PTSD Among Refugee Rescue Workers: Effects of Compassion Satisfaction and Fatigue on Burnout

Exposure to traumatic life events can affect workers’ prevalence to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and quality of life. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 126 volunteers and 33 professional rescue workers in the Open Arms rescue ship operating in the Aegean Sea to analyze the effects of stress exposure on the professional quality of life. Volunteers presented more compassion satisfaction and less burnout than professionals. In terms of gender, women showed more secondary traumatic stress and intrusion than men. Finally, burnout can be explained by age, compassion satisfaction, and secondary traumatic-stress. These results show the necessity of tailored interventions for the people who work in trauma contexts.