Burnout, compassion fatigue, secondary traumatic stress, and affecting factors among midwives in Türkiye.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess burnout, compassion fatigue, secondary traumatic stress levels, and associated factors among midwives in Türkiye.

METHOD: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 233 midwives actively working in Türkiye between January 2022 and December 2023. Data were collected using the personal information form, Maslach Burnout Inventory, Compassion Fatigue-Short Scale, and Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t tests, analysis of variance, correlation, and multiple regression analyses.

RESULTS

Midwives who worked overtime, experienced traumatic births, reported job dissatisfaction, or considered leaving the profession had significantly higher burnout, compassion fatigue, and secondary traumatic stress scores (p < .05). Burnout was positively correlated with compassion fatigue and secondary traumatic stress. Regression analyses indicated that overtime work, professional dissatisfaction, traumatic experiences, and secondary traumatic stress significantly predicted burnout levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Heavy workloads and repeated exposure to traumatic events negatively affect midwives' psychological well-being. Institutional interventions aimed at reducing workplace stress, improving working conditions, and providing psychological support may help decrease burnout, compassion fatigue, and secondary traumatic stress among midwives. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).