<p>En tidigare studie har visat att negativa effekter av att känna empati är övervägande på kort sikt medan positiva effekter är övervägande på lång sikt, gällande psykiatripersonal. Med den aktuella studien avsågs att undersöka huruvida liknande tendenser finns hos en generell population. 253 högskolestudenter deltog, och i en mellangruppsdesign besvarade hälften en enkät belysande upplevelser på kort sikt medan den andra hälften besvarade en likadan enkät belysande upplevelser på lång sikt. Resultatet visade att empati har olika effekter beroende på tidsperspektivet även för människor generellt, i form av mer positiva effekter på lång sikt. Denna effekt återfanns bland såväl kvinnor som män, och bland yngre såväl som äldre. En tänkbar förklaring är att intrycket blir ett annat med tidsmässig distans.</p> / <p>Evidence from an earlier study suggests that negative consequences of feeling empathy are predominant in the short-term, while positive consequences are predominant in the long-term, regarding psychiatry staff. This study investigated whether similar tendencies exist among a general population. 253 university students participated, and a between-subjects design was used in which half of the participants answered questionnaires illustrating experiences in the short-term, and the other half questionnaires illustrating experiences in the long-term. Also for people in general, the results showed that empathy has different effects depending on the time perspective through more positive effects in the long-term. This effect was valid, irrespective of gender or age. A possible explanation is that the impression changes with the distance that time brings.</p>

Denna studie har till syfte att genom kvalitativa intervjuer studera om brottsofferstödjare upplever att deras hälsa påverkas av arbetet, och i så fall hur detta yttrar sig. Detta är ett ganska nytt område att forska inom, därför finns det ett stort behov av ytterligare kunskap inom området, och därav kommer mitt intresse. Uppsatsen redogör för utvecklingen inom brottsstatistiken och uppkomsten av några olika brottsofferstödjande verksamheter. Tidigare forskning visar på att personer som arbetar med brottsofferstöd löper en stor risk att drabbas av negativa hälsoeffekter till följd av arbetet, dessa symptom benämns som compassion fatigue. I studien intervjuades sex personer som arbetar inom brottsofferstödjande verksamhet, varav tre är anställda och tre arbetar ideellt. Intervjuerna analyserades utifrån Karasek och Theorells krav-kontroll-stöd modell. Resultaten av dessa intervjuer visar att dessa personer ibland känner att arbetet har en negativ inverkan på hur de mår, men detta är bara under korta perioder och inträffar inte särskilt ofta. Genom erfarenhet och stöd från arbetskamrater har man lärt sig att hantera de jobbiga situationer som kan uppstå, så att de inte ger någon långvarig inverkan. Det visats att trots att det finns brister i verksamheterna, t.ex. när det gäller ekonomi och möjligheten till handledning i arbetet, så upplevs arbetet ändå generellt sett som positivt. Den störta anledningen till detta är den glädje man upplever i och med att man lyckas hjälpa någon annan. Det goda överväger det onda. Det var dock en intervjuperson som skilde sig från de andra, genom att hon en gång hade blivit sjukskriven p.g.a. utbrändhet som följd av arbetssituationen, denna person var en av de som arbetade med brottsofferstöd som fast anställd. Detta är 17% av alla intervjupersonerna, och 33% av de anställda.

Motstridig forskning finns om huruvida empati är en riskfaktor eller en skyddande faktor för yrkesverksamma inom omhändertagande yrken som frekvent kommer i kontakt med trauman och mänskligt lidande. Två alternativ finns inom forskningen: compassion fatigue och compassion satisfaction. Syftet med studien var att undersöka hur yrkesverksamma inom ett omhändertagande yrke, psykiatrin, påverkas av situationer i vilka de ofta behöver känna empati med patienter. Tjugoen respondenter deltog i en kvalitativ studie där öppna frågeformulär användes. Resultatet visade att sådana situationer leder till negativa känslor på kort sikt men positiva på lång sikt, något som tidigare inte har påvisats. Vidare framkom att typen av situation man empatiserar med är av betydelse, och att situationer där barn är inblandade verkar påverka starkast.

Studiens syfte var att utifrån tidigare forskning (Hallén, 2007, 2008) undersöka konsekvenser av att känna empati. Genom en faktoriell inomgruppsdesign (2x2) besvarade 51 frisörer en enkät om hur de påverkas på kort och lång sikt av att känna empati med sina kunder. Resultaten visade att empati med någon som mår dåligt upplevdes leda till betydligt mer negativa effekter än empati med någon som mår bra, på både kort och lång sikt. Vidare upplevdes effekterna som mer intensiva på kort sikt än på lång, oavsett om individen man empatiserat med mått dåligt eller bra. En tänkbar förklaring till skillnaden över tid är att de emotioner vi specifikt erfar genom andra avtar på samma sätt såsom minnen av egna emotioner gör generellt.

En tidigare studie har visat att negativa effekter av att känna empati är övervägande på kort sikt medan positiva effekter är övervägande på lång sikt, gällande psykiatripersonal. Med den aktuella studien avsågs att undersöka huruvida liknande tendenser finns hos en generell population. 253 högskolestudenter deltog, och i en mellangruppsdesign besvarade hälften en enkät belysande upplevelser på kort sikt medan den andra hälften besvarade en likadan enkät belysande upplevelser på lång sikt. Resultatet visade att empati har olika effekter beroende på tidsperspektivet även för människor generellt, i form av mer positiva effekter på lång sikt. Denna effekt återfanns bland såväl kvinnor som män, och bland yngre såväl som äldre. En tänkbar förklaring är att intrycket blir ett annat med tidsmässig distans. / Evidence from an earlier study suggests that negative consequences of feeling empathy are predominant in the short-term, while positive consequences are predominant in the long-term, regarding psychiatry staff. This study investigated whether similar tendencies exist among a general population. 253 university students participated, and a between-subjects design was used in which half of the participants answered questionnaires illustrating experiences in the short-term, and the other half questionnaires illustrating experiences in the long-term. Also for people in general, the results showed that empathy has different effects depending on the time perspective through more positive effects in the long-term. This effect was valid, irrespective of gender or age. A possible explanation is that the impression changes with the distance that time brings.

The population of asylum seekers puts new challenges on the Swedish health care since their difficulties are complex; having both atraumatic background and a continuing worry about the asylum process.This study aims at investigating how health care professionals working with asylum seekers are affected emotionally using the theoretical concepts of empathy, compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction. Nine qualitative interviews with health care professionals were conducted and the material was analyse dusing thematic analysis. Results were deductively found in thematerial, using the asylum process itself along with the concepts of empathy, compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction as themes. Previous findings regarding empathy and its relations to compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction were confirmed. This was furhter developed in this study through its focus on health care professionals working with asylum seekers.

Characterized as a loss of empathy, compassion fatigue is experienced by many in the helping professions. Also known as secondary traumatic stress, compassion fatigue occurs when those in the helping professions experience trauma through interacting with the traumatic experiences of the people they are helping. Previous literature has found the development of compassion fatigue to be inevitable due to the amount of empathy those professionals must utilize on a daily basis. Mindfulness practices, such as Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) have been found to be a helpful learning tool for those in the helping professions to reduce their levels of stress. Using a convenience sample of 74 therapists, the present study utilized attachment as a framework for exploring factors of predicting and preventing compassion fatigue. Attachment styles in romantic relationships was predicted to be associated with the development of compassion fatigue, while mindfulness levels were predicted to be preventative in the development of compassion fatigue. Findings indicated that levels of compassion fatigue were higher for females, and that higher levels of mindfulness was associated with lower levels of compassion fatigue for both males and females. Implications for therapists, supervisors, and therapists-in-training are addressed.

Several studies have suggested that compassion satisfaction (CS) promotes counsellor wellness through its mitigating effects on compassion fatigue, burnout, and vicarious traumatization. CS also contributes to career longevity and to a sense of fulfillment, balance, and wellness that extends from counsellors’ professional to personal lives. Yet, to date, very little research has been done using counsellor wellness or CS as a primary focus. While the literature on CS is relatively new, even less attention appears to have been paid to what experienced counsellors actively do to maintain CS and therefore, their wellness as counsellors. The purpose of this study was to extend the literature on counsellor CS by asking experienced counsellors how they actively maintain CS in their work. Participants (N = 6) were counsellors in the Victoria area who had worked in the field for at least 10 years, had a minimum of a Masters degree, and who were experiencing CS at the time of data collection. A social constructivist perspective was used to frame the study, and narrative interviews were used to collect the counsellors’ stories of how they had maintained CS throughout their careers. Data were analysed using thematic analysis and 6 themes are reported. Findings suggest that counsellors can actively increase their likelihood of maintaining CS by: (a) maintaining boundaries; (b) practicing self-care; (c) cultivating self-awareness; (d) developing positive, fulfilling relationships; (e) engaging in ongoing learning; and (f) embracing variety. Findings are discussed in terms of their implications for counsellor training programs, the personal and professional lives and retention of counsellors already in the field, directors of counselling agencies, and client care. / Graduate / 0621 / 0622 / 0519 / 0769 / 0569 / alexsterling7@gmail.com

Several studies have suggested that compassion satisfaction (CS) promotes counsellor wellness through its mitigating effects on compassion fatigue, burnout, and vicarious traumatization. CS also contributes to career longevity and to a sense of fulfillment, balance, and wellness that extends from counsellors’ professional to personal lives. Yet, to date, very little research has been done using counsellor wellness or CS as a primary focus. While the literature on CS is relatively new, even less attention appears to have been paid to what experienced counsellors actively do to maintain CS and therefore, their wellness as counsellors. The purpose of this study was to extend the literature on counsellor CS by asking experienced counsellors how they actively maintain CS in their work. Participants (N = 6) were counsellors in the Victoria area who had worked in the field for at least 10 years, had a minimum of a Masters degree, and who were experiencing CS at the time of data collection. A social constructivist perspective was used to frame the study, and narrative interviews were used to collect the counsellors’ stories of how they had maintained CS throughout their careers. Data were analysed using thematic analysis and 6 themes are reported. Findings suggest that counsellors can actively increase their likelihood of maintaining CS by: (a) maintaining boundaries; (b) practicing self-care; (c) cultivating self-awareness; (d) developing positive, fulfilling relationships; (e) engaging in ongoing learning; and (f) embracing variety. Findings are discussed in terms of their implications for counsellor training programs, the personal and professional lives and retention of counsellors already in the field, directors of counselling agencies, and client care. / Graduate / 2015-04-23 / 0621 / 0622 / 0519 / 0769 / 0569 / alexsterling7@gmail.com

Background: Compassion Fatigue (CF) describes the emotional, spiritual, intellectual and physical exhaustion that results from untreated distress among nurses, stemming from exposure to traumatic events and work environment stressors. Comprised of Burnout (BO), Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS) and Compassion Satisfaction (CS), CF results when BO and STS outweigh CS. CF leads to physical and emotional problems including fatigue, hopelessness, anger, and an increased use of sick days. For hospitals, this means poor morale, increased medication errors and higher turnover. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and severity of CF risk among the nursing staff at Maricopa Medical Center (MMC).Design: Descriptive study completed to determine: 1) What is the prevalence and severity of CF risk among nurses at MMC; and 2) compared to nurses with low CF risk, do nurses with high CF risk have differences in demographic and workplace characteristics? Setting: Maricopa Medical Center between April 14, 2015 and May 26, 2015 Participants: 315 full-time nurses at MMC in Phoenix. Measurements: Nurses were surveyed using the Professional Quality of Life Scale-5 (ProQOL-5) measuring the three components of CF: BO, STS and CS. Results: 46% of nurses reported moderate to high risk of CF. Nurses who worked in Labor and Delivery, Psychiatric Annex/Desert Vista, Emergency Departments, Intensive Care Units and Rapid Response units reported the highest risk. Risk increased significantly after their first year working at MMC. More frequent job changes outside of MMC correlated with lower risk profiles. Lower risk was seen in nurses with advanced degrees. Trends indicated that younger nurses, Clinical Resource Leaders, and nurses who had taken nine or more sick days in the previous six months were more at risk. Conclusion: Almost half of nurses were at moderate to high risk of CF. Unique findings were reported, including possible links between CF risk and job changes, and years working at a single facility. These links were previously unstudied. It was determined that the focus of interventions should be on nurses who work in the units most at risk and on new hire nurses, regardless of their years of nursing experience.