Burnout, compassion fatigue and professional resilience in caregivers of children with disabilities in Ukraine

The disability and professional caregiving literature includes little descriptive data on the professional quality of life of the caregivers of individuals with emotional, intellectual, and physical disabilities in post-Soviet countries. The inherently stressful conditions in which caregivers’ practise has the potential to impact the compassion-ability of the caregiver as well as the quality of care for the individuals they serve. This study aims to bring insight into the professional experiences of those caregivers providing long-term care to children with disabilities in Ukraine. This exploratory study examined self-reported levels of compassion fatigue, professional burnout and compassion satisfaction, in a privately funded rehabilitation centre and a publicly funded orphanage. Results revealed that despite the difficult working conditions, caregivers experienced moderate levels of compassion fatigue, and above average levels of compassion satisfaction, suggesting that the positive aspects of caring for children with severe disabilities may be moderating the deleterious effects of the work.