Date of Conferral
2021
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Human Services
Advisor
Shari Jorissen
Abstract
Volunteers are vital to the operation of human service organizations, but nonprofit organizations remain at risk of turnover and disruption of services due to compassion fatigue of volunteers. Researchers have gained insight with respect to adverse childhood experiences being related to compassion fatigue. The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study was to explore the relationship between volunteer demographics, adverse childhood trauma (ACEs survey), and compassion fatigue (Professional Quality of Life Compassion Fatigue subscale). Compassion fatigue resilience theory was the theoretical framework used for this study. Three research questions were used for the study, with data collection completed online via survey. Results were varied for the research questions. Multiple linear regression revealed that ethnicity (p=0.013) was related to compassion fatigue at a statistically significant level but gender, age, volunteer time, and education were not. Simple linear regression showed that ACE-SF score was related to ProQOL-5 CFS score at a statistically significant level (p = 0.003). ANCOVA results indicated no statistically significant differences in compassion fatigue by gender, ethnicity, or education level. Differences in compassion fatigue were found for some volunteer time groups, but these were not consistent. These findings fill a gap in the research on volunteerism as well as how personal factors are related to compassion fatigue. The results of this study may be used to improve organizational environments for volunteers serving in nonprofit organizations.
Recommended Citation
Stovall, Sreela R., "Relationships Between Demographics, Adverse Childhood Experiences, and Compassion Fatigue in Volunteers" (2021). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 11338.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/11338
