The moderating effect of compassion fatigue in the relationship between firefighters' burnout and risk factors in working environment

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine risk factors in working environment affecting firefighters' burnout and to verify the moderating effect of compassion fatigue in the relationship between risk factors and burnout. A total of 371 firefighters working in large cities and small towns participated in the survey, and 341 questionnaires were analyzed. The questionnaires used in the study were the Working Environment Inventory, the Maslach Burnout Inventory, and the Compassion Fatigue Self-test for Helpers Scale. The results presented a high correlation between risk factors, burnout, and compassion fatigue. The overall regression model of risk factors in working environment and burnout was significant, and the explanatory power of the independent variable was 0.444. The sub-factors affecting burnout were the lack of challenge, the role ambiguity, the role conflict, and overwork. Next, firefighters' compassion fatigue was found to significantly control the effects of risk factors on burnout. In other words, as the level of compassion fatigue increased, the influence of risk factors in working environment on burnout increased. The significance of this study is to provide a basis for establishing environmental and psychological interventions which can reduce firefighters' burnout.