Adverse childhood experiences, self-care, and compassion outcomes in mental health providers working with trauma

Abstract

Objective: This study examined the moderating effects of self-care on various compassion outcomes among mental health providers. Method: Mental health providers (n = 371; 94.1% female; mean age = 47.12) were surveyed regarding their level of self-care, history of adverse childhood experiences, and the degree of burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and compassion satisfaction experienced. Results: Results indicated that providers who endorsed a history of adverse childhood experiences (82.5%) also endorsed greater negative compassion outcomes than those who did not have such a history. Endorsement of self-care activities was a significant predictor of compassion satisfaction and burnout in the expected directions. Self-care served as a moderator between adverse childhood experiences and burnout. Conclusions: Self-care is an effective method for decreasing negative compassion outcomes among mental health providers who work with trauma. It is important to develop effective training programs that promote self-care in personal and professional settings.