Prevalence of Compassion Fatigue and Adverse Childhood Experiences in employees of foster care institutions

• Grant number: 25/03402-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2025
• End date: June 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Psychology - Psychological Treatment and Prevention
• Principal Investigator: Sabrina Mazo D'Affonseca
• Grantee: Ana Carolina Benevides de Araujo
• Host Institution: Centro de Educação e Ciências Humanas (CECH). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Caregivers working with children in institutional care may be at risk of developing Compassion Fatigue, a type of physical and emotional exhaustion resulting from the empathetic cost of dealing with others' suffering. This study aims to investigate the levels of compassion fatigue among professionals working with children in institutional care and to identify the relationship between compassion fatigue levels and adverse childhood experiences among these professionals. Participants in this study will include employees of the international organization SOS Children's Villages who work directly with children in care in Brazil. Data will be collected remotely through an online form, which will include participant demographic information, the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (ACE-IQ), and the ProQol-BR. Data will be statistically analyzed using the JASP 0.18.3.0 statistical software. It is hoped that the results will contribute to the development of necessary measures to prevent compassion fatigue in professionals working with victims of intrafamilial violence.