Relationship Between Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Compassion Satisfaction, Compassion Fatigue, and Burnout in Iranian Psychiatric Nurses

Abstract

Research is limited regarding post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and professional quality of life (ProQOL) in Iranian nurses, especially nurses working in psychiatric units. The current study was conducted to determine the relationship between PTSD and ProQOL among psychiatric nurses in Kerman, Iran. This cross-sectional correlational study comprised 160 nurses working in three clinical settings supervised by Kerman University of Medical Sciences. Data were gathered using two questionnaires: PTSD Checklist and ProQOL Scale. Mean total PTSD score was 35.18 (SD = 10.92, range = 17 to 85), indicating nurses experienced moderate PTSD. Among ProQOL domains, burnout had the highest mean score and compassion fatigue had the lowest mean score. According to the Pearson correlation coefficient, PTSD score had a relationship with compassion satisfaction (r = -0.29; p < 0.001), compassion fatigue (r = 0.61; p < 0.001), and burnout (r = 0.36; p = 0.001). The current study results suggest that examining work-related PTSD, burnout, compassion satisfaction, and compassion fatigue in mental health nurses can help identify strategies to improve working conditions and quality of nursing care. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 57(3), 39-47.].