Importance of Self-Care for Interpreters
Brodina Bousselot
August 11, 2024
William Woods University
Instructor Dr. Hilary Maag
ITP 450
Senior Capstone
Abstract
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American Sign Language – English interpreters are regularly exposed to both emotional and physical stressors throughout their career. The goal of this paper is to focus on the identification and management of these stressors as they arise, as well as the potential strategies one could use to help in this process. Current research from 2014 through 2024 was examined, and strictly peer-reviewed articles were used, to allow for a gathering of recent, credible information. Emotional stressors like compassion fatigue and self-criticism are analyzed, as well as physical stressors like Repetitive Stress Injury and eye strain. With virtual interpreting on the rise, the unique stressors regarding that environment are also discussed. Additionally, this paper will look at the negative consequences that can occur when self-care for both emotional and physical health is neglected, and show how they can be intertwined. Lack of emotional self-care can lead to further negative consequences regarding physical health, in many cases. Strategies like iM-PAACT are explored, and demonstrate ideas for individuals of all professional backgrounds to implement their own self-care plans in a way that works best for them (Brown, 2020). There are a variety of strategies for American Sign Language – English interpreters to improve their self-care, and if these strategies are lacking, the detrimental effects can affect more people than just the interpreter.
Keywords: Burnout, Compassion Fatigue, Interpreters, Self-Care, Stress
Introduction
The research question in focus is, “What are effective ways for American Sign Language - English interpreters to improve their self-care, and what are the effects if self-care strategies are lacking?” Within the interpreting field, there are various hazards regarding physical and emotional health. Being able to identify emotional stressors as they arise and having strategies to overcome them in a productive way in order to grow from them can be beneficial to interpreters, so as to prevent or overcome the effects of compassion fatigue and burnout (Crezee, 2015). It is also important to identify physical stressors as well, so as to resolve any complications as they arise, preventing them from worsening. There are a variety of strategies for American Sign Language – English interpreters to improve their self-care, and if these strategies are lacking, the detrimental effects can affect more people than just the interpreter.
While the term “burnout” was first described by Herbert J. Freudenberger as the overall feeling of exhaustion or like a failure, there have been many interpretations of the term since then (Papia, 2014). In this article, burnout will be in relation to the feeling of being worn out or emotionally exhausted, while self-care will refer to the strategies related to supporting one’s emotional and mental health.
Compassion and compassion-related terms, such as self-compassion, self-criticism, and compassion fatigue will also be discussed, the latter referring to the fatigue experienced physically or emotionally as it relates to the empathetic approach in the workplace (Brown, 2020). While the term “compassion” can be broken down into five components, the broader idea that it refers to the desire to help others will be the main focus. Similarly, self-compassion is in reference to how an individual is able to feel compassion towards his- or herself. In contrast, self-criticism is a more negative experience, in which the individual is more self-critical or may constantly be evaluating themselves, and is less self-compassionate (Ondrejková, 2022).
When an interpreter does not participate in self-care or does not yet understand its importance, negative effects can take place. While many interpreters may experience burnout and/or compassion fatigue throughout their career, if these are ignored or not addressed and resolved, additional negative effects can occur (Crezee, 2015). These will be discussed further in the article.
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Methods
When reviewing sources to use for this research, only articles that were peer-reviewed were utilized, and have been published in 2014 or later. This was done in order to ensure the information is current, specifically from the last ten years as of the date this article was written. In some of the cited articles, however, some of the authors do refer to research done in previous work that was written before the year 2014. In this article specifically, the data used from research prior to 2014 is used for comparing previous findings to new research and does not intend to portray that information as new development.
Some of the references used throughout this research focus on helping professions on a broader scale. Some of these professions include social workers, teachers, psychologists, paramedics, priests and pastors, police officers, and others (Ondrejková, 2022). While the responsibilities among these professions may differ, there are similarities when observing risk-factors regarding compassion fatigue and burnout, and can be compared to the emotional experiences of American Sign Language (ASL) – English interpreters.
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Self-Care and its Relation to Interpreters
In an article written by Tian Chen (2023), the author notes that due to the complex activity that is done cognitively when one is interpreting, the stress one experiences can affect their professional performance. This could mean that the interpreter may find that they are not only experiencing emotional stress, but that the stress has contributed to other negative effects, such as a distraction from the source language. If this occurs, the distraction could result in an inaccurate or skewed interpretation (Chen, 2023). While self-care strategies regarding physical health will also be discussed, it is important to note that emotional and physical stressors can intertwine in some circumstances, to be discussed later. This is just one example of why identifying and managing stressors as they arise is recommended for interpreters, and those in helping professions.
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Results​
Emotional Stress: Burnout, Compassion Fatigue, and Self-Criticism
Interpreting is one of many fields in which an individual may experience compassion fatigue and/or burnout, while some researchers even suggest that compassion fatigue is actually a combination of burnout and other stressors, specifically secondary traumatic stress. As stated earlier, emotional stress and physical stress can intertwine. For example, anxiety from emotional stress may lead to physical symptoms, such as an increased heartrate and sweating (Ondrejková, 2022).
While interpreters have the responsibility to facilitate communication between their clients and consumers, there are many factors that contribute to emotional stress in the interpreting field. For example, in the case of community interpreters, an interpreter may find themselves facilitating communication in a variety of environments throughout a single day. There may be a couple different assignments they take, and the emotional environment could vary drastically between them. Or, perhaps an interpreter finds themselves in a doctor’s appointment where they are interpreting the delivery of disheartening, life-changing news to the patient.
Orem (2020) notes that there are six stages people experience emotionally when going through a crisis. In each of these stages, from the Pre-Disaster Phase to the Reconstruction Phase, an individual may be experiencing a fluctuation of emotions, which can affect the interpreter as well. While many interpreters try, and succeed, to remain impartial, the emotional weight can sometimes stay with the interpreter, whether or not that weight is immediately acknowledged. In one study highlighted by Darroch & Dempsey (2016), it was reported that 67.5% of interpreters found it hard to maintain impartiality. This can influence the emotional state of the interpreter, as when they experience affective empathy, they may share both negative and positive emotions vicariously through the person they are interacting with (Stosic et al., 2022).
Compassion fatigue and empathy are not the only factors to be considered when examining the emotional stressors of interpreters. Self-criticism, as defined earlier, may lead an individual to experience negative emotions due to being “hard on themselves,” or constantly evaluating themselves, and feeling a sense of unworthiness. While it is beneficial in a profession like interpreting to want to continuously improve, the opposite effect can occur when the individual is extremely self-critical, to the point of having detrimental effects on both their production and their emotional state (Ondrejková, 2022).
In a study completed in 2021, 607 individuals working in some type of helping profession were surveyed regarding their level of compassion fatigue and burnout. The results showed that, overall, there was a wide variety of compassion fatigue levels amongst the different professions. One common occurrence, though, was that the participants who reported high levels of compassion fatigue also showed many signs of self-criticism, and actually suggests that self-criticism is the best predictor of compassion fatigue. Additionally, burnout was noted to be linked to compassion fatigue, with those who have more self-compassion reporting less levels of compassion fatigue and burnout. It is suggested, from this research, to work on time management and find strategies to become more self-compassionate, rather than self-critical (Ondrejková, 2022).
As mentioned by Edú-Valsania et al. (2022), burnout not only affects the professional negatively, but the organization they work at as well. Performance levels and motivation may be affected, not to mention the quality of work being done. In the case of interpreters, this would negatively impact the message being produced, affecting both client and consumer if the message is skewed. It is also reported that burnout can have detrimental psychological consequences, including anxiety and depression. Further, some coping mechanisms individuals turn to, like alcohol and tobacco, can lead to additional health issues. Behavioral consequences are also related to burnout, and are organized from mild to extreme. Individuals experiencing mild behavioral consequences may report physical complaints like back pain or headaches, while those experiencing extreme behavioral consequences may show signs of isolation or aggressiveness, and in some cases, suicide or suicidal attempts (Edú-Valsania et al., 2022).
Emotional Stress: Self-Care Strategies
In order to manage and help resolve the effects of emotional stress, it is beneficial to have coping and self-care strategies. Coping strategies have many different classifications, but it is reported by Edú-Valsania et al. (2022) that the main two strategy categories are problem-focused and emotionally-focused. The difference in these strategies is the approach. If the individual is aiming to face the ongoing situation itself, the problem-focused coping strategy would be used. Alternatively, if the individual is focusing on resolving the negative emotions without solving the actual problem at-hand, this would be emotionally-focused coping. The latter is linked to burnout in some cases where the individual has control over the ongoing situation and is choosing not to intervene or avoiding it; however, in the interpreting field, the interpreter is often not in control of the emotionally charged situations they are working in. Perhaps this is another factor as to why such emotions are experienced in interpreters, due to their inability to change or “fix” the emotional situation, and just having to experience it second-hand. In this sense, it would be beneficial for the interpreter to use emotionally-focused coping, as they are typically not in a controllable situation.
Another perspective is one suggested by Brown (2020), which implements the use of iM-PAACT. This stands for “Invest in Me: Prioritize, Act and Assess, Connect, and Thrive.” During the first two stages, the individual is focusing on looking into different self-care activities that they may be interested in and finding a way to fit them into a schedule, and practicing these tentative plans to assess what is or isn’t working. Sometimes, it takes a bit of trial and error to determine what works best for the individual and their personal life or schedule that has already been established. In the Connect stage, the individual is making connections externally and internally to further determine if their self-care plan is working for them. This may include self-evaluations, as well as discussing their plan with those close to them. In the final stage, Thrive, the individual should be actively utilizing and maintaining their self-care plan. This includes making adjustments as needed, but should be well-established and frequently self-assessed (Brown, 2020).
Darroch & Dempsey (2016) completed research specifically regarding sign language interpreters and the importance of having support and coping methods. The focus was on British Sign Language – English interpreters, with many references to American Sign Language – English Interpreters, as many sources cited refer to research done at Gallaudet University and through other research done specifically on American Sign Language interpreting. The two authors state that a variety of coping methods were used among sign language interpreters, cooking and positive self-talk among the many reported. In a study highlighted in the same work, 54% of interpreters surveyed stated that they utilize talking about their work as a coping strategy (2016).
As of July 2024, a different form of coping strategy was introduced, known as “forest bathing.” This consists of taking a walk through the forest, with or without a guide, and stems from Japanese culture. In doing this, the anticipated outcome is an alleviation of obstacles the individual may be facing psychologically, like anxiety and emotional distress, and reduce self-criticism (Szitás et al., 2024). Similar to the above strategies of finding activities the interpreter enjoys, forest bathing may be added to the list of strategies to try when focusing on reducing stress levels.
Physical Stressors
In addition to emotional stress, both in-person and virtual interpreters face physical hazards as well. One common physical stressor is Repetitive Strain/Stress Injury, or RSI, in which the repetitive movement of a body part leading to pain and/or discomfort (Abdullah, 2019). Interpreters may experience this in their wrists, fingers, and even in their back, especially if sitting for long hours. Other physical stressors include eye strain, especially for virtual interpreters.
Abdullah (2019) states in an article for the International Journal of Medical and Health Sciences that Repetitive Strain/Stress Injury often occurs in the back and knees, but can occur in any body part that is being repetitively used. The author goes on to report that maintaining good posture can help prevent further detrimental effects in the back, and even utilizing breathing techniques can help with physical health. It is noted by Hutson (2014) that Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, or CTS, can coexist with Repetitive Strain/Stress Injury, and that CTS is more commonly found in women than men. Techniques for managing these stressors will be discussed in the next section.
Regarding eye strain, both in-person and virtual interpreters may experience discomfort or an exhausted sensation in their eyes. With in-person interpreting, this may happen particularly in cases where the interpreter is utilizing their receptive skills when working with an individual who is signing, rather than when the interpreter is mostly interpreting from English to American Sign Language. This may occur with virtual interpreters from a receptive skill perspective, but there is also the added layer of digital eye strain. With the increase in virtual interpreting, not only does the interpreter possibly experience eye strain from focusing on what is being signed, but also from looking at their screen for a long period of time. Many factors can contribute to digital eye strain and make it worse, but approximately 90% of people surveyed reported having symptoms (Chantal et al., 2021).
Physical Stressors: Self-Care Strategies
Like emotional stress, it is beneficial to identify physical stressors as they arise and find a strategy to help relieve or decrease symptoms. From simply taking breaks to stretching and finding breathing techniques, there has been a considerable amount of research conducted to navigate effective strategies.
When experiencing with Repetitive Strain/Stress Injury, some techniques that may help include stretching and taking breaks. Abdullah (2019) discusses some suggested stretching poses that not only help stretch out muscles and align the spine, but help with energizing the individual and even improving digestion. As previously mentioned, breathing techniques have also been found to be effective for these types of injuries. It is recommended to do stretches and breathing exercises throughout the day for about ten to twenty minutes at a time. Some of the breathing techniques involve using Abdominal Breath and Complete Breath. Complete Breath is a combination of abdominal, thoracic, and clavicular breathing, while abdominal breathing alone allows for an increased availability of oxygen that becomes accessible to the cells in the body, leading to both physical and mental benefits (Abdullah, 2019).
Regarding Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, a study was conducted in 2019 to observe the effectiveness that different strategies had on relieving symptoms. A control group of twenty participants were given splints, while a second group was given exercises, and the third group received electroacupuncture. The discovery was that flexion was most benefited by the use of specialized exercise, while acupuncture helped the most with improved gripping and pinching activity in the participants (Salehi, 2019).
With digital eye strain, a common suggestion for virtual interpreters is to simply take a break from screens throughout the day, if possible. If there are moments throughout the day that the interpreter is not actively interpreting, they may benefit from stepping away from their device and focusing on objects that are further away. Kaur et al. (2022) mentions that utilizing the 20-20-20 rule can also help with digital eye strain. This involves taking 20 seconds of a break every 20 minutes, and focusing on an object that is 20 feet away during that time. Additionally, the use of blue-light glasses, spending more time outside when not using a screen, and limiting that screen time to four hours is suggested.
Discussion​
The results of this research show substantial evidence that identifying physical and emotional stressors as they arise, and utilizing self-care strategies in order to relieve these stressors can be quite beneficial to American Sign Language – English interpreters. When self-care strategies are not established, the consequences can affect the interpreter, the organization the interpreter works for, as well as the clients and consumers (Edú-Valsania et al., 2022).
Throughout the articles used for this research, there were many connections to be made throughout. Nearly all of the authors note the negative effects of neglecting self-care, with some putting more emphasis than others as to who all this affects, besides the single individual. Compassion fatigue and burnout are a common area of focus in regard to the emotional stressor aspect of the research. It appears that focus in these areas is on the rise, as there are many resources available for such topics. Burnout and compassion fatigue were found to work as a pair in many cases, with connections also being made to self-criticism. These three often are intertwined, making it even more critical for the individual to be able to identify these and address them as they arise (Ondrejková, 2022).
Overall, physical stressors, like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Repetitive Strain/Stress Injury, and eye strain are common physical experiences that interpreters may face. It should be noted that physical stressors can also include the consequences of neglected emotional health, which can lead to physical health issues like increased heart rate, shortness of breath, among others (Ondrejková, 2022).
Implementing a self-care plan and being able to assess the effectiveness of it, as well as make changes as necessary, is one of many ways to minimize the negative impacts of physical and emotional stressors. This may include a variety of activities, such as reading, cooking, spending more time outside, or whatever the individual finds relaxing and effective. In addition, utilizing techniques like breathing and stretching exercises can help both emotional and physical stress (Abdullah, 2019).
Conclusion
In conclusion, the identification of stressors as they arise is critical to not only the emotional health of an American Sign Language – English interpreter, but their physical health as well. Common emotional stressors like compassion fatigue and burnout work together, so it is important to have the ability to identify the symptoms and have effective strategies for overcoming and/or preventing them as much as possible. Physical stressors like eye strain, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, and Repetitive Stress Injury are also aspects that can have detrimental effects on interpreters if not properly managed.
The emotional and physical stressors not only affect the interpreter, but many others as well, including the clients and consumers. Having self-care strategies for both emotional and physical health can help interpreters sustain a healthy balance between work and personal life, as well as staying in their line of work for as long as they desire to. Utilizing strategies like iM-PAACT, that are designed specifically for being able to self-assess how well their self-care plans are working, may help interpreters find the best plan for them.
Further research should be conducted regarding American Sign Language interpreters specifically, and could be included in further research regarding compassion fatigue, burnout, and other physical stressors. A considerable amount of research has been done regarding helping professions, and interpreters are typically mentioned in various research studies, but more research could be conducted regarding all of these aspects and how they specifically apply to American Sign Language – English interpreters directly. This will allow for a more accurate and current report of findings in this field.
References
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Abdullah, M. (2019). Effects of Repetitive Strain/Stress Injury on the Human Body. International Journal of Medical and Health Sciences, 13(12), 494–500.
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Brown, M.-E. (2020). Hazards of Our Helping Profession: A Practical Self-Care Model for Community Practice. Social Work, 65(1), 38–44.
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Chen, T. (2023). The Interplay Between Psychological Well-Being, Stress, and Burnout: Implications for Translators and Interpreters. Heliyon, 9(8).
Crezee, I. (2015) Teaching Interpreters About Self-Care. International Journal of Interpreter Education, 7(1). 74-83.
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Darroch, E., & Dempsey, R. (2016). Interpreters’ Experiences of Transferential Dynamics, Vicarious Traumatisation, and Their Need for Support and Supervision: A Systematic Literature Review. The European Journal of Counselling Psychology, 4(2), 166–190.
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Edú-Valsania, S., Laguía, A., & Moriano, J. A. (2022). Burnout: A Review of Theory and Measurement. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(3).
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Salehi, S., Hesami, O., Esfehani, M. P., Khosravi, S., Rashed, A., Haghighatzadeh, M., Hassabi, M., & Yekta, A. H. A. (2019). The Effectiveness of Exercise Therapy and Dry Needling on Wrist Range of Motion, Pinch and Grip Force in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Asian Journal of Sports Medicine, 10(4).
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Stosic, M. D., Blanch-Hartigan, D., Aleksanyan, T., Duenas, J., & Ruben, M. A. (2022). Empathy, Friend or Foe? Untangling the Relationship Between Empathy and Burnout in Helping Professions. The Journal of Social Psychology, 162(1), 89–108.
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Szitás, D., Halamová, J., Ottingerová, L., & Schroevers, M. (2024). The Effects of Forest Bathing on Self- Criticism, Self-Compassion, and Self-Protection: A Systematic Review. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 97.