The Relationship Between Compassion Fatigue and Anxiety Levels of Nurses After Working in COVID-19 Isolation Ward

Sahar Jasim Mohammed Mohammed and Hilal Altundal Duru

SAGE Open, 2025, vol. 15, issue 3, 21582440251355912

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered many psychological concerns on nurses, such as anxiety and compassion fatigue. This study aimed to examine the relationship between compassion fatigue and anxiety levels of nurses after working in COVID-19 isolation wards in Kirkuk, Iraq. In this study, descriptive correlational design was used and the nurses after working in the COVID-19 isolation wards were selected by purposive sampling ( n  = 170) between 10 and 17 September 2022. Sociodemographic Information Form, Compassion Fatigue Scale, and State Anxiety Inventory were used in data collection through face-to-face interviews with nurses. Descriptive statistics, Levene test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Independent sample t -test, One-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and Ordinal Logistic Regression analyses were used to analyze data. The mean score of the Compassion Fatigue Scale and the State Anxiety Inventory for nurses working in the COVID-19 isolation wards was 39.53 ± 8.76 and 50.97 ± 7.45, respectively. This study determined that nurses working in the COVID-19 isolation wards had moderate compassion fatigue and anxiety levels. The results also showed a statistical significance between compassion fatigue and gender, age, and nursing experience, while anxiety levels and educational level. According to the results of ordered logistic regression analysis, men had a level of compassion fatigue than 0.07 times less than women; anxiety levels of nurses with 11 to 15 years of experience are 0.13 times less than those with 20 to 25 years of experience. There was no statistically significant relationship between compassion fatigue and anxiety levels of nurses working in the COVID-19 isolation wards. Given these risk factors, it is critical to implement targeted interventions to mitigate compassion fatigue and anxiety among nurses in COVID-19 isolation wards in Iraq. There should establish dedicated units to address the mental health needs of nurses, provide regular counselling, and stress management programs.

Keywords: COVID-19; compassion fatigue; anxiety; nursing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:sagope:v:15:y:2025:i:3:p:21582440251355912

DOI: 10.1177/21582440251355912

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