AD ALTA
JOURNAL OF INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH
60 and police officers n = 60), the return of the questionnaires
was 86,66 %, 104 questionnaires were finally included in the
analysis (N = 104, 56 women, 48 men – social sphere 42
women, 11 men; PFSR 14 women, 37 men). The average age of
respondents was 40,417 (social sphere 40,245; PFSR 40,588),
the average length of practice was 15,138 (social sphere 13,334;
PFSR 16,941).
5 Results
Based on the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, parametric statistical
methods were used for both groups of the research sample and
for both questionnaires (the level of significance α in all of these
categories reached p = 0.200).
Tab. 1
The level of feeling compassion fatigue and the level
of self-care
social sphere
(n=53)
police officers
(n=51)
CFS
120,17
118,35
SRSC
102,81
101,04
The Table shows the average scores of both scales. SRSC scale
scores are between 32-160, the average score is 96. The results
indicated above-average value for both groups of the research
sample. Compassion fatigue scores, after polarity change of the
items, reaches 30 - 150, average score is 90. Given that the
compassion fatigue is a negative effect at work, these results
demonstrate the above-average level of occurrance of this
phenomenon in the examined professions.
Tab. 2 The correlation between the level of self-regulation in the
self-care area and the level of compassion fatigue among the
workers in social area
social sphere
(n=53)
Pearson's Correlation
Coefficient rho (ρ)
CFS
SRSC
r
0,503**
p
0,001
SRSC F1
r
0,568**
p
0,001
SRSC F2
r
0,214
p
0,124
SRSC F3
r
0,363**
p
0,008
SRSC F4
r
0,194
p
0,164
p
≤ 0,05* p ≤ 0,01**
For workers in the social sphere, the positive correlation of
compassion fatigue has been confirmed with an overall score,
the first factor (personal growth and development) and the third
factor (emotional control) SRSC at p ≤ 0.01 **.
For police officers the positive correlation of compassion fatigue
has been confirmed with an overall score SRSC at p ≤ 0,05*, the
first factor (personal growth and development) and the third
factor (emotional control) SRSC at p ≤ 0,01**(tab 3).
The results indicate that the more workers feel exhaustion and
compassion fatigue, the more they are interested to find
appropriate self-care. The attention is primarily directed to the
area of personal growth and development in their profession
(participation in training, special courses, SPV) and the
development of self-control in emotional area when working
with clients. Beneficial in this regard could be a professional
approach to the client on their side (adequate education,
adherence to ethical principles, respecting the boundaries when
working with client).
Tab. 3 The correlation between the level of self-regulation in the
self-care area and the level of compassion fatigue among the
police officers
police officers
(n=51)
Pearson's
Correlation
Coefficient rho (ρ)
CFS
SRSC
r
0,329*
p
0,018
SRSC F1
r
0,537**
p
0,001
SRSC F2
r
0,011
p
0,936
SRSC F3
r
0,435**
p
0,001
SRSC F4
r
0,013
p
0,926
p
≤ 0,05* p ≤ 0,01**
5 Discussion and conclusion
The objective of the presented research was to capture the level
of self-care in two selected helping professions - workers in the
social sphere and by police officers and to verify the link
between this phenomenon and the compassion fatigue, that is
often present while carrying out these professions. Analyzes of
the author's data resulted in the observation of the above-average
scores in both studied phenomena, as well as the studied groups
of the research sample. A statistically significant relationship
was demonstrated between SRSC and the Compassion fatigue,
namely between the first and the third factor of SRSC and the
Compassion fatigue. Differences in results between the two
groups surveyed - workers in the social sphere and members of
Police were not found.
Alkemova, Linton and Davies (2008) conducted a research study
on a sample of 37 hospice workers (N = 37), the average age of
respondents was 46.35 and the average length of practice was
4.41 years. The aim of the research was to investigate the
relationship between all three PRoQOL scales, including
Compassion fatigue and Self-care. These phenomena were
pursued with relation to each other, but also with socio-
demographic factors, age, gender, length of practice and
education. The length of practice has positively correlated with
self-care, did not correlate with age or education, nor did the
gender differences demonstrated in self-care. Compassion
fatigue correlated with self-care, did not correlate with length of
practice or other socio-demographic factors.
Research on a large sample of police officers (N = 1390) was
performed by Battle (2011) in the United States. The aim of the
research was to determine the relation of compassion fatigue
with job satisfaction and burnout in terms of length of practice
and previous experience. Police officers have achieved above
average scores on a Compassion fatigue scale. The length of
practice correlated with compassion fatigue. (Battle 2011).
Another similar research was conducted in Europe in Slovenia.
The aim of the research was to verify the relationship between
work-related stress, burnout, job satisfaction, and compassion
fatigue. The research sample consisted of staff of the specialist
medical center N = 118, of which women n = 101 and men n =
17. The age of respondents ranged from 26 to 45 years. The
socio-demographic factors were age, gender and length of
practice. The correlation between the length of practice and the
compassion fatigue, as well as between the gender differences
and the compassion fatigue, was not confirmed. (Tabaj et al.
2015)
The research among the police officers in SR was done by
Vasková (2015). A total of 156 respondents working in risky
occupation took part in the survey, of which n = 60 are police
officers (PZSR), to collect data SRSC questionnaire was used.
85% of the sample were men and 15% were women. In terms of
gender, significant differences has not been confirmed. Above-
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