Abstract
BACKGROUND: Midwives are at high risk of compassion fatigue (CF) due to the demanding nature of their workplaces. They also face greater occupational risks and prolonged mental stress in their daily work. Psychological resilience serves as a protection factor in fostering positive psychological outcomes. However, systematic research on CF and psychological resilience among midwives remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and influencing factors of CF among midwives in eastern and western China and examine the correlation between psychological resilience and CF. It provides a basis for midwifery managers to develop relevant interventions aimed at enhancing midwifery services and ensuring the stable, healthy development of the midwifery workforce. METHODS: A convenience sampling method was used to select 479 midwives from 20 public hospitals in 11 provinces of China as the study population between May and October 2021. The survey was conducted using the Chinese version of the Compassion Scale and the Psychological Resilience Scale, and relevant data were collected through an online survey platform. SPSS 23.0 statistical software was used for data analysis. RESULTS: The total CF score among midwives was 96.62 ± 10.45, with the following dimension scores: compassion satisfaction (35.70 ± 5.74), job burnout (28.47 ± 2.21), and secondary trauma (35.44 ± 4.98). Notably, 64.1% of midwives experienced severe CF. The total psychological resilience score (61.68 ± 15.09) was lower than the average for Chinese nurses, placing it at a middle-to-low level. Moreover, psychological resilience revealed a positive correlation with secondary trauma (r = 0.397, P < 0.01) but a negative correlation with job burnout (r = - 0.190, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: CF among midwives in eastern and western China is particularly pronounced. Key influencing factors include region, hospital grade, age, years of midwifery experience, and whether they have experienced delivery trauma events. To mitigate the effects of CF on midwives' work and overall well-being, midwifery managers should increase support systems aimed at strengthening psychological resilience.