Factors influencing the professional quality of life in South African audiologists

Abstract

Background: Audiologists in South Africa operate within a complex, under-resourced healthcare system where high caseloads, limited institutional support, and emotional demands impact their professional quality of life. While international studies have explored the professional quality of life among various healthcare professionals, little is known about the contextual and psychosocial factors influencing the professional quality of life among audiologists, particularly in in low- and middle-income settings. Purpose: This study explored the factors influencing the professional quality of life of South African audiologists. Methods: A qualitative descriptive design was employed, involving semi-structured interviews with 15 South African audiologists who were purposively recruited. Data were analyzed thematically using Braun and Clarke, (2022) approach, guided by Resilience Theory, which conceptualizes resilience as a dynamic process of positive adaptation to adversity. Results: Six overarching themes emerged: (1) Compassion satisfaction and professional fulfillment from improving patients' lives and mentoring others; (2) Burnout and emotional exhaustion: fatigue, frustration, and reduced empathy due to workload and resource constraints; (3) Secondary traumatic stress and compassion fatigue: emotional strain from repeated exposure to patient suffering and moral distress; (4) Resilience and coping mechanisms: adaptability, perseverance, teamwork, and emotional regulation that sustain professional functioning; (5) Support systems and organizational resources: the critical role of managerial guidance, teamwork, and mental health services; and (6) Personal and professional coping strategies: including rest, exercise, faith, therapy, and boundary-setting. These themes demonstrate how emotional labor, systemic challenges, and resilience interact to shape audiologists' professional well-being. Conclusion: The study highlights the need for contextually responsive interventions that strengthen resilience, enhance peer and supervisory support, and address systemic barriers. Investing in organizational well-being and equitable resource allocation is essential to sustain the South African audiology workforce and improve care outcomes.