Perceived stress, compassion satisfaction, secondary traumatic stress, and burnout among social workers in Spain

Abstract This study estimates the prevalence of perceived stress, compassion satisfaction, secondary traumatic stress and burnout among social workers in Spain, examining their associations with selected individual and organizational characteristics within the job demands–resources framework. Between March and May 2021, a cross-sectional online survey was conducted with 1,123 practising social workers from all Spanish autonomous communities. Descriptive analyses were used to estimate prevalence, while multiple linear regressions with backward elimination examined the associations with self-rated health and key sociodemographic and occupational characteristics. High perceived stress was reported by 15.9% of participants, while high secondary traumatic stress and burnout were reported by 46.7% and 40.8% respectively. Poorer self-rated health was the factor most consistently associated with higher levels of perceived stress, secondary traumatic stress, and burnout and lower compassion satisfaction. Working in general social services and in private organizations was also associated with less favourable outcomes. These findings provide evidence from a Southern European welfare context.