Compassion Satisfaction, Burnout, and Secondary Traumatic Stress Among Psychiatric Nurses in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

The study examined the Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) among psychiatric nurses in Saudi Arabia, with particular emphasis on compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress. The findings revealed that most participants experienced moderate levels of compassion satisfaction, reflecting a positive sense of fulfillment derived from their caregiving roles. However, a considerable proportion of the nurses reported moderate burnout, while a large majority demonstrated high levels of secondary traumatic stress, indicating substantial emotional and psychological strain associated with their professional responsibilities. Correlational analysis showed that higher compassion satisfaction was associated with lower levels of burnout and traumatic stress, whereas increased burnout was linked to elevated secondary traumatic stress. While most demographic factors showed minimal influence, educational attainment and income levels were significantly associated with burnout. Overall, the results underscore the importance of strengthening organizational support systems, implementing targeted mental health interventions, and adopting effective workload management strategies to enhance psychological well-being and resilience among psychiatric nurses in Saudi Arabia.