| Summary: | Healthcare staff have to maintain a high level of empathy while dealing with chronically stressful situations, and are therefore at risk for decreased workplace quality of life due to Compassion Fatigue. However there are also positive outcomes from caring work, namely Compassion Satisfaction. Sense of Community has been related to positive outcomes in studies of depression, prosocial behaviours, and physical health in community settings. However, it has rarely been studied as an index of potential risk or resilience in healthcare workers. There is also limited research on stress coping styles relative to quality of life among healthcare staff.
Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships among Sense of Community, coping strategies, Compassion Satisfaction and Compassion Fatigue in workers in various healthcare settings. Greater Sense of Community was expected to predict higher Compassion Satisfaction or lower Compassion Fatigue. Coping styles (e.g., social support seeking) were also expected to mediate these relationships, especially for certain healthcare positions.
Method: A link to an online survey was emailed to healthcare staff in private and public hospitals in New South Wales, and posted via social media. Respondents (n= 64, 74% female) reported on their Compassion Satisfaction, Compassion Fatigue, coping styles, and Sense of Community at work and at home. In addition they reported on state affect (PANAS), employment details and demographics.
Results: Sense of Community at work predicted greater Compassion Satisfaction, independent of coping style, gender, or job characteristics.
Conclusions: These preliminary findings suggest that workplace Sense of Community is associated with an individual’s reported Compassion Satisfaction and may help explain resilience in healthcare staff.
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