Examination of psychological capital and secondary traumatic stress levels of professionals attended to disaster studies

Abstract

This research was conducted with the aim of examining the psychological capital and secondary traumatic stress levels of health professionals who have experience working in the field of disaster. It is a descriptive study. The study’s sample consists of 183 health professionals who work in an emergency service or 112 emergency health services of a provincial Health Directorate, who participate in numerous disaster interventions in Turkey, and who have participated in any disaster. As data collecting methods, the “Socio-demographic form” “Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale” and the “Psychological Capital Scale Short Form” were utilized. In the study, it is concluded that the secondary traumatic stress scale mean score and the psychological capital scale mean score of physicians, nurses and paramedics were moderate, and there is a negative significant relationship between both scales. Negative and significant relationships were found between hope, optimism and resilience, which are sub-dimensions of psychological capital, and secondary traumatic stress. It is concluded that the high level of psychological capital reduces the secondary stress level.