Compassion Fatigue Test
You chose this work because you care. But somewhere along the way, the caring started to cost more than it used to. Maybe you find yourself going through the motions. Maybe the stories that used to move you now feel like weight. Maybe you're tired in a way that a weekend off doesn't fix.
Compassion fatigue is the occupational hazard of empathy — and it's especially common among nurses, therapists, social workers, first responders, and family caregivers. It's not weakness. It's what happens when you absorb others' pain without enough recovery.
This free assessment checks for the core dimensions of compassion fatigue and burnout. Your answers are scored entirely in your browser. Nothing is stored or shared.
Last updated: March 16, 2026
A compassion fatigue screening that measures the emotional cost of caring for others in distress, combining burnout and secondary trauma.
Helping professionals, caregivers, and anyone in a caring role who feels emotionally drained by others' suffering.
Compassion fatigue is an occupational hazard of caring — early recognition prevents deeper burnout. This tool is for informational purposes only. Not a substitute for professional mental health treatment.
What Is the Compassion Fatigue Test?
How Is the Compassion Fatigue Test Scored?
What Do My Compassion Fatigue Results Mean?
Burnout Assessment Tool
Assess emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment with this professionally-designed screening tool.
Last updated: March 16, 2026
Before you begin
This self-check uses a validated burnout assessment tool based on established psychological measures to help you understand your current stress and burnout levels.
Please understand:
- This is not a diagnosis and does not replace professional evaluation.
- Results are educational only — they describe symptom levels, not clinical conditions.
- Only a qualified healthcare professional can diagnose or treat conditions.
- Your answers are processed entirely in your browser and are never stored or transmitted.
- If you are in immediate danger or having thoughts of self-harm, please contact emergency services or a crisis hotline now.
Compassion Fatigue vs. Burnout
| Feature | Compassion Fatigue | Burnout |
|---|---|---|
| Cause | Empathic engagement with others' trauma | Chronic workplace stress and overload |
| Onset | Can develop rapidly | Develops gradually over time |
| Key symptom | Reduced empathy, intrusive thoughts | Cynicism, detachment, exhaustion |
| Who is affected | Helpers, caregivers, trauma workers | Anyone in a demanding job |
| Treatment | Supervision, trauma processing, boundaries | Rest, workload reduction, systemic change |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is compassion fatigue?
Compassion fatigue is a form of emotional and physical exhaustion that results from the cumulative cost of caring for others who are suffering. Unlike burnout, which develops from general workplace stress, compassion fatigue is specifically linked to empathic engagement with others' pain, trauma, or distress. It is common among nurses, therapists, social workers, first responders, hospice workers, and family caregivers. Signs include emotional numbness, reduced empathy, intrusive thoughts about clients or patients, and a diminished sense of purpose.
What's the difference between compassion fatigue and burnout?
Burnout develops from chronic workplace stress — overwork, lack of control, insufficient reward. Compassion fatigue is specifically caused by the emotional cost of empathizing with others' suffering. You can experience both simultaneously. Burnout tends to develop slowly; compassion fatigue can develop more rapidly after exposure to traumatic material. Both are serious and both are treatable.
Who is most at risk for compassion fatigue?
Anyone in a helping role is at risk, but particularly: emergency nurses and physicians, mental health therapists and counselors, social workers, hospice and palliative care workers, paramedics and first responders, child protective services workers, trauma surgeons, and family caregivers of seriously ill loved ones. High caseloads, inadequate supervision, lack of organizational support, and personal trauma history all increase risk.
What does this assessment measure?
This assessment uses a validated burnout scale measuring the three core dimensions most associated with compassion fatigue: emotional exhaustion (feeling depleted by your work with others), depersonalization (emotional distancing or cynicism as a protective response), and reduced personal accomplishment (feeling ineffective or questioning the value of your work). These dimensions overlap significantly with compassion fatigue as defined by Figley and Stamm's ProQOL model.
What can I do about compassion fatigue?
Effective strategies include: regular clinical supervision or peer consultation, setting clear professional boundaries, building in recovery time between difficult cases, trauma-informed self-care practices, therapy (especially trauma-focused approaches), reducing caseload where possible, and organizational advocacy for better support structures. The Compassion Fatigue Awareness Project (compassionfatigue.org) offers resources specifically for helpers.
Crisis Resources
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 — free, 24/7, confidential
- SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357 — free referrals, 24/7
This assessment is for educational purposes only — it is not a diagnosis. Only a qualified healthcare professional can assess compassion fatigue or related conditions. Your responses are processed entirely in your browser and are never stored or transmitted.
Reviewed by a Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor (CADC-II).
Last reviewed: March 2026