INTRODUCTION: The following thesis explores the emotional experiences of helping professionals who daily work with children and adults diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in terms of Compassion Fatigue, Secondary Traumatic Stress, and Burnout. The characteristics of ASD, such as language and relationship impairments and behavioral disorders, are risk factors as they impact work fatigue, which can lead to vicarious trauma in helping professions. The outcomes of this process not only affect the professional and personal life of the professionals but especially the quality of the helping relationship and rehabilitative intervention. To prevent this problem, professionals must be aware of their emotional experiences and develop and implement coping and self-care strategies. OBJECTIVES: To investigate levels of Compassion Fatigue and analyze the experiences of professionals working with children or adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder; to raise awareness of Self-Care as a fundamental practice for helping professionals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Administration of the Professional Quality of Life Scale (Stamm, 2009) and an ad hoc questionnaire consisting in four open-ended questions to four rehabilitation centers, day care or residential facilities, for ASD in the province of Treviso. The sample consists of forty-seven professionals, including Health Professional Educators, Social Workers, Psychologists, OSS and other Health Professionals, who completed the paper questionnaires between July and December 2023. RESULTS: Among the 47 interwied professionals, no high-risk situations of Compassion Fatigue emerge: 78% presents a low level of Burnout, 22% a medium level, and none of them show high levels of Burnout; similar results can be noted in Secondary Traumatic Stress. On the other hand, qualitative analysis reveals a widespread feeling of fatigue among professionals. Organizational factors, characteristics of ASD and the management of emotional challenges are the main causes of this phenomenon, especially for those who is at their first work experiences. Furthermore, discontent emerges because of the lack of social and economic recognition they face every day. CONCLUSION: Despite the limited sample analyzed, this research shifts the focus from the patient to the helping professional, whose physical and mental health and self-care are fundamental for the success of educational and rehabilitative interventions. Furthermore, this thesis proposes an educational intervention organized by a Health Professional Educator for helping professionals to approach the theme of work-related pathologies and the coping strategies to prevent them. KEYWORDS: ASD, Compassion Fatigue, Burnout, ProQoL, ACT
INTRODUZIONE: Nel seguente elaborato di tesi si approfondisce il vissuto emotivo dei professionisti d’aiuto che operano quotidianamente al fianco di bambini e adulti con diagnosi di Disturbi dello Spettro Autistico (ASD) in termini di Compassion Fatigue, Secondary traumatic stress e Burnout. Le caratteristiche della patologia ASD, quali compromissione nel linguaggio e nella relazione e disturbi del comportamento, sono tra fattori di rischio che hanno delle ripercussioni sulla fatica lavorativa, la quale può sfociare in un disturbo vicario al lavoro d’aiuto. Gli esiti di tale processo ricadono non solo sulla qualità della vita professionale e personale dell’operatore, ma soprattutto sulla qualità della relazione e dell’intervento riabilitativo. I professionisti ne devono essere consapevoli e, perché ciò non accada, è necessario che siano capaci di gestire il loro vissuto emotivo e implementare le strategie di coping e di Autocura. OBIETTIVI: Indagare i livelli di Compassion Fatigue e analizzare il vissuto dei professionisti che lavorano al fianco di bambini o adulti con Disturbi dello Spettro Autistico; sensibilizzare al tema dell’Autocura come pratica fondamentale per i professionisti d’aiuto. MATERIALI E METODI: Somministrazione della Professional Quality of Life Scale (Stamm, 2009) e di un questionario costruito ad hoc, composto da quattro domande a risposta aperta, ai professionisti di quattro centri riabilitativi, diurni o residenziali, per ASD della provincia di Treviso. Il campione è composto da quarantasette operatori tra Educatori sociosanitari e socio-pedagogici, Psicologi, Operatori Socio Sanitari, professionisti sanitari della riabilitazione, che hanno compilato i questionari in formato cartaceo tra luglio e dicembre 2023. RISULTATI: Tra i 47 professionisti, che lavorano in strutture per adulti e minori con ASD nella provincia di Treviso, non emergono situazioni ad alto rischio di Compassion Fatigue, in nessuna delle sue due accezioni: il 78% presenta in un livello basso di Burnout, il 22% in un livello medio, e nessuno di loro presenta alti livelli di Burnout; risultati sovrapponibili sono rilevabili anche per quanto riguarda lo Stress traumatico secondario. L’analisi qualitativa mostra, invece, un sentimento di fatica diffuso tra i professionisti; tra le cause rilevabili emergono i fattori organizzativi, la difficoltà legate alla patologia ASD e la gestione del proprio vissuto emotivo, specie in chi è alle prime esperienze lavorative. Emerge, inoltre, un’insoddisfazione per quanto riguarda il poco riconoscimento sociale ed economico con cui i professionisti d’aiuto si scontrano quotidianamente. CONCLUSIONE: Nonostante sia svolta in un piccolo campione di professionisti e in una realtà circoscritta, questa ricerca sposta lo sguardo dal paziente al professionista d’aiuto, la cui salute fisica e psichica e cura di sé sono fondamentali per la buona riuscita dell’intervento educativo e riabilitativo. Si presenta, inoltre, un progetto di intervento educativo che l’Educatore Professionale sociosanitario potrebbe proporre nelle strutture coinvolte e svolgere con l’equipe multidisciplinare in cui è inserito. PAROLE CHIAVI: ASD, Compassion Fatigue, Burnout, ProQoL, ACT
La Compassion Fatigue nei professionisti che lavorano con persone con Disturbi dello Spettro Autistico: uno studio osservazionale nei centri riabilitativi della provincia di Treviso
MASARO, SARA
2022/2023
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The following thesis explores the emotional experiences of helping professionals who daily work with children and adults diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in terms of Compassion Fatigue, Secondary Traumatic Stress, and Burnout. The characteristics of ASD, such as language and relationship impairments and behavioral disorders, are risk factors as they impact work fatigue, which can lead to vicarious trauma in helping professions. The outcomes of this process not only affect the professional and personal life of the professionals but especially the quality of the helping relationship and rehabilitative intervention. To prevent this problem, professionals must be aware of their emotional experiences and develop and implement coping and self-care strategies. OBJECTIVES: To investigate levels of Compassion Fatigue and analyze the experiences of professionals working with children or adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder; to raise awareness of Self-Care as a fundamental practice for helping professionals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Administration of the Professional Quality of Life Scale (Stamm, 2009) and an ad hoc questionnaire consisting in four open-ended questions to four rehabilitation centers, day care or residential facilities, for ASD in the province of Treviso. The sample consists of forty-seven professionals, including Health Professional Educators, Social Workers, Psychologists, OSS and other Health Professionals, who completed the paper questionnaires between July and December 2023. RESULTS: Among the 47 interwied professionals, no high-risk situations of Compassion Fatigue emerge: 78% presents a low level of Burnout, 22% a medium level, and none of them show high levels of Burnout; similar results can be noted in Secondary Traumatic Stress. On the other hand, qualitative analysis reveals a widespread feeling of fatigue among professionals. Organizational factors, characteristics of ASD and the management of emotional challenges are the main causes of this phenomenon, especially for those who is at their first work experiences. Furthermore, discontent emerges because of the lack of social and economic recognition they face every day. CONCLUSION: Despite the limited sample analyzed, this research shifts the focus from the patient to the helping professional, whose physical and mental health and self-care are fundamental for the success of educational and rehabilitative interventions. Furthermore, this thesis proposes an educational intervention organized by a Health Professional Educator for helping professionals to approach the theme of work-related pathologies and the coping strategies to prevent them. KEYWORDS: ASD, Compassion Fatigue, Burnout, ProQoL, ACTFile | Dimensione | Formato | |
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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12608/65186