DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Supporting Those Who Provide Support: Work-Related Resources and Secondary Traumatic Stress Among Victim Advocates

  • Benuto, Lorraine T. (Department of Psychology, University of Nevada) ;
  • Singer, Jonathan (Department of Psychology, University of Nevada) ;
  • Gonzalez, Francis (Department of Psychology, University of Nevada) ;
  • Newlands, Rory (Department of Psychology, University of Nevada) ;
  • Hooft, Sierra (Department of Psychology, University of Nevada)
  • Received : 2018.05.30
  • Accepted : 2019.04.08
  • Published : 2019.09.30

Abstract

Background/Aims: Victim advocates are at risk of developing secondary traumatic stress (STS), which can result from witnessing or listening to accounts of traumatic events. This study investigated the relationship between victim status, years of experience, hours of direct contact with victims, and availability of workplace supports in the development of STS. Results: Of the 142 victim advocates, 134 were women. Regression analyses revealed that the only significant predictor of STS was the number of direct hours of victim services provided. Conclusion: The findings from this study found that women have high rates of STS and that more workplace support needs to be implemented.

Keywords

References

  1. Boyas J, Wind LH, Kang S. Exploring the relationship between employment-based social capital, job stress, burnout, and intent to leave among child protection workers: an age-based path analysis model. Child Youth Serv Rev 2012;34:50-62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2011.08.033.
  2. Wagaman MA, Geiger JM, Shockley C, Segal EA. The role of empathy in burnout, compassion satisfaction, and secondary traumatic stress among social workers. Soc Work 2015;60:201-9. https://doi.org/10.1093/sw/swv014.
  3. Lee RT, Ashforth BE. A meta-analytic examination of the correlates of the three dimensions of job burnout. J Appl Psychol 1996;81:123-33. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.81.2.123.
  4. Maslach C, Leiter MP. The truth about burnout: how organizations cause personal stress and what to do about it. San Francisco, CA, US: Jossey-Bass; 1997.
  5. Stamm BH. In: The concise ProQOL manual. 2nd ed. Pocatello, ID: ProQOL.org.Copyright; 2010.
  6. Bride BE. Prevalence of secondary traumatic stress among social workers. Soc Work 2007;52:63-70. https://doi.org/10.1093/sw/52.1.63.
  7. Hensel JM, Ruiz C, Finney C, Dewa CS. Meta-analysis of risk factors for secondary traumatic stress in therapeutic work with trauma victims. J Trauma Stress 2015;28:83-91. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.21998.
  8. Newell JM, MacNeil GA. Professional burnout, vicarious trauma, secondary traumatic stress, and compassion fatigue: a review of theoretical terms, risk factors, and preventive methods for clinicians and researchers. Best Pract in Ment Health 2010;2010(6):57-68.
  9. Choi G. Organizational impacts on the secondary traumatic stress of social workers assisting family violence or sexual assault survivors. Adm Soc Work 2011;35:225-42. https://doi.org/10.1080/03643107.2011.575333.
  10. Slattery SM, Goodman LA. Secondary traumatic stress among domestic violence advocates: workplace risk and protective factors. Violence Against Women 2009;15:1358-79. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077801209347469.
  11. Wasco SM, Campbell R, Clark M. A multiple case study of rape victim advocates' self-care routines: the influence of organizational context. Am J Community Psychol 2002;30:731-60. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016377416597
  12. Bonach K, Heckert A. Predictors of secondary traumatic stress among children's advocacy center forensic interviewers. J Child Sex Abuse 2012;21:295-314. https://doi.org/10.1080/10538712.2012.647263.
  13. Molnar BE, Sprang G, Killian KD, Gottfried R, Emery V, Bride BE. Advancing science and practice for vicarious traumatization/secondary traumatic stress: a research agenda. Traumatology 2017;23:129. https://doi.org/10.1037/trm0000122
  14. Sullivan O. Changing gender practices within the household: a theoretical perspective. Gend Soc 2004;18:207-22. https://doi.org/10.1177/0891243203261571
  15. Townsend SM, Campbell R. Organizational correlates of secondary traumatic stress and burnout among sexual assault nurse examiners. J Forensic Nurs 2009;5:97-106. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-3938.2009.01040.x.
  16. Jamieson SD, Tuckey MR. Mindfulness interventions in the workplace: a critique of the current state of the literature. J Occup Health Psychol 2017;22:180-93. https://doi.org/10.1037/ocp0000048.
  17. Bercier ML, Maynard BR. Interventions for secondary traumatic stress with mental health workers: a systematic review. Res Soc Work Pract 2015;2015(25):81-9. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049731513517142.
  18. Bride BE, Robinson MM, Yegidis B, Figley CR. Development and validation of the secondary traumatic stress scale. Res Soc Work Pract 2004;14:27-35. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049731503254106.
  19. Pearlman LA, Mac Ian PS. Vicarious traumatization: an empirical study of the effects of trauma work on trauma therapists. Prof Psychol Res Pract 1995;26:558. https://doi.org/10.1037/0735-7028.26.6.558
  20. Bober T, Regehr C. Strategies for reducing secondary or vicarious trauma: do they work? Brief Treat Crisis Interv 2006;6:1. https://doi.org/10.1093/brief-treatment/mhj001
  21. Meyers TW, Cornille TA. The trauma of working. Treat Compassion Fatigue 2002;39.
  22. Beck CT. Secondary traumatic stress in nurses: a systematic review. Arch Psychiatr Nurs 2011;25:1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnu.2010.05.005
  23. Gates DM, Gillespie GL. Secondary traumatic stress in nurses who care for traumatized women. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs 2008;37:243-9. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1552-6909.2008.00228.x
  24. Benuto L, Newlands R, Rurock A, Hooft S, Adrendt A. Secondary traumatic stress among victim advocates: prevalnce and corrleates. J Evid-Inf Soc Work 2018;15(5):494-509. https://doi.org/10.1080/23761407.2018.1474825
  25. Creamer M, O'donnell M. Post-traumatic stress disorder. Curr Opin Psychiatr 2002;15:163-8. https://doi.org/10.1097/00001504-200203000-00007
  26. Follette VM, Polusny MM, Milbeck K. Mental health and law enforcement professionals: trauma history, psychological symptoms, and impact of providing services to child sexual abuse survivors. Prof Psychol Res Pract 1994;25:275. https://doi.org/10.1037/0735-7028.25.3.275
  27. Robinson-Keilig RA. Secondary traumatic stress and disruptions to interpersonal functioning among mental health therapists. J Interpers Violence 2014;29:1477-96. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260513507135.
  28. Awa WL, Plaumann M, Walter U. Burnout prevention: a review of intervention programs. Patient Educ Counsel 2010;78:184-90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2009.04.008
  29. Brewin CR, Andrews B, Valentine JD. Meta-analysis of risk factors for posttraumatic stress disorder in trauma-exposed adults. J Counsel Clin Psychol 2000;68:748-66. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.68.5.748
  30. Repetti RL, Matthews KA, Waldron I. Employment and women's health: effects of paid employment on women's mental and physical health. Am Psychol 1989;44:1394. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.44.11.1394
  31. de Bruin EI, Formsma AR, Frijstein G, Bogels SM. Mindful2Work: effects of combined physical exercise, yoga, and mindfulness meditations for stress relieve in employees. A proof of concept study. Mindfulness 2012;8:204-17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-016-0593-x.
  32. Camacho CM, Alarid LF. The significance of the victim advocate for domestic violence victims in municipal court 2008. Violence and Vict 2008;23:288-300. https://doi.org/10.1891/0886-6708.23.3.288.

Cited by

  1. Compassion Fatigue Among the Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual Assault Workforce: Enhancing Organizational Practice vol.28, pp.1, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1177/1077801220988351