Burden of Care and Compassion Fatigue Among Caregivers of People with Severe Mental Illness: Moderation Role of Illness Duration

A bstract Background: Illness duration and increasing functional decline in mentally ill patients increase the extent of care, which creates stress that can result in increased caregiver burden and compassion fatigue. Objectives: This study examines the relationship between the burden of care and compassion fatigue among caregivers of mentally ill patients, while also assessing the moderating role of illness duration. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional design was used, with 300 adult participants (141 men, 159 women; M = 35.39 years, SD = 11.44) drawn from two teaching and two psychiatric hospitals in southeast Nigeria. Data were collected using the Professional Quality of Life Survey (ProQol-5) for compassion fatigue and the Zarit Burden Inventory (ZBI-12) for caregiver burden. Results: Regression analysis revealed that the burden of care significantly predicted compassion fatigue (β = 0.12, P < 0.01), indicating that as caregiver burden increased, compassion fatigue also increased. Although illness duration alone did not predict compassion fatigue, its interaction with the burden of care produced a significant moderating effect (β = 0.00, P < 0.05) suggesting that prolonged illness intensifies the association between caregiver burden and compassion fatigue. Conclusion: The findings highlight the risks faced by primary caregivers, particularly when caring for individuals with long-term severe mental illness. Thus, healthcare professionals should educate caregivers on the dangers of compassion fatigue and provide necessary interventions. This may help mitigate compassion fatigue, and improve caregiver well-being and patient care.