Compassion and empathy in community social workers: A qualitative study in Spain

Compassion and empathy are considered to be elements of paramount importance in professionals working with individuals in need. However, the term 'compassion' generates controversy among social workers, while the term 'empathy' seems to be more universally accepted among these professionals. This qualitative study used a hermeneutic approach and aimed to explore and understand social workers' experiences with empathy and compassion in the community setting. Between January and June 2019, nine in-depth interviews and two focus group sessions were conducted with social workers from community social centres and primary healthcare centres in the province of Almería (Spain), with a total of 23 participants. The software Atlas.ti 8.0 was used for discourse analysis. Professionals reported that it was necessary for them to have an empathic attitude towards service users, and claimed that being empathic towards individuals in need was a moral obligation. They also reported that, although being empathic is a trait of these professionals, they have to avoid being affected by it, and that there are situations that block empathy. With respect to their perception of compassion, different interpretations of the concept were found: some professionals understand compassion as pity; other professionals have difficulty understanding the term and other professionals understand compassion as help. It has become necessary to change and develop the very conceptualisation of compassion and to create compassion promotion programmes, as this is fundamental for the protection and satisfaction of social workers themselves and for the sustainability of the support they provide to individuals who are in great distress.