Date of Conferral

1-1-2011

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Human Services

Advisor

Christine Racanelli

Abstract

Many adults in the United States experience posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) within their lifetimes. Researchers have identified compassion fatigue (CF), which debilitates mental health providers as a result of being exposed to their clients' traumatic experiences, as an occupational hazard. The purpose of this study was to examine whether a correlation exists between the presence of CF and the level of resilience. A confidential survey using the Connors-Davidson Resilience Scale, the Professional Quality of Life Scale Version 5, and a demographic questionnaire were given to graduate-level mental health clinicians who self-identified as routinely working with and/or treating trauma victims in the past 6 months. Participants were recruited from the New England Society for the Treatment of Trauma and Dissociation, the Metropolitan Atlanta Therapists Network, Dallas Chapter NASW listserv, and the Georgia Therapist Network. A multivariate analysis on the collected data was conducted to determine whether a relationship exists between the resilience scale and the subscales of CF within these population samples. According to study findings, there is a correlation between resilience and the 3 compassion fatigue subscales---CF, burnout, and compassion satisfaction. This study may lead to positive social change by helping guide clinicians to find ways to enhance resilience, and therefore, decrease risks of CF.

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