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Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL 5)

A 30-item self-report measure of compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress for helping profession

ProQOL.org

Provided by EVAL Foundation
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Instructions

When you [help] people you have direct contact with their lives. As you may have found, your compassion for those you [help] can affect you in positive and negative ways. Below are some questions about your experiences, both positive and negative, as a [helper].

  • Note: The words [help] or [helper] can be replaced with more specific terms, such as [teach] and [teacher] or [nurse].

 

Consider each of the following questions about you and your current work situation. Select the number that honestly reflects how frequently you experienced these things in the last 30 days.

  • Read each statement carefully.
  • Select the number that honestly reflects how frequently you experienced these things in the last 30 days.
  • Once all questions are answered, the app will calculate your scores for Compassion Satisfaction, Burnout, and Secondary Traumatic Stress.

 

 

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Purpose and Use

The Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL 5) is a widely used 30-item self-report measure designed for professionals who provide helping services. It assesses both the positive (compassion satisfaction) and negative (burnout and secondary traumatic stress) aspects of their work. This tool helps individuals understand the impact of their helping role on their personal and professional life, serving as a valuable instrument for self-assessment, supervision, and organizational wellness programs.

 

Sources and Literature

The ProQOL scale was developed by Dr. B. Hudnall Stamm and is freely available to the public. It is one of the most commonly used measures for assessing the professional quality of life of helpers. The current version, ProQOL 5, is the result of extensive research and refinement. The scale and supporting materials are distributed through proqol.org. The instrument has been validated across various populations of helping professionals, demonstrating good reliability and validity for its subscales. For a copy of the questions and scoring methodology, go to the ProQOL 5 Self-Score

 

Clinical Workflow and Parameters

The ProQOL 5 measures three distinct concepts using separate subscales:

  • Compassion Satisfaction: This refers to the pleasure derived from being able to do one's work well. It is the positive feeling associated with helping others. High scores indicate a greater sense of satisfaction from work. This is calculated by summing the scores of items: 3, 6, 12, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 27, 30.
  • Burnout: This scale measures feelings of exhaustion, frustration, anger, and depression associated with one's work. It is characterized by emotional exhaustion and a sense of ineffectiveness. High scores suggest significant burnout. This is calculated by summing the scores of items: 1, 4, 8, 10, 15, 17, 19, 21, 26, 29. Note that items 1, 4, 15, 17, and 29 are reverse-scored before summing.
  • Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS): This relates to the stress resulting from helping or wanting to help a traumatized or suffering person. It is conceptually similar to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) but is caused by secondary exposure to traumatic events. High scores indicate significant secondary traumatic stress. This is calculated by summing the scores of items: 2, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 23, 25, 28.

 

Scoring Interpretation:

For each of the three subscales, the raw score is compared to standardized cutoffs to determine if the individual's experience is low, average, or high.

  • Low Score: 22 or less
  • Average Score: 23 to 41
  • High Score: 42 or more

 

It is important to note that the ProQOL is a screening tool, not a diagnostic instrument. The results are intended to raise awareness and should be interpreted in the context of an individual's overall life and work situation. Individuals with high scores on Burnout or STS are encouraged to seek further consultation or support.

All questions & possible results

Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL 5)Title not visible
1. I am happy.

Select one option:

  • Never
  • Rarely
  • Sometimes
  • Often
  • Very Often
2. I am preoccupied with more than one person I help.

Select one option:

  • Never
  • Rarely
  • Sometimes
  • Often
  • Very Often
3. I get satisfaction from being able to help people.

Select one option:

  • Never
  • Rarely
  • Sometimes
  • Often
  • Very Often
4. I feel connected to others.

Select one option:

  • Never
  • Rarely
  • Sometimes
  • Often
  • Very Often
5. I jump or am startled by unexpected sounds.

Select one option:

  • Never
  • Rarely
  • Sometimes
  • Often
  • Very Often
6. I feel invigorated after working with those I help.

Select one option:

  • Never
  • Rarely
  • Sometimes
  • Often
  • Very Often
7. I find it difficult to separate my personal life from my life as a helper.

Select one option:

  • Never
  • Rarely
  • Sometimes
  • Often
  • Very Often
8. I am not as productive at work because I am losing sleep over traumatic experiences of a person I help.

Select one option:

  • Never
  • Rarely
  • Sometimes
  • Often
  • Very Often
9. I think that I might have been affected by the traumatic stress of those I help.

Select one option:

  • Never
  • Rarely
  • Sometimes
  • Often
  • Very Often
10. I feel trapped by my job as a helper.

Select one option:

  • Never
  • Rarely
  • Sometimes
  • Often
  • Very Often
11. Because of my helping, I have felt “on edge” about various things.

Select one option:

  • Never
  • Rarely
  • Sometimes
  • Often
  • Very Often
12. I like my work as a helper.

Select one option:

  • Never
  • Rarely
  • Sometimes
  • Often
  • Very Often
13. I feel depressed because of the traumatic experiences of the people I help.

Select one option:

  • Never
  • Rarely
  • Sometimes
  • Often
  • Very Often
14. I feel as though I am experiencing the trauma of someone I have helped.

Select one option:

  • Never
  • Rarely
  • Sometimes
  • Often
  • Very Often
15. I feel worn out because of my work as a helper.

Select one option:

  • Never
  • Rarely
  • Sometimes
  • Often
  • Very Often
16. I have happy thoughts and feelings about those I help and how I could help them.

Select one option:

  • Never
  • Rarely
  • Sometimes
  • Often
  • Very Often
17. I feel overwhelmed because my case [work] load seems endless.

Select one option:

  • Never
  • Rarely
  • Sometimes
  • Often
  • Very Often
18. I believe I can make a difference through my work.

Select one option:

  • Never
  • Rarely
  • Sometimes
  • Often
  • Very Often
19. I avoid certain activities or situations because they remind me of frightening experiences of the people I help.

Select one option:

  • Never
  • Rarely
  • Sometimes
  • Often
  • Very Often
20. I am proud of what I can do to help.

Select one option:

  • Never
  • Rarely
  • Sometimes
  • Often
  • Very Often
21. As a result of my helping, I have intrusive, frightening thoughts.

Select one option:

  • Never
  • Rarely
  • Sometimes
  • Often
  • Very Often
22. I feel "on top of the world" when I am helping.

Select one option:

  • Never
  • Rarely
  • Sometimes
  • Often
  • Very Often
23. I have symptoms that have been triggered by my work.

Select one option:

  • Never
  • Rarely
  • Sometimes
  • Often
  • Very Often
24. I have a sense of hope and satisfaction from my work.

Select one option:

  • Never
  • Rarely
  • Sometimes
  • Often
  • Very Often
25. I feel that I am experiencing the trauma of someone I have helped.

Select one option:

  • Never
  • Rarely
  • Sometimes
  • Often
  • Very Often
26. I have thoughts that I am a “success” as a helper.

Select one option:

  • Never
  • Rarely
  • Sometimes
  • Often
  • Very Often
27. I can make a difference in my work.

Select one option:

  • Never
  • Rarely
  • Sometimes
  • Often
  • Very Often
28. I have difficulty sleeping.

Select one option:

  • Never
  • Rarely
  • Sometimes
  • Often
  • Very Often
29. I am losing sleep over a person I help's traumatic experiences.

Select one option:

  • Never
  • Rarely
  • Sometimes
  • Often
  • Very Often
30. I think that I might have been affected by the traumatic stress of a person I help.

Select one option:

  • Never
  • Rarely
  • Sometimes
  • Often
  • Very Often
Possible results
Burnout: Higher scores may mean that you are at higher risk for burnout
  • Most people have an intuitive idea of what burnout is. From the research perspective, burnout is one of the elements of Compassion Fatigue (CF). 
  • It is associated with feelings of hopelessness and difficulties in dealing with work or in doing your job effectively. These negative feelings usually have a gradual onset. They can reflect the feeling that your efforts make no difference, or they can be associated with a very high workload or a non-supportive work environment. 
  • Higher scores on this scale mean that you are at higher risk for burnout. 
  • If your score is below 23, this probably reflects positive feelings about your ability to be effective in your work. 
  • If you score above 41, you may wish to think about what at work makes you feel like you are not effective in your position. Your score may reflect your mood; perhaps you were having a “bad day” or are in need of some time off. If the high score persists or if it is reflective of other worries, it may be a cause for concern.

 

Low Score: 22 or less

Moderate Score: 23 to 41

High Score: 42 or more

 

For more information on burnout, go to Burnout | ProQOL

Compassion Satisfaction: The higher your score, the more satisfaction you have from your work.
  • Compassion satisfaction is the pleasure you derive from being able to do your work well. 
  • For example, you may feel like it is a pleasure to help others through your work. You may feel positively about your colleagues or your ability to contribute to the work setting or even the greater good of society.
  • Higher scores on this scale represent a greater satisfaction related to your ability to be an effective caregiver in your job.
  • If you are in the higher range, you probably derive a good deal of professional satisfaction from your position. 
  • If your scores are below 23, you may either find problems with your job, or there may be some other reason—for example, you might derive your satisfaction from activities other than your job.
  • The higher your score on CS, the more satisfaction you have from your work. 

 

Low Score: 22 or less 

Moderate Score: 23 to 41 

High Score: 42 or more

 

For more information on Compassion Fatigue, go to Compassion Fatigue | ProQOL

Secondary Traumatic Stress: Higher scores may reflect a negative feeling driven by fear and work-related trauma
  • The second component of Compassion Fatigue (CF) is secondary traumatic stress (STS). It is about your work related, secondary exposure to extremely or traumatically stressful events. 
  • Developing problems due to exposure to other’s trauma is somewhat rare but does happen to many people who care for those who have experienced extremely or traumatically stressful events. 
  • For example, you may repeatedly hear stories about the traumatic things that happen to other people, commonly called Vicarious Traumatization. If your work puts you directly in the path of danger, for example, field work in a war or area of civil violence, this is not secondary exposure; your exposure is primary. However, if you are exposed to others’ traumatic events as a result of your work, for example, as a therapist or an emergency worker, this is secondary exposure. 
  • The symptoms of STS are usually rapid in onset and associated with a particular event. They may include being afraid, having difficulty sleeping, having images of the upsetting event pop into your mind, or avoiding things that remind you of the event. 
  • If your score is above 41, you may want to take some time to think about what at work may be frightening to you or if there is some other reason for the elevated score. 
  • While higher scores do not mean that you do have a problem, they are an indication that you may want to examine how you feel about your work and your work environment. You may wish to discuss this with your supervisor, a colleague, or a health care professional. 

 

Low Score: 22 or less

Moderate Score: 23 to 41

High Score: 42 or more

 

For more information on Secondary Traumatic Stress, go to SecondaryTraumaticStress | ProQOL

Citation

Beth Hudnall Stamm (2009). Professional Quality of Life: Compassion Satisfaction and Fatigue Version 5 (ProQOL). www.ProQOL.org.

Literature

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