Compassion Satisfaction, Burnout and Secondary Traumatic Stress among Humanitarian Workers in Gashora Emergency Transit Mechanism Rwanda
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53819/81018102t2292Abstract
Although working with vulnerable groups such as displaced persons requires a great deal of compassion and care, it may also inflict a significant impact on the helper. The purpose of this research was to determine compassion satisfaction (CS), burnout (BO) and secondary traumatic stress (STS) among humanitarian workers in Gashora ETM. This quantitative cross-sectional study utilized demographic questionnaire and ProQOL-5 scale for data collection. The respondents in this study were included using census method. Descriptive statistics, Spearman’s rho correlation test, and regression analysis were utilized for data analyses. The study included 78 participants, with an almost equal gender distribution (50% male, 47.4% female, 2.6% undisclosed). The majority aged 26-35 (48.7%) or 36-45 (37.2%). Most held a Bachelor’s Degree (64.1%) or a Master’s Degree (29.5%), and were married (62.8%). The majority were of Rwandan nationality (65.4%). Most respondents held non-managerial positions (74.4%). Experience in humanitarian work varied, with the majority having less than five years (47.4%). Most were employed by NGOs (52.5%), with others working for the UN agencies (42.3%) or government (5.1%). Most participants (94.9%) reported that their work involved listening to clients’ traumatic experiences. The study found that most participants had high CS (79.5%) and BO (75.6%), with moderate STS (78.2%). Findings showed that CS explained 43.5% of the variability in burnout and for every unit increase in CS, the BO declined by 0.660 units assuming all other variables are held constant (t = -7649, CI = [-0.831, -0.488]). The study findings also showed that 19.3% of change in STS were attributable to BO and for each unit increase in BO, the STS increased by 0.440 unit assuming all other variables are held constant (t = 4.267, CI = [0.234, -0.645]). Between STS and CS, on the other hand, non-statistically significant weak negative correlation was obtained (r (78) = [-0.18], P = [0.877). Respondents with Rwandan nationality had 3.6 higher odds of experiencing high CS compared to those with non-Rwandan nationality (AOR = 3.667, P < 0.05, 95% CI = [1.139, 11.808]). Respondents who were employed with UN were less likely to develop BO compared to those who work for NGOs (AOR = 0.240, P = 0.045, 95% CI = [0.059, 0.969]). Respondents with Non Rwandan nationalities were more likely to experience STS than those with Rwandan nationalities (AOR = 12.446, P = 0.020, 95% CI = [1.500, 103.28]). Additionally, respondents with non-managerial position had the higher odds of developing STS compared to those with managerial role in their organization (AOR = 3.855, P = 0.033, 95% CI = [1.119, 13.283]). Organizations, especially NGOs, should consider implementing or strengthening support systems to help manage stress and prevent burnout among employees.
Keywords: Compassion satisfaction, burnout, secondary traumatic stress, Humanitarian workers
References
Akinsulure-Smith, A. M., Espinosa, A., Chu, T., & Hallock, R. (2018). Secondary Traumatic Stress and Burnout Among Refugee Resettlement Workers: The Role of Coping and Emotional Intelligence. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 31(2), 202–212. https://doi.org/10.1002/JTS.22279
Copeland, D., & Henry, M. (2018). The relationship between workplace violence, perceptions of safety, and Professional Quality of Life among emergency department staff members in a Level 1 Trauma Centre. International Emergency Nursing, 39, 26–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ienj.2018.01.006
Cummings, C., Singer, J., Hisaka, R., & Benuto, L. T. (2018). Compassion Satisfaction to Combat Work-Related Burnout, Vicarious Trauma, and Secondary Traumatic Stress. Https://Doi.Org/10.1177/0886260518799502, 36(9–10), NP5304–NP5319. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260518799502
Davey, E., Borton, J. & Fole, M. (2013). A history of the humanitarian system, Western origins and foundations. HPG Working Paper. London: Overseas Development Institute. http://www.odi.org/publications/7535-global-history-humanitarian-ac-tion
Eriksson, C. B., Lopes Cardozo, B., Ghitis, F., Sabin, M., Gotway Crawford, C., Zhu, J., Rijnen, B., & Kaiser, R. (2013). Factors Associated With Adverse Mental Health Outcomes in Locally Recruited Aid Workers Assisting Iraqi Refugees in Jordan. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 22(6), 660–680. https://doi.org/10.1080/10926771.2013.803506
Figley, C. R. (Ed.). (2013). Treating Compassion Fatigue. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203890318
Foo, C. Y. S., Tay, A. K., Yang, Y., & Verdeli, H. (2023). Psychosocial model of burnout among humanitarian aid workers in Bangladesh: role of workplace stressors and emotion coping. Conflict and Health, 17(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1186/S13031-023-00512-1/TABLES/4
Gonzalez, T. C., Burnett, H. J., & Helm, H. (2019). An Examination of Resilience, Compassion Fatigue, Burnout, and Compassion Satisfaction between Men and Women among Trauma Responders. North American Journal of Psychology, 21(1), 1–20.
Guskovict, K. L., & Potocky, M. (2018). Mitigating Psychological Distress Among Humanitarian Staff Working With Migrants and Refugees: A Case Example. Advances in Social Work, 18(3), 965–982. https://doi.org/10.18060/21644
Hotchkiss, J. T. (2018). Mindful Self-Care and Secondary Traumatic Stress Mediate a Relationship Between Compassion Satisfaction and Burnout Risk Among Hospice Care Professionals. Https://Doi.Org/10.1177/1049909118756657, 35(8), 1099–1108. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049909118756657
ICRC. (2007). Discover the ICRC. Available at: http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/publication/p0790.htm. Accessed September 3, 2023.
Iyamuremye, J.D., & Brysiewicz, P. (2010). Exploring secondary traumatic stress in mental health nurses working in Kigali, Rwanda. Africa Journal of Nursing and Midwifery, 12(2), 96–106.
Kartsonaki, M. G., Georgopoulos, D., Kondili, E., Nieri, A. S., Alevizaki, A., Nyktari, V., & Papaioannou, A. (2023). Prevalence and factors associated with compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction, burnout in health professionals. Nursing in Critical Care, 28(2), 225–235. https://doi.org/10.1111/NICC.12769
Kendall-Tackett, K. (2023). Recent research on secondary trauma. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 15(Suppl 2), S201–S202. https://doi.org/10.1037/TRA0001588
Maslach, C., Jackson, S. E., & Leiter, M. P. (1997). Maslach Burnout Inventory: Third edition. In C. P. Zalaquett & R. J. Wood (Eds.), Evaluating stress: A book of resources (pp. 191–218). Scarecrow Education.
Mavratza, T., Fasoi, G., Missouridou, E., & Apostolara, P. (2020). Compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue in health professionals working with refugees and migrants. Archives of Hellenic Medicine/Arheia Ellenikes Iatrikes, 37(6).
McKay, L. (2011). Helping the helpers: Understanding, assessing, and treating humanitarian workers experiencing acute stress reactions. Pasadena, CA: Headington Institute.
Musa, S. A., & Hamid, A. A. R. M. (2008). PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS AMONG AID WORKERS OPERATING IN DARFUR. Social Behavior and Personality: An International Journal, 36(3), 407–416. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.2008.36.3.407
Nordahl, S. (2016). Mental health in and psychosocial support for humanitarian field workers. A literature reviews. Duo.uio.no. http://hdl.handle.net/10852/51080
Ogi´nska-Bulik, N., & Michalska, P. (2021). Psychological Resilience and Secondary Traumatic Stress in Nurses Working With Terminally Ill Patients—The Mediating Role of Job Burnout. Psychological Services, 18(3), 398–405. https://doi.org/10.1037/SER0000421
Ratzon, A., Farhi, M., Ratzon, N., & Adini, B. (2022). Resilience at Work, Burnout, Secondary Trauma, and Compassion Satisfaction of Social Workers Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2022, Vol. 19, Page 5500, 19(9), 5500. https://doi.org/10.3390/IJERPH19095500
Shah, S. A., Garland, E., & Katz, C. (2007). Secondary traumatic stress: Prevalence in humanitarian aid workers in India. Traumatology, 13(1), 59–70. https://doi.org/10.1177/1534765607299910
Sprang, G., Clark, J. J., & Whitt-Woosley, A. (2007). Compassion Fatigue, Compassion Satisfaction, and Burnout: Factors Impacting a Professional’s Quality of Life. Journal of Loss and Trauma, 12(3), 259–280. https://doi.org/10.1080/15325020701238093
Stamm, B. H. (2010). The concise ProQOL manual. Pocatello, ID. Retrieved from: http://www.proqol.org
Tirgari, B., Forouzi, M. A., & Ebrahimpour, M. (2019). Relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder and compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue, and burnout in iranian psychiatric nurses. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 57(3), 39–47. https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20181023-02
UNHCR. (2013). Emergency Transit Mechanism, Rwanda. March 2023 Fact Sheet. [Review of Emergency Transit Mechanism, Rwanda. March 2023 Fact Sheet. ]. www.unhcr.org
Van Overmeire, R., Van Keer, R. L., Cocquyt, M., & Bilsen, J. (2021). Compassion fatigue of funeral directors during and after the first wave of COVID-19. Journal of Public Health, 43(4), 703–709. https://doi.org/10.1093/PUBMED/FDAB030
Whitt-Woosley, A., & Sprang, G. (2018). Secondary Traumatic Stress in Social Science Researchers of Trauma-Exposed Populations. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 27(5), 475–486. https://doi.org/10.1080/10926771.2017.1342109
Xie, W., Wang, J., Okoli, C. T. C., He, H., Feng, F., Zhuang, L., Tang, P., Zeng, L., & Jin, M. (2020). Prevalence and factors of compassion fatigue among Chinese psychiatric nurses: A cross-sectional study. Medicine, 99(29), E21083. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000021083
Zaidi SMIH, Yaqoob N, Husnain S. (2017). Compassion satisfaction, secondary traumatic stress and burnout among rescuers. Journal of Postgraduate Medical Institute, 31(3): 314-8.
