Identification of compassion fatigue risk profiles in veterinarians: Implications for prevention and professional well-being

Abstract

Compassion fatigue is a widely recognized phenomenon in human care settings, but it has been little explored in the veterinary field, despite sharing many of the same determinants. This study aimed to (1) identify distinct emotional risk profiles in veterinarians based on their levels of compassion fatigue and satisfaction; (2) estimate the relative prevalence of compassion fatigue in each of these profiles; and (3) analyze the predictive value of sociodemographic variables (gender, age, cohabitation) on belonging to these profiles. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 135 practising veterinarians. An abbreviated version of the ProQOL scale, adapted to the animal context, was used. Its two-dimensional structure (compassion fatigue and satisfaction) was validated using confirmatory factor analysis. Hierarchical cluster and k-means analyses were performed on the factor scores, which identified four emotional profiles: (1) intense emotional involvement, (2) emotional detachment, (3) functional distancing, and (4) high emotional risk. The latter grouped 23% of the sample, while 50.4% presented significant levels of emotional exhaustion. Finally, an ordinal regression was applied, which showed that being over 44 years of age (OR = 2.11) and living with a partner (OR = 1.94) increase perceived emotional risk, with no significant effects of gender. The findings highlight the need for training initiatives that enhance emotional regulation and communication with animal guardians or owners, while promoting sustainable, ethically responsible, and emotionally healthy professional practice.