Date

8-6-2025

Department

School of Education

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Education (PhD)

Chair

Rebecca Lunde

Keywords

Burnout, Compassion fatigue, Compassion satisfaction, Emotional exhaustion

Disciplines

Education | Educational Psychology

Abstract

The purpose of this quantitative, predictive correlational study was to determine if there is a relationship between compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction, and emotional exhaustion in K-12 educators. There is limited research investigating the impacts of compassion factors on the emotional exhaustion and burnout of educators. This study is important because emotional exhaustion not only affects educators’ well-being and job performance but also has significant implications for student academic outcomes and overall school effectiveness. The research observed 111 full-time, certified K-12 educators, who were employed in a public or private school in the state of South Carolina. Data was collected utilizing the Professional Quality of Life Scale - Version 5 and the Maslach Burnout Inventory Educators Survey. Survey results were collected on a computer via Google Forms. A multiple linear regression analysis was used to analyze the data and to draw conclusions. The analysis aimed to identify the extent to which compassion satisfaction mitigates emotional exhaustion and whether compassion fatigue exacerbates it. The results indicated a statistically significant negative correlation between compassion satisfaction and emotional exhaustion, and a significant positive correlation between compassion fatigue and emotional exhaustion. These results provide insights into how these factors contribute to educators’ emotional well-being, offering implications for school administrators and policymakers to develop targeted interventions for educators.

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