Losing compassion for patients? The implications of COVID-19 on compassion fatigue and event-related post-traumatic stress disorder in nurses. Issue 3 (24th January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hochwarter, Wayne; Jordan, Samantha; Kiewitz, Christian; Liborius, Patrick; Lampaki, Antonia; Franczak, Jennifer; Deng, Yufan; Babalola, Mayowa T.; Khan, Abdul Karim
• Is Part Of: Journal of managerial psychology. Volume 37:Issue 3(2022)
• Page Start: 206
• Page End: 223
• Publication Date: 2022-01-24
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- Pandemic -- Nurses -- Event system theory -- Compassion fatigue -- PTSD; Organizational behavior -- Periodicals; Management -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Psychology, Industrial -- Periodicals; Industrial management -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; 158.7
• DOI: 10.1108/JMP-01-2021-0037
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0268-3946

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: The authors investigated a psychological process that links characteristics of events related to the coronavirus disease (2019) COVID-19 pandemic (i.e. perceived novelty, disruptiveness and criticality) to compassion fatigue [(CF), a form of caregiver burnout] and subsequent post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in nurses. Design/methodology/approach: Administering two online surveys (October and November 2020) resulted in matched data from 175 nurses responsible for patient care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings: Perceived disruptiveness and criticality of COVID-19 events were positively associated with nurses' CF, which also mediated those characteristics' effects on PTSD instigated by COVID-19. Contrary to the authors' hypothesis, the perceived novelty of COVID-19 events was not significantly associated with CF nor was the indirect effect of perceived novelty on PTSD mediated by CF. Originality/value: The authors extend event system theory by investigating the psychological processes linking event features and resultant outcomes while providing practical implications on preparations for future unexpected and potentially life-altering events.