Secondary traumatic stress, burnout and compassion satisfaction among Flemish foster care workers during the COVID-19 lockdown

Abstract

This study examines secondary traumatic stress (STS), burnout and compassion satisfaction (CS) in Flemish foster care workers (FCW) during the COVID-19 lockdown. Even though child welfare workers are at increased risk for STS and burnout, these constructs have not been studied in FCW so far. Additionally, the COVID-19 measures severely impacted Flemish FCW’s work, personal and client environment, possibly stimulating the onset of STS and burnout and weakening CS. Moreover, this study aims to identify the work, client and personal factors determining high levels of STS and burnout and low levels of CS among FCW during the lockdown. STS, burnout and CS levels from 434 Flemish FCW were inquired with the Professional Quality of Life Scale. Low mean levels of STS and moderate mean levels of burnout and CS were reported during the lockdown. FCW who experienced a negative impact of COVID-19 measures on their work, had a high amount of worrisome placements due to birth parents in their caseload and low emotional stability are an at-risk group for both STS and burnout during the lockdown. CS was strongly determined by the impact of the COVID-19 measures on work and personality traits. Emotional stability determined the three outcome variables, making this a key characteristics for FCW during the lockdown. Consequently, during adverse circumstances, foster care agencies should pay extra attention and offer additional support to those FCW they estimate emotionally less stable and who struggle with the birth parents in their caseload.

‘Caring for the helpers’: factors associated with professional quality of life among Hong Kong nurses during the fifth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic

“…worries about COVID-19, family conflict) were negative predictors for STS and BO among professionals from a foster-care system (Whitt-Woosley et al, 2022 ). Similarly, fear of COVID-19 contamination for household members was also associated with STS and BO (but not CS) among foster-care workers in Belgium (Verheyden et al, 2020 ). In response to the rapidly changing pandemic situation, adjustments in organizational practices may bring additional stressors to frontline healthcare workers.…”

Child of two worlds: How foster care workers perceive their skills in dealing with worldview differences in foster care

“…In some countries, professionals serving in foster care are called 'child welfare workers' (Lindahl & Bruhn, 2018) or 'case workers' (Chambers et al, 2020), whereas in Belgium and the Netherlands, the term 'foster care workers' is preferred (Verheyden et al, 2020). In the Netherlands, until 1995, supporting foster families was one of the many tasks of a social worker.…”

Professionals’ Perspectives on the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic among Child and Adolescent Victims of Domestic Violence Living in the Portuguese Residential Foster Care System

“…A systematic review of DV during the COVID-19 pandemic [5] revealed that home lockdown left the victims more exposed to their perpetrators, occasioning increased violence and diminished reports. A study conducted in Portugal [6] showed that in a sample of 1062 participants, 13.7% (n = 146) stated that they had suffered DV during the pandemic. Most victims were subjected to psychological violence (13.0%, n = 138), with 1.0% (n = 11) and 0.9% (n = 10), respectively, exposed to sexual and physical violence.…”

“…By contrast, child protective and residential foster care services felt the impact of the restrictions on their functioning, with professionals expressing that they were subjected to additional duties and further stress [12]. Secondary traumatic stress, burnout, and compassion satisfaction in foster care workers during the COVID-19 lockdown were identified [13].…”