Relationships Among Secondary Traumatic Stress, Mindfulness, Compassion Satisfaction, and Compassion Fatigue in Psychiatric Nurses.

PURPOSE

To examine relationships among secondary traumatic stress, mindfulness, compassion satisfaction, and compassion fatigue in psychiatric nurses.

METHOD

Participants comprised 142 nurses working in two psychiatric hospitals in the same province of Turkey. Data were collected using a personal information form, the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale, Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, and Compassion Fatigue and Compassion Satisfaction subscales of the Professional Quality of Life Scale.

RESULTS

A significant and negative correlation was found between secondary traumatic stress, mindfulness, and compassion satisfaction, and between mindfulness and compassion fatigue. A significant and positive correlation was found between secondary traumatic stress and compassion fatigue, as well as between mindfulness and compassion satisfaction ( < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Findings demonstrate that mindfulness may be a protective factor in preventing secondary traumatic stress and compassion fatigue in psychiatric nurses. It is recommended that in-service training be organized periodically to increase levels of conscious awareness among psychiatric nurses. [(1), 47-55.].