Associations between personal attributes and compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction and burnout among caregivers of people living with HIV and Aids
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Date
2011
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Abstract
Compassion fatigue and burnout have the potential to compromise the ability of caregivers to work effectively, while compassion satisfaction may serve a protective function. This study investigated levels of compassion fatigue, burnout and compassion satisfaction among caregivers, and explored relationships between these and caregivers’ personal attributes. Eighty-three caregivers working in the field of HIV and AIDS in the uMngeni Municipality in the Kwa Zulu-Natal midlands completed two self-report questionnaires, the Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL, Stamm, 2009), and another regarding their personal attributes. Respondents showed an overall pattern of relatively high Compassion Satisfaction, average level of Burnout, and a very high level of Secondary Traumatic Stress, a profile usually associated with people working in situations of armed conflict. Compassion Satisfaction was negatively correlated with Burnout and Secondary Traumatic Stress, while Burnout was positively correlated with Secondary Traumatic Stress. Significant effects were found with the following personal attributes: (1) gender; (2) role clarity; (3) perceived efficacy; (4) secondary stigma; (5) social support; (6) personal history of HIV or AIDS; (7) access to counselling or therapy; (8) organisational support; and (9) self-care. Implications of these findings are discussed with reference to sustainable care, intervention and further research.
Description
Dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts (Clinical Psychology) in the Department of Psychology, University of Zululand, 2011.
Keywords
HIV/Aids -- KwaZulu-Natal, Compassion fatigue and burnout, Caregivers, Caregivers --HIV/Aids