La satisfacción por compasión y el desgaste por empatía en los/as voluntarios/as del ámbito socio-sanitario de Mallorca

Abstract

In the field of health and social care, volunteering is framed in a setting where illness, pain or suffering are present. Volunteers who decide to get involved in this area can exercise, through the relationship they provide to those who suffer, a therapeutic effect that helps to alleviate feelings of loneliness or restlessness. However, this research focuses on the positive feelings (Compassion Satisfaction) and the negative feelings (Compassion Fatigue) that any such relationship as well as discomfort exposure may generate in volunteers. Likewise, the aim is to find out if there is a relationship between Compassion Satisfaction and Compassion Fatigue and empathy (essential for establishing the helping relationship), engagement and the motivations and selfcare of volunteers in the health and social care sector. In relation to these objectives, the personal experience of volunteering is studied in depth in two sampled groups. A research with a mixed focus and a non-experimental sectional design has been put forward. It consists of a sample of volunteers from the health and social care sector in Mallorca. It begins with a quantitative data collection phase (N= 257) and, once analyzed, it continues with the collection of qualitative data by means of 2 discussion groups. Statistical data processing is performed with the SPSS statistical program and qualitative data is carried out by using the Atlas.ti program, following the constant comparative method and open and axial coding techniques. The results obtained show that most volunteers are at high levels of Compassion Satisfaction and low or medium levels (21.4%) of Compassion Fatigue. Compassion Satisfaction, empathy and engagement have obtained significant positive correlations, as well as with motivations of values, learning and improvement in morale. A significant inverse relationship has been obtained between Compassion Fatigue and existing self-care practices. The main findings endorse the need to continue expanding knowledge in relation to this phenomenon, considering that it has implications for the permanence of volunteers in the health and social care sector and, therefore, volunteer organizations.