Thesis Title: Compassion Fatigue, Emotional Intelligence and Burnout among Criminal Defense Lawyers
Student Name: Rohma Nasir
Supervisor: Raisa Zubair
Degree: BS
Year: 2014-2018
Department: Institute of Applied Psychology
University: Punjab University, Lahore, Pakistan
Corresponding Address: Department of Applied Psychology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. Email: chairperson@appsy.pu.edu.pk, Phone: 92-42-9231245
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate relationship between compassion fatigue, emotional intelligence and burnout in criminal defense lawyers. It was hypothesized that there would be relationship between compassion fatigue, emotional intelligence and burnout. It was also hypothesized that compassion fatigue and emotional intelligence would be predictors of burnout. Correlational research design was used and sample was recruited via purposive sampling. The study included N = 120 criminal defense lawyers (n = 91 men, n = 29 women). Compassion Fatigue Professional Quality of Life Scale (Stamm, 2009), Emotional Intelligence Scale (Schutte et al., 1998), and Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (Kristensen et al., 2005) were used for data collection. Correlational analysis found compassion fatigue related positively with burnout and there was significant negative correlation of emotional intelligence with burnout. Hierarchal regression revealed that secondary traumatic stress positively predicted burnout (client related burnout). However, emotional intelligence subscale (perceptions of emotion) negatively predicted client related burnout. Similarly, emotional intelligence subscale (managing own emotion) negatively predicted personal, work related burnout. These findings will help in providing awareness and guidance to criminal defense lawyers regarding importance of emotional intelligence to reduce stress, anxiety and burnout.
Keywords: Compassion fatigue, emotional intelligence, burnout.
