Background: This study aimed to examine the occupational stress and quality of life of mental health welfare center workers and to identify the impact of occupational stress on compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress. Methods: This study included 588 employees working at 15 provincial/municipal/regional mental health welfare centers. Demographic and psychosocial factors were surveyed. Data were analyzed using independent t-test, Pearson's correlation test, and multiple regression analysis. Results: The high-risk group for occupational stress showed low compassion satisfaction, high burnout, and high secondary traumatic stress. Compassion satisfaction showed a significant negative correlation with occupational stress. Burnout and secondary traumatic stress showed a significant positive correlation with occupational stress. Occupational stress factors affecting compassion satisfaction included lack of reward (β=−0.155, p<0.001), whereas those affecting burnout included physical environment (β=0.028, p<0.01), job demand (β=0.042, p<0.001), relationship conflict (β=0.033, p<0.01), job instability (β=0.016, p<0.01), lack of reward (β=0.051, p<0.001), and occupational climate (β=0.024, p<0.01). Additionally, occupational stress factors affecting secondary traumatic stress included physical environment (β=0.063, p<0.001) and job instability (β=0.020, p<0.05). Conclusion: Occupational stress had a significant impact on compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress. Therefore, active interventions against occupational stress factors are necessary to improve the quality of life of mental health welfare center workers.
