Levels of compassion fatigue in social workers: Professional practice duration and public or private entity type as moderator variables

This study examines the relationship between Empathy Fatigue Syndrome, professional experience and institutional context among 269 social workers in Seville, Spain. Using the Empathy Fatigue Inventory, a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), reliability tests, frequency studies, contingency tables, Pearson’s correlations, linear regressions and ANOVA, findings reveal that less experienced social workers are more vulnerable to compassion fatigue, especially within their initial years. Moreover, higher compassion fatigue levels are observed in public institutions compared to private ones. The research advocates for emotional intelligence training and underscores the necessity for systemic support to improve well-being and professional efficacy in social work practice.