The Role of Satisfaction With Job and Cognitive Trauma Processing in the Occurrence of Secondary Traumatic Stress Symptoms in Medical Providers Working With Trauma Victims.

Piotr Jerzy Gurowiec,Nina Ogińska-Bulik,Edyta Kȩdra,Paulina Michalska,Aelita Skarbalienė

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.753173

Abstract

Introduction: As an occupational group, medical providers working with victims of trauma are prone to negative consequences of their work, particularly secondary traumatic stress (STS) symptoms. Various factors affect susceptibility to STS, including work-related and organizational determinants, as well as individual differences. The aim of the study was to establish the mediating role of cognitive trauma processing in the relationship between job satisfaction and STS symptoms among medical providers.Procedure and Participants: Results were obtained from 419 healthcare providers working with victims of trauma (218 nurses and 201 paramedics). Three questionnaires, namely the Secondary Traumatic Stress Inventory, Work Satisfaction Scale, and Cognitive Trauma Processing Scale, were used in the study, as well as a survey developed for this research. Correlational and mediation analyses were applied to assess relations between variables.Results: The results showed significant links between STS symptoms and both job satisfaction and cognitive processing of trauma. Three cognitive coping strategies play the intermediary role in the relationship between job satisfaction and symptoms of secondary traumatic stress. However, this role varies depending on preferred strategies.Conclusion: Nurses and paramedics are significantly exposed to the occurrence of STS. Thus, it is important to engage health care providers in activities aimed at preventing and reducing symptoms of STS.

Highlights

As an occupational group, medical providers working with victims of trauma are prone to negative consequences of their work, secondary traumatic stress (STS) symptoms
It has been argued that the symptoms of STS belong to the four categories related to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): intrusion, avoidance, negative alterations in cognitions and mood, alterations in arousal and reactivity (American Psychiatric Association, 2013)
We hypothesized the following: (1) both job satisfaction and cognitive coping strategies would correlate with STS symptoms, (2) job satisfaction would be associated with cognitive coping strategies, (3) medical providers working with trauma victims would be satisfied with their work and engage in cognitive trauma processing expressed as coping strategies, (4) these strategies, especially the positive ones, would decrease the severity of STS symptoms, creating a pathway from job satisfaction to secondary posttraumatic negative changes

Summary

Introduction

Medical providers working with victims of trauma are prone to negative consequences of their work, secondary traumatic stress (STS) symptoms. The term secondary traumatic stress (STS), or secondary traumatic stress disorder (STSD), was adopted by Figley (1995), who characterized STS as stress associated with helping trauma victims or people in crisis. It has been argued that the symptoms of STS belong to the four categories related to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): intrusion, avoidance, negative alterations in cognitions and mood, alterations in arousal and reactivity (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). It is worth noting that negative outcomes of secondary exposure to trauma may be described as Compassion Fatigue (CF) or Vicarious Traumatization (VT) (McCann and Pearlman, 1990; Figley, 1995, 1999)

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Conclusion