Compassion Fatigue and Compassion Satisfaction Among Residential Child Care Workers: The Role of Personality Resources

Abstract

This study assessed compassion fatigue (CF) and compassion satisfaction (CS) among Israeli residential child-care workers (RCWs) working in residential treatment facilities for children and youth at risk (N = 147) as compared to educational boarding schools workers (BSWs; N = 74). Furthermore, we assessed the relationship of potential personality-related buffers of attachment orientations, spirituality, and sense of coherence to CF and CS among these workers via self-report measures. Results show significant differences between RCWs and BSWs in CS but no significant differences in CF. Importantly, differential patterns of variables were found to predict the CF dimensions and CS. These findings suggest that both RCWs and BCWs are at risk for CF. In order to improve the resilience and reduce the turnover of RCWs and BSWs in their work, personality resources should be taken into account in the process of recruitment and training.

Keywords:

• compassion fatigue
• residential childcare workers
• attachment
• spirituality
• sense of coherence
• burnout
• secondary traumatization

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank David Brodeski, Sela Kedem, Shani Huri, Shira Buchris, Dafna Frid, and Oren Itzachaki for their help in the preparation of this manuscript.