The Psychological Health and Professional Well-being of Operators Working with Forced Migrants in Italy: A Cross-sectional Epidemiological Study

Abstract

Abstract: Although the related dimensions of professional quality of life, secondary traumatic stress, and emotion regulation have been widely investigated in the field of helping and healthcare professionals, these dimensions combined have scarcely been explored in the field of workers with forced migrants. The aims of the present study are twofold. First, it aims to investigate the prevalence of secondary traumatic stress levels, emotion regulation, burnout, and compassion satisfaction in professionals working with forced migrants in Italy. Second, it aims to explore the associations between some socio-demographic and work-related characteristics and the psychological health and professional well-being status of professionals. An online survey was administered via Google Modules to the Italian associations and Third Sector entities working in the field of forced migration from May 2021 to March 2022. A total of 264 professionals (mean age: 39.9; 76.1% females) responded to the survey. On the background of good levels of psychological health and professional well-being, significant differences emerged in mental health status and professional quality of life related to professional roles, age, gender, and geographic provenience. Understanding the psychological health and professional well-being of those working with asylum seekers and refugees is crucial in providing appropriate supportive healthcare interventions which might be able to take care of professionals’ well-being as well as of their beneficiaries themselves.