COMPASSION FATIGUE, SELF-CARE, AND CLERGY MEMBERS: HOW SOCIAL WORKERS CAN HELP

• Main Author: Hanley, Tifani-Crystal Enid
• Format: Others
• Published: CSUSB ScholarWorks 2019
• Subjects: compassion fatigue; self-care; inspirational reading; expectations; collaboration; vacations; Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Online Access: https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/820; https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1912&context=etd

The goals of this research study were to determine if clergy members were prone to experiencing compassion fatigue and to identify the self-care methods they currently employ. Compassion fatigue can affect anyone in a helping profession and is considered to be a component of burnout. With the use of qualitative interviews, the views of pastors will be used to explain their understanding of compassion fatigue and their implementation of self-care. Data will also be collected to describe the methods of self-care the clergy members utilize when their levels of compassion fatigue presentation are prominent. Audio information gathered from the interviews, and demographic, compassion satisfaction and self-care surveys will be used, and a thematic and phenomena analysis will be created to analyze the data collected. This research will contribute to the collaborative efforts of churches and social workers to increase public awareness of compassion fatigue and self-care deficits that pastors are experiencing and that churches are observing within their faith communities. This can be beneficial in helping communities to effect positive change within the community.