Date of Conferral

5-26-2025

Date of Award

May 2025

Degree

Doctor of Social Work (DSW)

School

Social Work

Advisor

Yvonne Chase

Abstract

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, social workers in patient care have faced significant emotional and psychological challenges, including compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, and burnout. This study explores the perceptions of social workers working in patient care during the pandemic, specifically examining how compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma contribute to burnout. By focusing on their experiences, the research emphasizes the vulnerabilities social workers encounter as they support populations during these challenging times. The study is grounded in job demands-resources theory to help explain how the demands of social work roles impact mental health and well-being. To gather in-depth data, 12 semi-structured interviews were conducted with social work professionals in patient care. Participants shared definitions of compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma, coping strategies, and symptoms encountered in their daily work. Content analysis was employed to analyze data. The research offers implications for positive social change through enhancing support systems for social workers, including developing tailored employee assistance programs, integrating relevant topics into academic curricula, promoting ongoing professional development, and advocacy for policy changes. The insights from this study aim to empower social workers with tools to cope effectively with their challenges, improving the quality of care provided to clients while addressing the ongoing stressors posed by the pandemic.

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