Compassion Fatigue Test

Compassion Satisfaction and Fatigue Subscales—Revision IV (full research manual)  [Helping] people puts you in direct contact with their lives. As you probably have experienced, your compassion for those you [help] has both positive and negative aspects. We would like to ask you questions about your experiences, both positive and negative, as a [helper]. Consider each of the following questions about you and your current situation. Select the number that honestly reflects how frequently you experienced these characteristics in the last 30 days.  

© B. Hudnall Stamm, 1997-2005. Professional Quality of Life: Compassion Satisfaction and Fatigue Subscales, R-IV (ProQOL). http://www.isu.edu/~bhstamm. This test may be freely copied as long as (a) author is credited, (b) no changes are made other than those authorized below, and (c) it is not sold.   

Disclaimer
This information is presented for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for informed medical advice or training. Do not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem without consulting a qualified health or mental health care provider. If you have concerns, contact your health care provider, mental health professional, or your community health center.  
 
               0=Never  1=Rarely  2=A Few Times  3=Somewhat Often  4=Often  5=Very Often 

1. I am happy.  
2. I am preoccupied with more than one person I [help].  
3. I get satisfaction from being able to [help] people.
4. I feel connected to others.  
5. I jump or am startled by unexpected sounds.  
6. I feel invigorated after working with those I [help].  
7. I find it difficult to separate my personal life from my life as a [helper].  
8. I am losing sleep over traumatic experiences of a person I [help].  
9. I think that I might have been “infected” by the traumatic stress of those I [help]. 
10.  I feel trapped by my work as a [helper].   
11.  Because of my [helping], I have felt “on edge” about various things.   
12.  I like my work as a [helper].   
13.  I feel depressed as a result of my work as a [helper].   
14.  I feel as though I am experiencing the trauma of someone I have [helped].  
15.  I have beliefs that sustain me.   
16.  I am pleased with how I am able to keep up with [helping] techniques and protocols.   
17.  I am the person I always wanted to be.   
18.  My work makes me feel satisfied.   
19.  Because of my work as a [helper], I feel exhausted.   
20.  I have happy thoughts and feelings about those I [help] and how I could help them.   
21.  I feel overwhelmed by the amount of work or the size of my case[work]load I have to deal with.   
22.  I believe I can make a difference through my work.   
23.  I avoid certain activities or situations because they remind me of frightening experiences of the people I [help].  
24.  I am proud of what I can do to [help].   
25.  As a result of my [helping], I have intrusive, frightening thoughts.   
26.  I feel “bogged down” by the system.   
27.  I have thoughts that I am a “success” as a [helper].   
28.  I can't recall important parts of my work with trauma victims.   
29.  I am a very sensitive person.   
30.  I am happy that I chose to do this work 

Self-scoring directions, if used as self-test be certain you respond to all items. 
 
On some items the scores need to be reversed. Next to your response write the reverse of that score (i.e. 0=0, 1=5, 2=4, 3=3). Reverse the scores on these 5 items: 1, 4, 15, 17 and 29,  so, that 1 = 5, 2 = 4, 3 = 3, 4 = 2 and 1 = 5. Please note that the value 0 is not reversed, as its value is always null. 

Mark the items for scoring:  

Put an X by the 10 items that form the Compassion Satisfaction Scale: 3, 6, 12, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 27, 30. 

Put a check by the 10 items on the Burnout Scale: 1, 4, 8, 10, 15, 17, 19, 21, 26, 29. 

Circle the 10 items on the Trauma/Compassion Fatigue Scale: 2, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 23, 25, 28. 

Add the numbers you wrote next to the items for each set of items and compare with the theoretical scores.
 
Results 

Potential for Compassion Satisfaction: The average score is 37 (SD 7; alpha scale reliability .87). About 25% of people score higher than 42 and about 25% of people score below 33. 

Risk for Burnout: The average score on the burnout scale is 22 (SD 6.0; alpha scale reliability .72). About 25% of people score above 27 and about 25% of people score below 18. 
 
Risk for Compassion Fatigue: The average score on this scale is 13 (SD 6; alpha scale reliability .80). About 25% of people score below 8 and about 25% of people score above 17. 

Scores of 22 or less indicates low potential for compassion satisfaction or risk for burnout and compassion fatigue, between 23 and 41 is average and 42 or more indicates a high potential for compassion satisfaction or risk for burnout and compassion fatigue.