Examining Compassion Fatigue and Psychological Distress Among Medical Professionals: Evidence from a Cross-Sectional Study in a Provincial Hospital
Keywords:
compassion fatigue, psychological distress, healthcare professionals, coping mechanismsAbstract
Healthcare professionals frequently face emotionally demanding situations when caring for patients experiencing illness and trauma, which can lead to compassion fatigue and psychological distress, thereby affecting their performance and well-being. This study examined the levels of compassion fatigue and psychological distress among healthcare professionals working at Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital in China. A descriptive cross-sectional quantitative research design was employed. Data were collected from 325 healthcare professionals selected through simple random sampling. Standardized instruments were used, including the Compassion Fatigue Scale (CFS) and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS). Descriptive statistics, independent-samples t-tests, and Pearson correlation analyses were conducted. Results revealed that respondents experienced relatively high levels of compassion fatigue and moderate levels of psychological distress, indicating that healthcare professionals across multiple disciplines frequently encounter emotional strain associated with patient care and workplace demands. There is a significant negative relationship (r = −0.461, p < .001) between compassion fatigue and psychological distress. Differences in psychological distress were also observed across age, gender, and years of professional experience. These findings emphasize the importance of institutional strategies aimed at reducing the emotional burden experienced by healthcare professionals. Implementing psychological support programs, stress management interventions, and workplace policies that promote resilience and work–life balance could help mitigate compassion fatigue and improve overall well-being. The findings also provide practical guidance for hospital administrators and healthcare policymakers in designing evidence-based workplace mental health initiatives to strengthen workforce resilience, enhance staff retention, and promote the delivery of high-quality patient care.
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution–NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0).
