Investigating Professional Quality of Life in Speech and Language Therapists Based on Education Level and Type of Institution

13. Uluslararası ACHARAKA Tıp, Hemşirelik, Ebelik ve Sağlık Bilimleri Kongresi, Baku, Azerbaycan, 16 - 18 Şubat 2026, ss.122-123, (Özet Bildiri)

Investigating Professional Quality of Life in Speech and Language Therapists Based on Education Level and Type of Institution

Abstract: Speech and Language Therapists are healthcare professionals who are at risk of occupational

stress and burnout due to the intensive communication and emotional interaction established with

clients. Professional quality of life encompasses the dimensions of compassion satisfaction,

burnout, and compassion fatigue. This study examined the effects of education level and

workplace setting on professional quality of life among speech and language therapists. The data

of this cross-sectional descriptive study were collected via a Google Forms survey distributed

online to relevant professional groups, based on voluntary participation. Participants completed a

sociodemographic information form and the Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL). Data

were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 26.0. The distribution of variables was assessed using

the Shapiro–Wilk test. Since normality was not met, the Mann–Whitney U test was used for

comparisons between two groups, and the Kruskal–Wallis H test was used for comparisons

among three or more groups. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. A total of 42 individuals

participated in the study; the majority were aged 22–30 years (97.6%) and female (73.8%). Of the

participants, 61.9% worked in rehabilitation centers and 73.8% held a bachelor’s degree. The

Mann–Whitney U test revealed no statistically significant differences in compassion satisfaction,

burnout, compassion fatigue, or total ProQOL scores according to education level (p>0.05).

Similarly, the Kruskal–Wallis H test indicated no significant differences across any subscale

according to workplace setting (p>0.05). The findings suggest that workplace setting and

education level do not have a determining effect on professional quality of life. Overall, the

results indicate that professional quality of life levels do not significantly vary by education level

or workplace setting, implying that occupational well-being may be more closely related to

individual and psychosocial factors.

Keywords: Speech and language therapists; Professional quality of life; Compassion satisfaction;

Burnout; Compassion fatigue