Swedish Clinical Psychologists’ Experiences of Compassion Fatigue
(2020) PSPR14 20192Department of Psychology
- Abstract
- The aim of the study was to investigate the participating psychologists’ experiences with compassion fatigue, and to identify individual, interpersonal and organizational factors and strategies perceived as contributing or protecting in relation to compassion fatigue. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with eight psychologists (three men and five women) with more than five years of experience in clinical practice. The interviews were analyzed with thematic analysis, generating five themes. These were organizational and task specific factors that participants felt contributed to their compassion fatigue (‘mission impossible’ and ‘emotional strain’), experiences of compassion fatigue (‘consequences’), interpersonal factors... (More)
- The aim of the study was to investigate the participating psychologists’ experiences with compassion fatigue, and to identify individual, interpersonal and organizational factors and strategies perceived as contributing or protecting in relation to compassion fatigue. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with eight psychologists (three men and five women) with more than five years of experience in clinical practice. The interviews were analyzed with thematic analysis, generating five themes. These were organizational and task specific factors that participants felt contributed to their compassion fatigue (‘mission impossible’ and ‘emotional strain’), experiences of compassion fatigue (‘consequences’), interpersonal factors that were perceived as contributing or protecting (‘interpersonal factors’), and individual factors that were perceived as protecting (‘shielding and strengthening factors’). It was found that all of the participants had experienced a negative impact of compassion fatigue on their personal lives. A large quantity of patients, and complex patient cases, as well as high expectations on the psychologists were experienced as contributing factors. Collegial support, an empathetic boss, a high degree of agency at work, and fulfilling activities outside of work were experienced as protecting against compassion fatigue. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9002884
- author
- Norrman Harling, Malin LU and Högman, Elisabeth LU
- supervisor
-
- Elinor Schad LU
- organization
- course
- PSPR14 20192
- year
- 2020
- type
- H3 - Professional qualifications (4 Years - )
- subject
- keywords
- Clinical psychologists, compassion fatigue, organizational factors, personal strategies, semi structured interviews, Sweden, thematic analysis.
- language
- English
- id
- 9002884
- date added to LUP
- 2020-01-27 09:21:46
- date last changed
- 2020-01-27 09:21:46
@misc{9002884,
abstract = {{The aim of the study was to investigate the participating psychologists’ experiences with compassion fatigue, and to identify individual, interpersonal and organizational factors and strategies perceived as contributing or protecting in relation to compassion fatigue. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with eight psychologists (three men and five women) with more than five years of experience in clinical practice. The interviews were analyzed with thematic analysis, generating five themes. These were organizational and task specific factors that participants felt contributed to their compassion fatigue (‘mission impossible’ and ‘emotional strain’), experiences of compassion fatigue (‘consequences’), interpersonal factors that were perceived as contributing or protecting (‘interpersonal factors’), and individual factors that were perceived as protecting (‘shielding and strengthening factors’). It was found that all of the participants had experienced a negative impact of compassion fatigue on their personal lives. A large quantity of patients, and complex patient cases, as well as high expectations on the psychologists were experienced as contributing factors. Collegial support, an empathetic boss, a high degree of agency at work, and fulfilling activities outside of work were experienced as protecting against compassion fatigue.}},
author = {{Norrman Harling, Malin and Högman, Elisabeth}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Swedish Clinical Psychologists’ Experiences of Compassion Fatigue}},
year = {{2020}},
}