Three Year Quantitative Study of Compassion Satisfaction and Fatigue Among Teachers and Educational Workers in...

Although the psychological workplace hazards of compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue are a known risk factor for mental and emotional health distress for caring professionals, the extent of these hazards has not been explored in Alberta, Canada. Understanding and tracking the experiences of compassion fatigue and satisfaction of teachers and other educational workers was the primary focus of this three-year, cross-sectional research study.

A multimethod, longitudinal study was conducted from June 2020 to May 2023. Data were collected at three different time points between 2020 and 2023 to explore the mental and emotional health of teachers and other educational workers, and the quantitative analysis of these data suggests that mental and emotional health distress is widespread and intensifying across Alberta.

This paper discusses the extent of compassion fatigue and satisfaction across Alberta both at a general level and related to years of experience in the education field. Data analysis suggests worsening workplace wellbeing over time in both number and intensity, across gender and job role.

This article provides further evidence of the deepening crisis in education and contains some suggestions for policymakers, teacher educators, and system decision-makers invested in improving workplace wellbeing in educational settings.