Compassion fatigue and the meaning in life as predictors of secondary traumatic stress in nurses during the COVID‐19 pandemic

Abstract

AimThis study aimed to investigate the relationship among secondary traumatic stress, compassion fatigue, and meaning in life in nurses during the COVID‐19 pandemic.BackgroundChanges in working conditions during the pandemic also changed the needs of nurses. In addition to physical health, the COVID‐19 pandemic led to many psychosocial health problems such as sleep disturbances, depression, and traumatic stress. This makes nurses vulnerable to psychological side effects of the pandemic.DesignA cross‐sectional study was conducted.MethodsThis study was conducted with 166 nurses. Data were collected online at May–June 2021. A Personal Information Form, the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale, Compassion Fatigue Scale, and Meaning in Life Scale were used. The STROBE reporting checklist was followed.ResultsAs secondary traumatic stress levels increase, compassion fatigue increases, meaning in life decreases, and the search for meaning in life increases.ConclusionPredictors of secondary traumatic stress were shown to be compassion fatigue, change in sleep habits, meaning in life, marital status, and having a chronic illness. This suggested that working during the pandemic posed significant risks in terms of manifesting negative consequences on mental health in the long term.