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Incorporating compassion into compassion fatigue: The development of a new scale
Author(s) -
Eng Linnéa,
Nordström Jennie,
Schad Elinor
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.124
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1097-4679
pISSN - 0021-9762
DOI - 10.1002/jclp.23113
Subject(s) - compassion fatigue , burnout , psychology , conceptualization , compassion , scale (ratio) , clinical psychology , physics , quantum mechanics , artificial intelligence , computer science , political science , law
Objective Although theory supports compassion fatigue as a separate condition, compassion fatigue, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress (STS) are terms often used interchangeably. We aim to create a compassion fatigue scale while comparing it to burnout and STS. Method Survey data were collected from 651 psychologists working in Sweden using a Compassion Fatigue Inventory (CFI), the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory, and the STS Scale. Results An exploratory factor analysis was used to evaluate the CFI resulting in high internal consistency generating three subfactors: Reduced Compassion, Social Life , and Workplace . Even though Compassion fatigue had a high correlation with both burnout and STS, the results suggest a narrower conceptualization of compassion fatigue. The only background variable related to compassion fatigue was years of work experience. Conclusion This new CFI can be useful in examining reduced compassion in health care professionals.