In addition, psychological symptoms and coping skills that affect ProQOL were identified. It was determined that the nurses had low-level burnout, moderate-high compassion satisfaction, and low-moderate compassion fatigue symptoms. This result was also similar to previous studies [20, 21, 23, 32, 33]. Low-level anxiety, depression, somatization, hostility, and negative self-concept were detected.

Very few studies have examined the ProQOL levels and psychological symptoms of nurses in the literature. Hegney et al. [22] found that the anxiety and depression levels of nurses were within the normal range [22]. Zhan et al. [23] also found that 85.60% of participants were healthy [23]. In another study conducted with emergency department nurses, 53.46% of the nurses did not have a depressive tendency in the evaluation of depressive or nondepressive tendencies [34]. In another study conducted with nurses working in a tertiary hospital, low levels of depression and anxiety symptoms were found [35]. Individuals use both emotion-focused and problem-focused coping styles in stressful situations [29, 36]. In this research, it was determined that nurses used problem-focused strategies more intensively than emotion-focused strategies. Al Barmawi et al. [37] found that nurses used seeking social support first, followed by problem-solving and avoidance strategies [37].

Nurses use positive coping styles more than negative coping styles [38]. In another study conducted on nurses’ coping styles and work stress, 65.07% of nurses used adaptive coping skills [39]. The findings obtained from our study could not be compared with previous data because the mean values of coping skills and ProQOL were not included in previous studies examining coping skills and ProQoL [2, 25, 26, 40]. Additionally, the differences in the measurement tools used in the studies caused difficulties in comparing the findings. In our research, it was found that nurses used active coping, planning, and seeking social support for instrumental reasons, which were used at moderate-to-high levels, and used restraint coping and suppression of competing activities at a moderate level. Positive reinterpretation and growth and turning to religion were used at a medium–high level, emotional social support and acceptance skills were used at a moderate level, and denial was used at a low level. Additionally, it was found that focusing on and venting emotions and mental disengagement were used moderately, and behavioral disengagement, taking drugs, and joking were used at low levels.

Individuals use both emotion-focused and problem-focused coping styles in stressful situations [29, 36]. In problem-focused coping, people try to change the source of stress. In emotion-focused coping, when the source of stress cannot be changed, the emotional state causing stress is tried to be reduced, that is, to regulate the emotion [29]. In our study, it can be said that nurses first tried to cope with stressful situations using problem-focused skills and then used emotion-focused coping strategies.

ProQoL is the kind of positive (compassion satisfaction) and negative (compassion fatigue and burnout) feeling that professionals feel as a result of having done their job well [12]. In our study, a positive correlation was found between compassion fatigue and burnout [4, 18, 20, 21, 41,42,43,44], and a negative correlation was found between compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction [20, 41, 42], similar to other studies in the literature. In addition, it was found that there was a negative correlation between compassion satisfaction and burnout [18, 20,21,22, 41,42,43,44,45].

The concept of compassion fatigue includes burnout and secondary trauma. Both affect mental health [18, 23, 24] and physical health [18]. Previous studies have found a positive correlation between anxiety and depression and a positive correlation between burnout and compassion fatigue [22, 46]. A negative correlation was found between burnout and job satisfaction [47, 48]. In addition, a positive correlation was determined between compassion satisfaction and mental health [18], a negative correlation between compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue [18], and a negative correlation between anxiety and depression [46]. In our study, it was determined that somatization affected compassion fatigue and that depression affected burnout. Ruiz-Fernandez et al. [24] found that general health symptoms and body pain were related to compassion fatigue and burnout [24].

Coping is a cognitive and behavioral effort used to manage internal and external demands. Intervention to the source of stress is defined as problem-focused coping, and the regulation of emotions caused by a stressful situation is referred to as emotion-focused coping [36]. In our study, it was determined that the use of mental disengagement and planning coping skills were effective in reducing the symptoms of compassion fatigue. The mental disengagement involves several activities [29]. It can be functional because it keeps the person away from stress as soon as it is used. Knowing that these strategies will be used in difficult situations may reduce compassion fatigue. Planning involves finding the best method of coping with a stressor. Planning is a method of problem-focused coping; at the same time, an active problem-solving outline is created. This includes thinking about what to do in situations where stress increases [29]. In previous studies, it was determined that active coping reduced compassion fatigue [2, 25]. Preplanned methods that are ready in the face of emergencies may enable nurses to minimize errors that may arise from themselves and therefore reduce the symptoms of compassion fatigue.

In our study, turning to religion and restraint coping affected the increase in compassion fatigue symptoms. Many people use religion as a source of emotional support under stress and as a tool for positive reinterpretation and growth [29]. Thus, turning to religion can serve as active coping because it involves intrinsically positive reinterpretation [29]. Nurses, who witness and intervene in difficult processes of patients during health care practices, may not be able to positively reinterpret internally for many very difficult situations. It may cause nurses to experience a feeling of being stuck in their internal processes, thereby increasing the symptoms of compassion fatigue. Restraint coping is an active coping method for coping with stress. However, keeping a distance from stress and not acting, not trying, is also a passive way of coping [29]. Standing back and doing nothing may cause feelings of helplessness. According to Varadorojan & Rani (2021), there is a positive correlation between distancing and compassion fatigue [26]. Positive reinterpretation and growth, which is an emotion-focused coping method, aims to cope by trying to manage the emotion affected by the stressor instead of dealing with the stressor [29]. In our study, positive reinterpretation and growth coping approaches were effective in reducing burnout while increasing compassion satisfaction. Positive internal reinterpretation is also an active internal coping process [29]. Positive reinterpretation may reduce burnout, and the feeling of overcoming challenges at work may also increase job satisfaction. Varadorojan & Rani (2021) determined that there was a positive correlation between compassion satisfaction and positive reinterpretation and a negative correlation between burnout and positive reinterpretation [26].

Limitations

Cross-sectional studies do not allow us to interpret the causal relationships. It was assumed that the people participating in the survey reflected their true feelings when responding to the questions on the scale. It was assumed that the participants responded willingly to the questionnaire and answered the questionnaire correctly and completely. It was assumed that the participants understood the true meaning of the survey questions. Another limitation was that the study was limited to Istanbul Province and a university hospital. The fact that the study was conducted using the convenience sampling method can be counted among the limitations of this study.

Conclusion

This research provides information about the relationships between nurses' depression, anxiety, somatization, negative self and hostility levels and symptoms of compassion fatigue, burnout and compassion satisfaction. It also provides information about the coping strategies that nurses use for compassion fatigue, burnout and compassion satisfaction symptoms. Nurses showing somatization symptoms are risk factors for empathy fatigue, and nurses showing depression symptoms are risk factors for burnout, so they should be closely monitored, and necessary support should be given. Considering that mental disengagement and planning can reduce empathy fatigue and that positive reinterpretation and development methods can reduce burnout and increase professional satisfaction, it may be beneficial to provide counseling and training for nurses to use correct coping methods. These findings can be used to increase the general well-being of nurses and to develop psychoeducational studies to increase their compassion satisfaction. Increasing the compassion satisfaction of nurses will contribute to the improvement of service quality and job satisfaction and reduce health mistakes.

Availability of data and materials

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

References

  1. Campillo-Cruz M, González-Gutiérrez JL, Ardoy-Cuadros J. Relevance of traumatic events and routine stressors at work and PTSD symptoms on emergency nurses. Sustainability. 2021;13(11):6050. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13116050.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Cao X, Wang L, Wei S, Li J, Gong S. Prevalence and predictors for compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction in nursing students during clinical placement. Nurse Educ Pract. 2021;51:102999.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Cao X, Chen L. Relationships between resilience, empathy, compassion fatigue, work engagement and turnover intention in hemodialysis nurses: a cross-sectional study. J Nurs Manag. 2021;29:1054–63. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.13243.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Cao X, Chen L. The impact of resilience on turnover intention in dialysis nurses: the mediating effects of work engagement and compassion fatigue. Jpn J Nurs. Sci. 2021;18:e12414.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Cavanagh N, et al. Compassion fatigue in healthcare providers: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nurs Ethics. 2020;27:639–65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Figley, C. R. Compassion fatigue as secondary Traumatic stress Disorder: An Overview, in Compassion Fatigue: Coping with Secondary Traumatic Stress Disorder in Those Who Treat the Traumatized (Ed. Figley C. R.) 1–20 (Brunner/Mazel: New York, 1995).

  7. Figley, C.R. Compassion fatigue: Toward a new understanding of the cost of caring in Secondary Traumatic Stress Self-Care Issues For Clinicians, Researchers Educators (Ed. Stamm, B. H.) 23–28 (Second Edition Sidran Press, 1999).

  8. Figley CR. Compassion fatigue: psychotherapists’ chronic lack of self care. J Clin Psychol. 2002;58:1433–41. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.10090.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Hosseininejad, S. M., Jahanian, F., Elyasi, F., Mokhtari, H., Koulaei, M. E., & Pashaei, S. M. The prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder among emergency nurses: a cross sectional study in northern Iran. BioMedicine 9, (2019). https://doi.org/10.1051/bmdcn/2019090319

  10. Mealer M, Burnham EL, Goode CJ, Rothbaum B, Moss M. The prevalence and impact of post traumatic stress disorder and burnout syndrome in nurses. Depress Anxiety. 2009;26:1118–26. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.20631.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Chen F, Leng Y, Li J, Zheng Y. Compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue in haematology cancer nurses: a cross-sectional survey. Nurs Open. 2022;9:2159–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Stamm, B.H. The concise ProQOL manual, 2nd Ed. Pocatello, ID: Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL). org. https://proqol.org/uploads/ProQOL (2010).

  13. Jakimowicz S, Perry L, Lewis J. Compassion satisfaction and fatigue: a cross-sectional survey of Australian intensive care nurses. Aust Crit Care. 2018;31:396–405.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Stamm, B. H. The ProQOL Manual: The Professional Quality of Life Scale: Compassion Satisfaction, Burnout & Compassion Fatigue/Secondary Trauma Scales (Derwood, MD: Sidran, 2005).

  15. Jun J, Ojemeni MM, Kalamani R, Tong J, Crecelius ML. Relationship between nurse burnout, patient and organizational outcomes: systematic review. Int J Nurs Stud. 2021;119: 103933.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Dall’Ora C, Saville C, Rubbo B, Turner L, Jones J, Griffiths P. Nurse staffing levels and patient outcomes: a systematic review of longitudinal studies. Int J Nurs Stud. 2022;134: 104311.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. E Silva, V. S. et al. Burnout, compassion fatigue and work-related stressors among organ donation and transplantation coordinators: A qualitative study. Intensive Crit Care Nurs. 68, 103125 (2022).

  18. Yu H, Gui L. Compassion fatigue, burnout and compassion satisfaction among emergency nurses: a path analysis. J Adv Nurs. 2022;78:1294–304. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.15034.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Ludick M, Figley CR. Toward a mechanism for secondary trauma induction and reduction: reimagining a theory of secondary traumatic stress. Traumatology. 2017;23:112. https://doi.org/10.1037/trm0000096.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Yıldırım N, Coşkun H, Polat Ş. The relationship between psychological capital and the occupational psychologic risks of nurses: the mediation role of compassion satisfaction. J Nurs Sch. 2021;53:115–25. https://doi.org/10.1111/jnu.12607.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Sukut O, Sahin-Bayindir G, Ayhan-Balik CH, Albal E. Professional quality of life and psychological resilience among psychiatric nurses. Perspect Psychiatr Care. 2022;58:330–8. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppc.12791.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Hegney DG, et al. Compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue, anxiety, depression and stress in registered nurses in Australia: study 1 results. J Nurs Manag. 2014;22:506–18. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.12160.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Zhan Y, et al. The prevalence and influencing factors for compassion fatigue among nurses in Fangcang shelter hospitals: a cross-sectional study. Int J Nurs Pract. 2022;28:e13054.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Ruiz-Fernández MD, Ortega-Galán ÁM, Fernández-Sola C, Hernández-Padilla JM, Granero-Molina J, Ramos-Pichardo JD. Occupational factors associated with health-related quality of life in nursing professionals: a multicenterentre study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17:982. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17030982.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Cao X, Li J, Gong S. The relationships of both transition shock, empathy, resilienc and coping strategies with professional quality of life in newly graduated nurses. BMC Nurs. 2021;20:1–8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-021-00589-0.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Varadarajan A, Rani J. Compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction and coping between male and female intensive care unit nurses. Indian J Posit Psychol. 2021;12:49–52.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Derogatis LR. The Brief Symptom Inventory-BSI Administration, Scoring and Procedures Manual-II. USA: Clinical Pscyhometric Research Inc.; 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Şahin NH, Durak A. Kisa Semptom Envanteri (Brief Symptom Invetory-BSI): Turk gencleri icin uyarlanmasi [a study of the brief symptom inventory in Turkish youth]. Türk Psikoloji Dergisi. 1994;9:44–56.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Carver CS, Scheier MF, Weintraub JK. Assessing coping strategies: a theoretically based approach. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1989;56:267. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.56.2.267.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Ağargün MY, Beşiroğlu L, Kıran ÜK, Özer ÖA, Kara H. COPE (Başaçıkma tutumlarını değerlendirme ölçeği): Psikometrik özelliklere ilişkin bir ön çalışma [The psychometric properties of the COPE inventory in Turkish sample: preliminary research]. Anadolu Psikiyatri Derg. 2005;6:221–6.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Yeşil A, Ergün Ü, Amasyalı C, Er F, Olgun NN, Aker AT. Validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the professional quality of life scale. Noro Psikiyatr Ars. 2010;47:111–7.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Aslan H, Erci B, Pekince H. Relationship between compassion fatigue in nurses, and work-related stress and the meaning of life. J Relig Health. 2022;61:1848–60. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-020-01142-0.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Karabuga Yakar, H., Oguz, S., Bulut, B., Kapusuz, C., Abi, P. & Yavuz, R. Compassion fatigue in nurses caring for chronic diseases. Int J Occup Saf Ergon 1–6. (2022). https://doi.org/10.1080/10803548.2021.2025314

  34. Hsieh HF, Chen YM, Wang HH, Chang SC, Ma SC. Association among components of resilience and workplace violence-related depression among emergency department nurses in Taiwan: a cross-sectional study. J Clin Nurs. 2016;25:2639–47. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.13309.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Shajan A, Nisha C. Anxiety and Depression among nurses working in a tertiary care hospital in South India. Int J Adv Med. 2019;6:1611. https://doi.org/10.18203/2349-3933.ijam20194228.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Folkman S, Lazarus RS. An analysis of coping in a middle-aged community sample. J Health Soc Behav. 1980;21:219–39. https://doi.org/10.2307/2136617.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Al Barmawi, M. A. et al. Coping strategies as moderating factors to compassion fatigue among critical care nurses. Brain Behav. 9, e01264 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.1264

  38. Liu J, Yang Y, Chen J, Zhang Y, Zeng Y, Li J. Stress and coping styles among nursing students during the initial period of the clinical practicum: a cross-section study. Int J Nurs Sci. 2022;9:222–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnss.2022.02.004.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Tesfaye TD. Coping strategies among nurses in South-west Ethiopia: descriptive, institution-based cross-sectional study. BMC Res Notes. 2018;11:1–6. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-018-3557-5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Yu H, Jiang A, Shen J. Prevalence and predictors of compassion fatigue, burnout and compassion satisfaction among oncology nurses: a cross-sectional survey. Int J Nurs Stud. 2016;57:28–38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2016.01.012.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Jarrad RA, Hammad S. Oncology nurses’ compassion fatigue, burn out and compassion satisfaction. Ann Gen Psychiatry. 2020;19:1–8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12991-020-00272-9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Laor-Maayany R, Goldzweig G, Hasson-Ohayon I, Bar-Sela G, Engler-Gross A, Braun M. Compassion fatigue among oncologists: the role of grief, sense of failure, and exposure to suffering and death. Support Care Cancer. 2020;28:2025–31. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-019-05009-3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Lee H, Baek W, Lim A, Lee D, Pang Y, Kim O. Secondary traumatic stress and compassion satisfaction mediate the association between stress and burnout among Korean hospital nurses: a cross-sectional study. BMC Nurs. 2021;20:1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-021-00636-w.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Weintraub AS, Sarosi A, Goldberg E, Waldman ED. A cross-sectional analysis of compassion fatigue, burnout, and compassion satisfaction in pediatric hematology-oncology physicians in the United States. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2020;42:e50–5. https://doi.org/10.1097/MPH.0000000000001548.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Algamdi M. Prevalence of oncology nurses’ compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue: systematic review and meta-analysis. Nurs Open. 2022;9:44–56. https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.1070.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Jo M, Na H, Jung YE. Mediation effects of compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue in the relationships between resilience and anxiety or depression among hospice volunteers. J Hosp Palliat Nurs. 2020;22:246–53. https://doi.org/10.1097/NJH.0000000000000640.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Meeusen V, Van Dam K, Brown-Mahoney C, Van Zundert A, Knape H. Burnout, psychosomatic symptoms and job satisfaction among Dutch nurse anesthetists: a survey. Acta Anesthesiologica Scandinavica. 2010;54:616–21. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1399-6576.2010.02213.x.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Zakeri MA, et al. Is nurses’ clinical competence associated with their compassion satisfaction, burnout and secondary traumatic stress? a cross-sectional study. Nurs Open. 2021;8:354–63. https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.636.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the participants for their cooperation.

Funding

The authors did not receive any funding for this study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Psychology, Bursa Technical University, Bursa, Türkiye

    Aslı Yeşil

  2. Faculty of Nursing, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Türkiye

    Şehrinaz Polat

Authors
  1. Aslı Yeşil
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Şehrinaz Polat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Aslı Yeşil: Conceptualization, Methodology, Data Analysis, Writing – Original Draft, Şehrinaz Polat: Conceptualization, Methodology, Data Acquisition, Data Analysis, Writing – Review and Editing, Revising. All authors have reviewed the manuscript. The author(s) read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Şehrinaz Polat.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval and consent to participate

All subjects gave their informed consent for inclusion before they participated in the study. The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, and the protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of İstanbul Faculty of Medicine, Project identification code 2019/252, dated 02/22/2019. All methods were carried out in accordance with the relevant guidelines and regulations.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests. AY and ŞP have approved the submitted version.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated in a credit line to the data.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Yeşil, A., Polat, Ş. Investigation of psychological factors related to compassion fatigue, burnout, and compassion satisfaction among nurses. BMC Nurs 22, 12 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-023-01174-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-023-01174-3

Keywords

BMC Nursing

ISSN: 1472-6955

Contact us