Who is typically affected by compassion fatigue?

• A. Only physicians
• B. Only nurses
• C. Health care workers and family caregivers
• D. Only social workers

Answer: (C)

Compassion fatigue comes from sustained exposure to others’ suffering and the emotional burden of caregiving. It isn’t limited to one job title; anyone who regularly supports or cares for people in distress is at risk. In healthcare, this includes various professionals such as physicians, nurses, and social workers, but it also covers family caregivers who look after loved ones at home. The ongoing exposure to pain, trauma, and high-demand caring roles can deplete coping resources, leading to emotional detachment, reduced empathy, sleep problems, and physical fatigue. Because the exhaustion and numbness can arise across formal care settings and informal caregiving, the group described as typically affected includes both health care workers and family caregivers. The other choices suggest the issue affects only a single profession, which doesn’t reflect how compassion fatigue develops in real-world caregiving.