Date of Award
Summer 8-2-2024
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Liv Baker Van De Graaff, PhD.
Second Advisor
Joshua Plotnik, PhD.
Academic Program Adviser
Diana Reiss
Abstract
Caregivers for captive wild animals are fundamental to the overall care, welfare, and conservation of animals in their charge, fulfilling diverse and critical roles. Caring for others, whether humans or animals, exposes caregivers to compassion fatigue – a state of emotional and physical exhaustion resulting from prolonged empathetic engagement with those they assist, and moral injury – psychological distress that arises from actions, or the lack of them, which violate one's moral or ethical code. This distress can manifest as intense feelings of guilt, shame, or a sense of betrayal by oneself or others. These phenomena are pertinent in environments where the well-being of animals in captivity is a priority. The present study conducted a qualitative review and surveyed 109 wild animal caregivers in zoos, aquaria, wildlife sanctuaries, wildlife rehabilitation centers, and independent rehabilitation settings across the Americas, Europe, and Africa. The survey aimed to evaluate their work experiences, the prevalence of compassion fatigue, moral injury, and the potential impacts on animal welfare within these institutions. The survey employed multiple choice questions, Likert scales, and open-ended responses. Results indicated that levels of compassion fatigue and moral injury among participants ranged from moderate to high. Despite this, the overall assessment of animal welfare was generally positive. Analysis of open-ended responses helped identify factors that could mitigate compassion fatigue and moral injury among caregivers. The goal of this study is to advance understanding of compassion fatigue and moral injury in the field of wild animal care, to present caregivers' insights on effective strategies to mitigate these issues, and to explore the relationship between caregiver and animal well-being.
Recommended Citation
Delgado, Nadiya L., "Caring Until It Hurts: A Survey of Compassion Fatigue and Moral Injury Among Wild Animal Caregivers and Its Implications for Animal Welfare in Zoos, Aquariums, Rehabilitation Centers, and Sanctuaries" (2024). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/hc_sas_etds/1229