Understanding compassion fatigue, optimism and emotional distress among Israeli school counsellors

ABSTRACT Compassion fatigue is common among counselors who are exposed to the ongoing trauma of students and families at times of distress and crisis. The aim of this study was to examine compassion fatigue, perceived stress, optimism and emotional distress among school counselors among 139 Israeli school counselors. The results indicated that compassion fatigue correlates positively both with perceived stress and with emotional distress and negatively with optimism. Levels of compassion fatigue were higher among Israeli school counselors working in elementary school than among those working in high school. Perceived stress mediated the association between compassion fatigue and emotional distress. The findings indicate that the personal resources available to helpers as well as vulnerability factors may affect levels of compassion fatigue and emotional distress. .