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Caring Too Much? Emotional Labor and Compassion Fatigue Among Faculty During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Katie Constantin

    (Oklahoma State University)

  • Gemini Creason-Parker

    (Texas A&M University)

  • Cynthia Werner

    (Texas A&M University)

  • Elizabeth D. Jenkins

    (Texas A&M University)

  • Vansa Shewakramani Hanson

    (Texas A&M University)

  • Rose L. Siuta

    (The University of Akron)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic brought abrupt changes to teaching that caused increased stress amid an already difficult time. Whether teaching remote, hybrid, or in-person, university faculty were expected to continue teaching throughout the pandemic, despite personal challenges at home. In addition, there were expectations that faculty show greater levels of compassion towards their students. Multiple articles brought attention to these struggles and questioned whether university faculty might be experiencing compassion fatigue—a state of emotional exhaustion brought on by secondary traumatic stress and characterized by a reduced capacity for empathy. Using data from a larger, longitudinal qualitative study of faculty members’ experiences during the pandemic, the present study aims to understand faculty experiences of emotional labor and compassion fatigue during this time. Unsurprisingly, most participants reported an increase in emotional labor during the early pandemic; however, roughly one in four described their emotional labor loads as unchanged or even decreased. In those cases, participants often described active disengagement practices in the workplace, or methods of “guarding one’s time.” Overall, compassion fatigue was less evident than anticipated, but there were identifiable signs of burnout among participants. This finding alone suggests a need for additional research to better conceptualize and operationalize the two terms.

Suggested Citation

  • Katie Constantin & Gemini Creason-Parker & Cynthia Werner & Elizabeth D. Jenkins & Vansa Shewakramani Hanson & Rose L. Siuta, 2024. "Caring Too Much? Emotional Labor and Compassion Fatigue Among Faculty During the COVID-19 Pandemic," Research in Higher Education, Springer;Association for Institutional Research, vol. 65(7), pages 1540-1560, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:reihed:v:65:y:2024:i:7:d:10.1007_s11162-024-09799-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s11162-024-09799-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Marcia L. Bellas, 1999. "Emotional Labor in Academia: The Case of Professors," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 561(1), pages 96-110, January.
    2. Manuela Pérez-Chacón & Antonio Chacón & Mercedes Borda-Mas & María Luisa Avargues-Navarro, 2021. "Sensory Processing Sensitivity and Compassion Satisfaction as Risk/Protective Factors from Burnout and Compassion Fatigue in Healthcare and Education Professionals," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-15, January.
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