Compassion Fatigue and Secondary Traumatization on Foster Mothers’ Perceived Quality of Provided Care: A Phenomenological Study

Compassion fatigue and secondary traumatization are related phenomenon that contribute to the emotional and mental exhaustion of people in caring professions and roles. Of care, feminist ethicist Gilligan says that care is a reciprocal act that can repair the damage of past wrongs yet benefit both parties involved. This study examined the testimonies of eight foster mothers in the United States Midwest regarding their experiences with compassion fatigue and secondary traumatization and their manifestations of quality care, as the literature lacks thorough descriptions of both. Through hermeneutical phenomenological research, specifically interviews, this study confirmed that the foster mothers experienced compassion fatigue and secondary traumatization along a continuum; they also endured primary trauma. Their experiences with compassion fatigue and secondary traumatization did not alter their perceptions of how well they can care for their foster children, but they did change their view of themselves as carers. Their descriptions of care mirrored Gilligan’s ethics of care in some ways and diverted from it in others. This study had the practical ramifications of impacting the child welfare field, possibly including training and supports offered to foster parents, and the theoretical and empirical ramifications of better understanding women’s experiences of care and foster mothers’ experiences that differentiate compassion fatigue and secondary traumatization.