Date of Conferral

2023

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Medha Talpade

Abstract

AbstractCompassion fatigue (CF) has been described as the “cost of caring” for traumatized individuals, which may lead to missed workdays, diminished work satisfaction, increased turnover, and decreased client care. CF has long been studied in other caring professionals, but occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) have been largely overlooked. The purpose of this quantitative correlation study was to determine the relationship between secondary traumatic stress (STS) and resilience (RES) on burnout (BO) and compassion satisfaction (CS; i.e., indicators of CF) in OTPs. In this study, the moderation effect that RES has on STS and BO as related to CF in 68 completed surveys were analyzed. The Compassion Satisfaction-Compassion Fatigue model and the Compassion Fatigue Resilience Model were used as a framework for this study. Findings from this study suggest STS and RES impact BO and RES impacts CS (p < .001); however, STS does not significantly impact CS in OTPs (p = .056). Furthermore, the direct effect of BO on CF was significant (p = .007) as was the direct effect of STS on CF (p < .001); however, when controlling for the significant main effects of BO on RES and STS on RES, the interactions were not significant. These findings suggest that RES does not significantly moderate the relationship between BO and CF or STS and CF in OTPs. These findings will benefit OTPs by providing information that can lead to positive social change through better prevention and treatment, decreased missed workdays, improved work satisfaction, and reduced therapist turnover while improving client care and decreasing medical costs.

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