Emotional labour job characteristics in compassion work – differentiating exposure, empathy, compassion, and distancing

Previous research on compassion work has focused on the emotion regulation of human services workers. However, little attention has been paid to the job characteristics of this work. In this paper, we conceptualise a model of compassion work that differentiates the task characteristics (1) exposure and (2) empathy, and the work style requirements (3) compassion and (4) distancing. We tested an operationalisation of our compassion work model for its factor structure and validity in two studies (total N = 985). Our findings confirmed the proposed four-factor structure. Moreover, as expected, exposure was positively related to engagement and burnout, suggesting exposure is a challenge stressor in compassion work; empathy was positively related to burnout, suggesting empathy is a hindrance stressor in compassion work; compassion was positively related to work engagement and work meaningfulness, suggesting it supports self-enhancement in compassion work; and finally distancing was negatively related to burnout, suggesting it supports health and well-being in compassion work. Overall, these findings suggest our model is a promising vantage point for future research, job design, and health prevention in compassion work.