Secondary Traumatic Stress and Compassion Fatigue among Oncology Nurses: The Mediating Role of Coping Style

Abstract

The present study sought to examine the Secondary traumatic stress and Compassion fatigue among Oncology Nurses: The mediating role of Coping Styles. A sample of 234 oncology nurses consisting n=105 men and n=129 women from hospitals were approached through convenient sampling method for this research. The main objective of the study was to determine the relationship among Secondary traumatic stress, Compassion Fatigue with the mediating role of Coping styles (Problem focused, Emotion focused and Avoidant coping). It was hypothesized that there would be significant difference on secondary traumatic stress, compassion fatigue and coping styles between male and female nurses and there would be a significant relationship between socio-demographic variables and Secondary traumatic stress, Compassion fatigue and Coping Styles. A detailed demographic sheet, Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale, Compassion Fatigue Inventory and Brief Cope Inventory were used for the data collection. Several variables were assessed through statistical analysis. Results showed significant relationship among secondary traumatic stress, compassion fatigue and coping styles. The highest frequency of demographic variables were; female gender, single in marital status, nuclear family system, graduate employees, Islam religion, middle socioeconomic status. Female employees score high in Compassion Fatigue. Implications, limitations and suggestions for future research had also been discussed.