Global Journal of Guidance and Counseling in Schools: Current Perspectives Volume 9, Issue 3, (2019) 115-130 www.gjgc.eu The factors of compassion fatigue among guidance counsellors Rhenan D. Estacio*, Centro Escolar University, Mendiola, Manila 1008, Philippines Suggested Citation: Estacio, R. D. (2019). The factors of compassion fatigue among guidance counsellors. Global Journal of Guidance and Counseling in Schools: Current Perspectives, 9(3), 115–130. https://doi.org/10.18844/gjgc.v9i3.4343 Received from March 05, 2019; revised from July 05, 2019; accepted from December 02, 2019. Selection and peer review under responsibility of Prof. Dr. Kobus Maree, University of Pretoria South Africa. © 2019 United World Center of Research Innovation and Publication. All rights reserved. Abstract The research was about the compassion fatigue and its contributing factors in guidance counsellors. The sample for the study was 92 guidance counsellors. This study explored factors of compassion fatigue, work-related factors, personality traits and demographic factors utilising the following instruments: professional quality of life scale (ProQOLs), NEO PI-R and demographic questionnaire. The context for the study was different schools in Central Luzon – Region 3, Philippines. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression stepwise method were utilised in the study. Findings indicated that participants had low levels of burnout and low levels of secondary trauma stress as elements of compassion fatigue. Personality traits of the participants identified include low levels of neuroticism, average levels of extraversion, average levels of openness to experience, high level of agreeableness and high levels of conscientiousness. Multiple regression stepwise method confirmed that the personality traits neuroticism, extraversion and agreeableness predict burnout with a variability of 40%. Likewise, salary as work-related factor also predicts burnout with a variability of 4.7%. Similarly, personality trait neuroticism is confirmed to predict secondary trauma stress with a variability of 21.9%. Based on the two elements of compassion fatigue, neuroticism was found out to be the best predictor among the personality traits. Keywords: burnout; compassion fatigue; guidance counsellors; secondary traumatic stress; * ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE: Rhenan D. Estacio, Centro Escolar University, Mendiola, Manila 1008, Philippines. E-mail address: nhanestacio@gmail.com