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Refereed Full Manuscript

Leadership, Strategy, and Engagement

Session: Organization Development in Healthcare

The Impact of Compassion Fatigue on Anxiety and Depression Among Veterinary Nurses: A Study of the Moderating Effect of Compassion Satisfaction

Saturday, March 4, 2023
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM CST
Location: Grand Ballroom 4
Abstract: Compassion fatigue has been studied in many populations, yet there exists very limited information on the impact of compassion fatigue among veterinary nurses, and its relationship with anxiety and depression as an occupational psychological hazard. This study operationalizes compassion fatigue as the cumulative effect of burnout and secondary traumatic stress and investigates the moderating role of compassion satisfaction on the relationship between compassion fatigue and mental illness constructs of anxiety and depression among veterinary nurses. Data was analyzed via hierarchical linear regression and moderation analysis. Results indicate moderation effects of compassion satisfaction on the relationship between secondary traumatic stress and mental illness constructs of anxiety and depression among the population. Compassion satisfaction did not moderate the effect of burnout on anxiety and depression. The study makes important theoretical contributions to the understanding of compassion fatigue in the caring professions and offers practical recommendations to veterinary organizations for establishing meaningful ways to engage employees so compassion satisfaction can be maximized to mitigate the effects of compassion fatigue on anxiety and depression.