title: Dispositional attachment orientations, contextual variations in attachment security, and compassion fatigue among volunteers working with traumatized individuals.
abstract: In the present article, we report a series of studies examining the links between attachment orientations and compassion fatigue among volunteers working with traumatized individuals. Participants were volunteers in several trauma-related organizations, ranging in age from 18 to 69 years. In Study 1 (N = 148), we examined associations between self-reports of attachment insecurities and compassion fatigue. In Study 2 (N = 54), we used a diary design to assess attachment-related differences in emotional reactions to actual helping encounters over a 2-month period. In Study 3 (N = 108), we examined the effects of the experimental enhancement of attachment security (security priming) on reactions to a hypothetical helping encounter. As expected, attachment insecurities, either anxiety or avoidance, were associated with heightened compassion fatigue. Moreover, security priming reduced compassion fatigue in response to a hypothetical helping encounter. These findings underscore the relevance of attachment theory for understanding and preventing compassion fatigue.
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) Herzliya.
authors.forename: Eleanor
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pardess
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mikulincer
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dekel
authors.forename: Phillip R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Shaver
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005221:Fatigue / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006379:Helping Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009769:Object Attachment; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D014838:Volunteers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult