A Study of the Self-Reported Resilience of APC Chaplains

Oliver, R. A. C.; Hughes, Brian; Weiss, Geoffrey R.

doi:10.1177/1542305018773698

Cited by 15 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…In the present research participants reported a strong sense of fulfillment in relation to the opportunity afforded by their work to help others negotiate difficult experiences in their lives (see also, O'Callaghan et al, 2020;Yu et al, 2021). Similarly, the findings of negative relationships between compassion satisfaction and the negative measures of burnout and secondary traumatic stress, on the other hand, replicates previous research findings (Hotchkiss & Lesher, 2018;Oliver et al, 2018).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…The purpose of the current research is to examine the relationship between self-care practices and professional quality of life (ProQOL, Stamm, 2010) in Australian chaplains. A body of research investigating ProQOL has found negative relationships between compassion satisfaction and the stress measures of burnout and secondary traumatic stress (Alkema et al, 2008;Hotchkiss & Lesher, 2018;Oliver et al, 2018). We aim to replicate these findings; therefore, the following hypothesis is advanced:…”

Section: Research Hypothesesmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…Chaplains offer an array of pastoral care services that require them to share the suffering of those they assist and support (Oliver et al, 2018). Research from the healthcare and human service professions shows that this type of exposure is most consistent with the development of secondary traumatic stress (Sacco et al, 2015;Sreenivas et al, 2010).…”

Section: Research Hypothesesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Australian Chaplains and Their Professional Quality of Life

Stanford

Timms

2021

J Pastoral Care Counsel

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Chaplains often express a sense of satisfaction in helping others. But their work renders them vulnerable to secondary traumatic stress and burnout. We investigated mindful self-care, comparing the experiences of chaplains and other workers. Measures used included mindful selfcare, social support, and professional quality of life. We found self-care practices did not predict the professional quality of life. Lack of supportive structures and mindful awareness predicted burnout. Compassion satisfaction might arise from other sources.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Section: Research Hypothesesmentioning

confidence: 91%

Section: Research Hypothesesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Australian Chaplains and Their Professional Quality of Life

Stanford

Timms

2021

J Pastoral Care Counsel

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“…Acute spiritual distress (loss of faith) was rare (9.3%), but one-third of the participants experienced Distress from Theodicy and a majority (61%) reported feeling worn out in the past 3 months. Other studies of healthcare chaplains suggest a low prevalence of burnout (Flannelly et al, 2005;Oliver et al, 2018;Taylor et al, 2006;Yan & Beder, 2013). The higher proportion of chaplains reporting distress in the present study may be due to their work in PC; however, a chaplain's exposure to death did not predict increased Professional Distress or Distress from Theodicy.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…The potential for decreased empathy within patient-clinician encounters as a result of an imbalance between stress and coping strategies may specifically concern professional PC chaplains. Existing research suggests potentially low levels of distress among chaplains (Flannelly et al, 2005; Oliver et al, 2018; Taylor et al, 2006; Yan & Beder, 2013) and potentially a wider range of coping strategies employed by chaplains compared with nurses (Ekedahl & Wengstrom, 2008); however, researchers have not specifically examined the distress levels of chaplains in PC or their self-care practices.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distress and self-care among chaplains working in palliative care

et al. 2019

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BackgroundThe prevalence of burnout and distress among palliative care professionals has received much attention since research suggests it negatively impacts the quality of care. Although limited, research suggests low levels of burnout or distress among healthcare chaplains; however, there has been no research among chaplains working in specific clinical contexts, including palliative care.ObjectiveThis study explored the distress, self-care, and debriefing practices of chaplains working in palliative care.MethodExploratory, cross-sectional survey of professional chaplains. Electronic surveys were sent to members of four professional chaplaincy organizations between February and April 2015. Primary measures of interest included Professional Distress, Distress from Theodicy, Informal Self-care, Formal Self-care, and debriefing practices.ResultMore than 60% of chaplains working in palliative care reported feeling worn out in the past 3 months because of their work as a helper; at least 33% practice Informal Self-care weekly. Bivariate analysis suggested significant associations between Informal Self-care and both Professional Distress and Distress from Theodicy. Multivariate analysis also identified that distress decreased as Informal and Formal Self-care increased.Significance of resultsChaplains working in palliative care appear moderately distressed, possibly more so than chaplains working in other clinical areas. These chaplains also use debriefing, with non-chaplain palliative colleagues, to process clinical experiences. Further research is needed about the role of religious or spiritual beliefs and practices in protecting against stress associated with care for people at the end of life.

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The Language of Compassion: Hospital Chaplains’ Compassion Capacity Reduces Patient Depression via Other-Oriented, Inclusive Language

et al. 2022

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Objectives Although hospital chaplains play a critical role in delivering emotional and spiritual care to a broad range of both religious and non-religious patients, there is remarkably little research on the best practices or “active ingredients” of chaplain spiritual consults. Here, we examined how chaplains’ compassion capacity was associated with their linguistic behavior with hospitalized inpatients, and how their language in turn related to patient outcomes. Methods Hospital chaplains (n = 16) completed self-report measures that together were operationalized as self-reported “compassion capacity.” Next, chaplains conducted consultations with inpatients (n = 101) in five hospitals. Consultations were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using Linguistic Inquiry Word Count (LIWC). We used exploratory structural equation modeling to identify associations between chaplain-reported compassion capacity, chaplain linguistic behavior, and patient depression after the consultation. Results We found that compassion capacity was significantly associated with chaplains’ LIWC clout scores, a variable that reflects a confident leadership, inclusive, and other-oriented linguistic style. Clout scores, in turn, were negatively associated with patient depression levels controlling for pre-consult distress, indicating that patients seen by chaplains displaying high levels of clout had lower levels of depression after the consultation. Compassion capacity exerted a statistically significant indirect effect on patient depression via increased clout language. Conclusions These findings inform our understanding of the linguistic patterns underlying compassionate and effective chaplain-patient consultations and contribute to a deeper understanding of the skillful means by which compassion may be manifest to reduce suffering and enhance well-being in individuals at their most vulnerable.

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A Study of the Self-Reported Resilience of APC Chaplains

Cited by 15 publications

References 2 publications

Australian Chaplains and Their Professional Quality of Life

Australian Chaplains and Their Professional Quality of Life

Distress and self-care among chaplains working in palliative care

The Language of Compassion: Hospital Chaplains’ Compassion Capacity Reduces Patient Depression via Other-Oriented, Inclusive Language

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