Compassion Satisfaction and Compassion Fatigue as Predictors of Psychological Well-Being of Social Workers: Basis for Psychological Wellness Program
Keywords:
Compassion satisfaction, Compassion fatigue, Psychological Well-Being, Social worker, Psychological wellnessAbstract
This study aimed to investigate compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue as predictors of social workers' psychological well-being. This quantitative study used multivariate multiple regression analysis on data from 120 respondents selected via purposive sampling. The data were gathered through self-report standardized tests, namely the Professional Quality of Life version 5, Ryff’s Psychological Well-Being Scale. Results revealed that Compassion Satisfaction has a positive, significant correlation and a positive predictive effect on all the Dimensions of Psychological Well-Being of Social Workers. Compassion Fatigue was found to have a negative, significant correlation and a negative, predictive effect on all five Dimensions of Psychological Well-Being, except Autonomy. These results indicate that as compassion satisfaction increases, psychological well-being across all six dimensions tends to increase as well. As compassion fatigue increases, psychological well-being across these dimensions, except Autonomy, tends to decrease. Furthermore, the results of this study served as the basis for a Psychological Wellness Program, entitled SIBOL, that aims to help social workers promote compassion satisfaction, prevent or manage compassion fatigue, and improve their overall psychological well-being.
Downloads
References
Acoba, E. (2024). Social support and mental health: The mediating role of perceived stress. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, Article 1330720. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1330720
Agoot, D., Arreola, F.M., Calizo, T.U., & Ignacio, J. (2025). Risk of developing compassion fatigue, quality of life, and satisfaction of social-related professionals. American Journal of Human Psychology, 3(1), 113–126. https://doi.org/10.54536/ajhp.v3i1.4654
Armes, S., Lee, J., Bride, B., & Seponski, D. (2020). Secondary trauma and impairment in clinical social workers. Child Abuse & Neglect. ScienceDirect. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104540
Atere, A., Kemi, R., Owoeye, S., Odimmegwa, F., Oluwayemisi, O., Joshua, O., & Amarachi, F. (2024). Prevalence of Secondary Traumatic Stress among social workers handling traumatized service users in Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Social Psychology, 7(2). https://tinyurl.com/4xnbzzxe
Bae, J., Jennings, P., Hardeman, C., Kim, E., Lee, M., Littleton, T., & Saasa, S. (2019). Compassion satisfaction among social work practitioners: The role of work-life balance. Faculty Publications. 4002. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/facpub/4002
Barrozo, D., Girguis, S., Blair, R., & Chang, J. (2023). Examining the understanding and practices of self-care among Philippine helping professionals. Journal of Psychosocial Research, 18(1), 75–90. https://doi.org/10.1027/2157-3891/a000076
Buselli, R., Corsi, M., Baldanzi, S., Chiumiento, M., Del Lupo, E., Dell’Oste, V., & Carmassi, C. (2020). Professional quality of life and mental health outcomes among health care workers exposed to Sars-Cov-2 (COVID-19). International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(17), 6180. https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/17/6180
Carvalho, M.I., Cunha, S., Teles, H., & Ribeirinho, C. (2023). Secondary Traumatic Stress in Portuguese social workers. Social Sciences, 12(4), 240. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12040240
Cruz, M. (2024). DSWD: Programs enhanced living conditions. Manila Standard. https://tinyurl.com/35svmpfz
Deci, E., & Ryan, R. M. (1985). Intrinsic motivation and self-determination in human behavior. Springer US. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-2271-7
Deci, E., & Ryan, R. (2000). The "what" and "why" of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior. Psychological Inquiry, 11(4), 227–268. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327965PLI1104_01
Dilapdilap, R., & Marzan, P. (2023). Compassion fatigue and psychological well-being of nurses as moderated by spiritual orientation amidst COVID-19 pandemic: A basis for Spiritual Wellness Program Module. Psychology and Education: A Multidisciplinary Journal. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8009491
Feist, J., & Feist, G.J. (2017). Theories of personality (9th ed.). India: McGraw-Hill, Inc.
Felipe, J.J., Cleofas, J., & Pua, J.S.L. (2024). Family health and mental well-being among young Filipino undergraduates: The mediating role of self-care. The Family Journal. https://doi.org/10.1177/10664807231205578
Fernandez, B.J. (2023). Organizational empowerment and personal values of social workers. Philippine Journal of Social Work, Vol 68, 15–17.
Figley, C. (2002). Compassion fatigue: Psychotherapists' chronic lack of self-care. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 58(11), 1433–1441. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.10090
Frieiro Padín, P., Verde-Diego, C., Arias, T.F., & González-Rodríguez, R. (2021). Burnout in health social work: An international systematic review (2000–2020). European Journal of Social Work, 24(6), 1051–1065. https://doi.org/10.1080/13691457.2020.1870215
Giménez-Bertomeu, V., Caravaca-Sánchez, F., de Alfonseti-Hartmann, N., & Ricoy-Cano, A.J. (2024). Burnout among social workers in social services: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence. Journal of Social Service Research, 50(4), 664–683. https://doi.org/10.1080/01488376.2024.2371847
Imperial, P.M., Abes, V.A.C., Ronquillo, M.J., & Vilegas, M.A.C. (2023). The occupational wellness concerns and self-care strategies of Filipino medical social workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Asean Social Work Journal, 11(2). https://doi.org/10.58671/aswj.v11i2.44
Kahambing J.G. (2021). Psychosocial wellbeing and stress coping strategies during COVID-19 of social workers in Southern Leyte, Philippines. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 62, 102733. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2021.102733
Kotera, Y., Green, P., & Sheffield, D. (2018). Mental health attitudes, self-criticism, compassion, and role identity among UK social work students. British Journal of Social Work, 49(2), 365–383. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcy072
Lagan, M.K. (2019). How psychological well-being correlates to organizational commitment: A basis for an enriched wellness program. Ascendens Asia Journal of Multidisciplinary Research Abstracts, 3(5). https://tinyurl.com/yckbesha
Laro, A. (2023). Resilient social work practice: From the experiences of Filipino social workers. Asean Social Work Journal, 11(2). https://doi.org/10.58671/aswj.v11i02.56
Lluch, C., Galiana, L., Doménech, P., & Sansó, N. (2022). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on burnout, compassion fatigue, and compassion satisfaction in healthcare personnel: A systematic review of the literature published during the first year of the pandemic. Healthcare, 10(2), p. 364. MDPI AG. https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/10/2/364
Magalang, J.P., & Carvalho, M.I. (2022). An exploratory study on quality of life of Filipino social workers: Stability and professional autonomy. Asia Pacific Journal of Social Work and Development, 33(3), 178–192. https://doi.org/10.1080/02185385.2022.2117240
Martinez, M.J., & Reyes, A.L. (2023). Cultivating resilience: A qualitative study of Filipino social workers. ASEAN Social Work Journal, 11(1), 45–60.
Maslow, A.H. (1968). Toward a psychology of being (2nd ed.). New York, United States: Van Nostrand Reinhold.
Molina, J.P., & Gismundo, G.I.A.W. (2023). Compassion fatigue among social workers of the primary setting. ASEAN Multidisciplinary Research Journal, 13.
Moudatsou, M., Stavropoulou, A., Philalithis, A., & Koukouli, S. (2020). The role of empathy in health and social care professionals. Healthcare, 8(1), p. 26. MDPI. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare8010026
Ng, J., Ntoumanis, N., Thøgersen-Ntoumani, C., Deci, E., Ryan, R., Duda, J., & Williams, G. (2012). Self-Determination Theory applied to health contexts: A meta-analysis. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 7(4), 325–340. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691612447309
Perera, A. (2024). Self-actualization in psychology: Theory, examples & characteristics. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/self-actualization.html
Ratzon, A., Farhi, M., Ratzon, N., & Adini, B. (2022). Resilience at work, burnout, secondary trauma, and compassion satisfaction of social workers amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 19(9):5500. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19095500
Romero-Martín, S., Elboj-Saso, C., & Íñiguez-Berrozpe, T. (2022). Burnout and mindfulness among social workers in Spain: A structural equation model of mindfulness and areas of worklife as burnout predictors. International Social Work, 67(1), 208-225. https://doi.org/10.1177/00208728221112733
Ruiz-Fernández, M., Ramos-Pichardo, J., Ibáñez-Masero, O., Carmona-Rega, M., Sánchez-Ruiz, M., & Ortega-Galán, Á. (2021). Professional quality of life, self-compassion, resilience, and empathy in healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 crisis in Spain. Research in Nursing & Health, 44(4), 620–632. https://doi.org/10.1002/nur.22196
Ryan, R.M., & Deci, E.L. (2000). Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. American Psychologist, 55(1), 68–78. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.55.1.68
Ryff, C.D. (1989). Happiness is everything, or is it? Explorations on the meaning of psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57(6), 1069–1081. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.57.6.1069
Saggar, I. (2021). Compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue and mental-well being among health care workers during COVID-19 outbreak. The International Journal of Indian Psychology, 9(2). https://ijip.in/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/18.01.093.20210902.pdf
Sehrish, A., Saadiya, A., Usmana, A., & Farrukh, I. (2020). Mediating role of professional quality of life between emotional regulation and psychological well-being among mental health professionals. Psychology and Behavioral Science International Journal, 14(3): 555888. DOI:10.19080/PBSIJ.2020.14.555888
Shubair, S., Miller, B., & Zelenko, J. (2023). A phenomenological study of compassion satisfaction among social work educators in higher education. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1176786. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1176786
Singer, J., Cummings, C., Moody, S., & Benuto, L. (2020). Reducing burnout, vicarious trauma, and secondary traumatic stress through investigating purpose in life in social workers. Journal of Social Work, 20(5), 646–661. https://doi.org/10.1177/1468017319853057
Sorenson, C., Bolick, B., Wright, K., & Hamilton, R. (2016). Understanding compassion fatigue in healthcare providers: A review of current literature. Journal of Nursing Scholarship: An Official Publication of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, 48(5), 456–465. https://doi.org/10.1111/jnu.12229
Stamm, B. (2009). The concise manual for the professional quality of life scale, 2nd Edition.
Tang, X., & Li, X. (2021). Role stress, burnout, and workplace support among newly recruited social workers. Research on Social Work Practice, 31(5). https://doi.org/10.1177/104973152098453
Tesi, A., Aiello, A., & Giannetti, E. (2019). The work-related well-being of social workers: Framing job demands, psychological well-being, and work engagement. Journal of Social Work, 19(2), 121–141. https://doi.org/10.1177/1468017318757397
Villarosa, J.B., & Ganotice, F.A., Jr. (2018). Construct validation of Ryff’s Psychological Well-Being Scale: Evidence from Filipino teachers in the Philippines. Philippine Journal of Psychology, 51(1), 101–127.
Weinstein, N., & Ryan, R.M. (2010). When helping helps: Autonomous motivation for prosocial behavior and its influence on well-being for the helper and recipient. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 98(2), 222–244. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0016984
World Health Organization. (2022). Occupational health: Health workers. World Health Organization. https://tinyurl.com/mremmt4c
Wu, T., & Lu, C.-R. (2025). Understanding compassion fatigue among social workers: A scoping review. Frontiers in Psychology, 16, 1500305. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1500305
Xie, W., Chen, L., Feng, F., Okoli, C., Tang, P., Zeng, L., Jin, M., Zhang, Y., & Wang, J. (2021). The prevalence of compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue among nurses: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 120, 103973. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2021.103973
Yi, J., Kim, M.A., Choi, K., Droubay, B.A., & Kim, S. (2019). Compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue among medical social workers in Korea: The role of empathy. Social Work in Health Care, 58(10), 970–987. https://doi.org/10.1080/00981389.2019.1686678
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Interdisciplinary Perspectives
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
