Predictors of Compassion Fatigue among Doctors and Nurses: An Implication of Job Demand Resource Model

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship among compassion fatigue (reduced compassion, social life dissatisfaction, workplace dissatisfaction), motivation at work scale (intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, identified regulation, introjected regulation) and emotional demands (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, personal accomplishments) among doctors and nurses. A cross-sectional correlational research design was used to conduct the study and a sample of 230 doctors and nurses including male (n = 122)) and female (n = 108) healthcare professionals were recruited by using purposive sampling from government and private hospitals and clinics. The Compassion Fatigue Scale (Eng et al., 2021), Motivation at Work Scale (Gagne at al., 2015), and Maslach Burnout Inventory (Maslach & Jackson, 1981) were used to measure the constructs along with demographic information sheet and informed consent. The results of Pearson Product Moment Correlation showed that Compassion Fatigue was found to be significantly and positively correlated with Emotional Demands (Emotional exhaustion, depersonalization), and Motivation at work (Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation). The results of regression analyses showed that emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, personal accomplishment, intrinsic and extrinsic motivation were significant predictors of compassion fatigue and its subscales. This study highlights the importance of factors affecting well-being of doctors and nurses in healthcare system with the help of job demand-resource model.