Traumatic Stress Symptoms Research Articles

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.

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.

The Association Between Patterns of Trauma Exposure, Family Dysfunction, and Psychopathology Among Adolescent Females With Depressive Symptoms From Low-Income Contexts.

Distinguishing profiles of trauma exposure among low-income adolescent females with depressive symptoms is important for understanding comorbidity, family relationships, and treatment. Specifically, child maltreatment is essential to examine in comparison to other traumas. Participants included 170 adolescent females (65.3% Black; 21.2% White; 13.5% other race; 14.1% Latina/x) with depressive symptoms and their primary caregiver from low-income families. Latent class analysis (LCA) identified three trauma classes. Probabilities of endorsing different subtypes of maltreatment (physical abuse, physical neglect, emotional abuse, emotional neglect, and sexual abuse), number of subtypes of maltreatment, and non-maltreatment traumas (accident, experiencing or witnessing physical assault, death or injury of loved one, medical trauma) varied among groups. Higher levels of family dysfunction and traumatic stress symptoms were reported in both classes with maltreatment exposure as compared to the class with only non-maltreatment trauma exposure. Findings have implications for family-focused interventions for maltreated adolescent females with depressive symptoms from low-income contexts.

Traumatic stress symptoms predict restraint incidents in children and adolescents in psychiatric residential treatment.

The early identification of youth at risk for restraint incidents is an important next step to reducing the likelihood of such incidents. Yet, the extant research has not comprehensively investigated the idiographic factors that contribute to the restraint of youth in psychiatric residential treatment facilities (PRTFs). The current study investigated client-level predictors of restraint incidents, with specific emphasis on youth client trauma history and traumatic stress symptoms as assessed at admission. Participants were children and adolescents (N=150; 55.3% female, 66.7% White, 33.3% Black or biracial) aged 6-17 (M=11.8 years) admitted to a PRTF in the northeastern United States. A negative binomial regression with maximum likelihood estimation was conducted to examine the relative contributions of age, gender, length of stay, number of psychiatric diagnoses, body mass index (BMI), and traumatic stress symptoms at intake to the frequency of restraint incidents. The model was significant, χ2 (6, N=150)=30.326, p<.001, and both length of stay, β=.005, p<.001, IRR=1.005, and traumatic stress symptoms at intake, β=.072, p=.007, IRR=1.074, were identified as significant predictors within the model. Although length of stay is an obvious predictor of restraint incidents, the current study is the first of which we are aware to identify traumatic stress symptoms at intake as a potential indicator of restraint frequency following admission. Clinical implications of these results are discussed.

Correlation between psychological rumination and symptoms of traumatic stress in patients with mild paralysis in acute phase of stroke: A preliminary and cross-sectional study

• sPTSD is present in approximately 30% of patients with a mild acute stroke. • PTSS severity in patients with a mild acute stroke had no correlation with PTG. • However, PTSS severity was positively correlated with rumination.

A Secondary Traumatic Stress Reduction Program in Emergency Room Nurses.

IntroductionSecondary traumatic stress is highly prevalent among nurses, especially among nurses working within the emergency department (ED). Reducing healthcare worker secondary traumatic stress is important for ensuring the delivery of high quality, safe patient care. This paper reports on the development and implementation of a secondary traumatic stress reduction program.MethodsWe used an adaption of a 5-week intervention based on the Accelerated Recovery Program to test whether there would be a reduction in secondary traumatic stress in a pilot sample of nine ED nurses. Outcomes were assessed using the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale (STSS), Somatic Symptoms Scale (SSS), and Compassion Satisfaction subscale (CSS) measures.ResultsEight of nine nurses were able to complete at least three of the five sessions. Results indicate significant change in STSS (F[5,23] = 4.22, p = .007) and SSS (F[3,15] = 4.42, p = .02) scores, but not CSS (F[5,23] = 0.83, p = .54) scores. Pairwise comparisons revealed that the beneficial effects of the program happened early. For both STSS and SSS, scores at sessions 1 and 2 were generally higher than subsequent sessions. We also found a trend for continued effects on STSS at a four-month follow-up (t23 = 1.95, p = .064).ConclusionOverall, results indicate the 5-week program was associated with a significant reduction in secondary traumatic stress and related somatic symptoms in healthcare workers.

The protective effects of perceived cohesion on the mental health of first responders.

First responders are repeatedly exposed to traumatic and stressful situations. Perceived cohesion can mitigate the potentially harmful psychological impact of these stressors. While the positive effects of cohesion have been established in other trauma-exposed populations such as the military, these effects have not been examined in first responders. Furthermore, prior studies have not ruled out the possibility that perceived cohesion may be acting as a proxy for another well-established protective factor, social support. We therefore examined how perceived cohesion among first responder organizations impacts psychological health and resilience, even after accounting for the effects of social support. First responders (N = 182) completed measures of perceived cohesion, social support, psychological symptoms (including depression, stress, anxiety, posttraumatic stress symptoms, secondary traumatic stress symptoms, and burnout), and psychological resilience. Even after controlling for social support, perceived cohesion was associated with lower levels of psychological symptoms (β = -.18 to -.33; p < .05; for secondary traumatic stress, posttraumatic stress, depression, and each facet of burnout) and higher levels of resilience (β = .37; p < .05). These results suggest that perceived cohesion promotes psychological health among first responders, even after controlling for social support. Thus, perceived cohesion does not seem to be acting as a mere proxy for social support. Further examination of how perceived cohesion benefits first responders could lay the groundwork for interventions to improve their mental health and psychological resilience. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Mediating Role of Anxiety in the Relationship Between Traumatic Stress Symptoms and Ontological Well-being in the Covid-19 Pandemic

Bu çalışmanın amacı, COVID-19 pandemisine maruz kalan kişilerde travma sonrası stres belirtileri ile ontolojik iyi oluş arasındaki ilişkide anksiyetenin aracı rolünün incelenmesidir. Çalışma, salgın hastalık ve karantinasına maruz kalan 355 katılımcı ile online olarak yürütülmüştür. Katılımcılara, Demografik Bilgi Anketi, Travmatik Stres Belirti Ölçeği, Durumluk–Sürekli anksiyete ölçeği ve Ontolojik İyi Oluş ölçeği uygulanmıştır. Katılımcıların çoğunun, 18-25 yaşları arasında (%42), kadın (%76.9), üniversite mezunu (%43,4) ve Bekâr (%53.5) olduğu görülmüştür. Travmatik stres belirtileri arttıkça anksiyete (durumluk ve sürekli) düzeyinin arttığı, travmatik stres belirtileri ve anksiyete (durumluk ve sürekli) düzeyi arttıkça ontolojik iyi oluş düzeyinin düştüğü bulunmuştur. Bununla birlikte travmatik stres belirtileri ile ontolojik iyi oluş arasındaki ilişkide anksiyetenin aracılık etkisinin bulunduğu tespit edilmiştir. COVID-19 pandemisinin, travma sonrası belirtileri ve anksiyete semptomlarını arttırdığı ve ontolojik iyi oluş üzerinde olumsuz etkileri olduğu saptanmıştır. Bu nedenle, pandemiye maruz kalan bireylerde, özellikle kolay zedelenebilir risk gruplarında, risk faktörlerini ele alan psikoterapotik yöntem ve psikososyal destek uygulamalarının geliştirilmesi gelecekteki toplumsal ruh sağlığı açısından önemli görünmektedir.

Prevalence and correlates of COVID-19-related traumatic stress symptoms among older adults: A national survey

Coronavirus pandemics increase the incidence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which requires intensive treatment and is related to several long-term psychiatric disorders. Older adults are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 and hence trauma symptoms. It is not known what is the prevalence of trauma symptoms relating to COVID-19 specifically among older adults nor what may be the markers for the emergence of trauma symptoms. The aim of the present research was to estimate the prevalence, and identify correlates of, traumatic stress symptoms attributable to COVID-19 among older adults in the UK. A cross-sectional survey that assessed COVID-19-related trauma symptoms and demographics was conducted with a sample of 3012 adults aged 60 years and older who were representative of the UK population. Data were analysed descriptively and using multiple/logistic regression. 36.5% of the sample (n = 1100) reported experiencing clinically meaningful traumatic stress symptoms that could lead to as many as 27.4% of the sample going on to develop PTSD. Women and younger older adults were particularly likely to experience clinically meaningful symptoms of traumatic stress. Work is urgently required to prepare services to address what may be substantial numbers of older people presenting with PTSD in the future.

Variability in the stability of personality traits across a single combat deployment

ABSTRACT This study assessed changes in measures of personality traits across a 12-month combat deployment in a sample of conventional US Army soldiers. Results revealed Impulsive Sensation-Seeking (ImpSS) and Sociability (Sy) decreased significantly, whereas Neuroticism–Anxiety (N-Anx) increased. Changes in ImpSS scores were mainly attributed to age, but were inversely related to increases in traumatic stress symptoms. Combat exposure, concussion, age, education, and changes in traumatic stress scores all independently contributed to changes in N-Anx scores. Changes in Sy were not associated with any of the data available from pre-deployment or deployment measures. Changes in Aggression–hostility (Agg-Hos) and Activity (Act) across the deployment were not significant. The findings suggest significant variability in the stability of personality traits when exposed to combat stress and injury while deployed, which may be influenced by factors such as age and education.

Handling Compassion Fatigue in Complaint and Referral Unit Volunteers: Case Study of Komnas Perempuan

The spiking exposure of traumatic events faced by workers and volunteers in handling violence against women has the potential to lead to compassion fatigue. This research sought to describe the experience and protective factors of compassion fatigue in Complaint and Referral Unit volunteers who provide services to female victims of violence in Komnas Perempuan. A total of 3 respondents participated in this study through online interview. Thematic analysis is performed to analyze the data. The result suggested that the participants had compassion fatigue symptoms, which included burnout and secondary traumatic stress symptoms. The experience of burnout included physical and emotional exhaustion as well as guilt and helplessness. Whereas secondary traumatic stress was expressed in preoccupation of thoughts about victim’s violence case and projection in personal relationships. Nevertheless, these symptoms had been resolved due to protective factors such as personal characteristics (educational background and self-care) and social support (personal and professional support from the organization). This study added to our knowledge on how to create supportive system for volunters who provide services for victims of violence against women.

Associations Between Traumatic Stress, Brain Volumes and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms in Children: Data from the ABCD Study

Reduced volumes in brain regions of interest (ROIs), primarily from adult samples, are associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We extended this work to children using data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study® (N = 11,848; Mage = 9.92). Structural equation modeling and an elastic-net (EN) machine-learning approach were used to identify potential effects of traumatic events (TEs) on PTSD symptoms (PTSDsx) directly, and indirectly via the volumes 300 subcortical and cortical ROIs. We then estimated the genetic and environmental variation in the phenotypes. TEs were directly associated with PTSDsx (r = 0.92) in children, but their indirect effects (r < 0.0004)—via the volumes of EN-identified subcortical and cortical ROIs—were negligible at this age. Additive genetic factors explained a modest proportion of the variance in TEs (23.4%) and PTSDsx (21.3%), and accounted for most of the variance of EN-identified volumes of four of the five subcortical (52.4–61.8%) three of the nine cortical ROIs (46.4–53.3%) and cerebral white matter in the left hemisphere (57.4%). Environmental factors explained most of the variance in TEs (C = 61.6%, E = 15.1%), PTSDsx (residual-C = 18.4%, residual-E = 21.8%), right lateral ventricle (C = 15.2%, E = 43.1%) and six of the nine EN-identified cortical ROIs (C = 4.0–13.6%, E = 56.7–74.8%). There is negligible evidence that the volumes of brain ROIs are associated with the indirect effects of TEs on PTSDsx at this age. Overall, environmental factors accounted for more of the variation in TEs and PTSDsx. Whereas additive genetic factors accounted for most of the variability in the volumes of a minority of cortical and in most of subcortical ROIs.

The psychological impact of paediatric burn injuries: a systematic review

ObjectiveTo review and synthesise qualitative literature regarding the psychological outcomes following paediatric burn injuries, and to determine if children and adolescents who experience a burn injury have elevated risk of psychopathology following the injury.DesignSystematic review of quantitative and qualitative studies.Data sourcesInformit health, Medline, Embase, and PsycINFO were searched from January 2010 to December 2020.Data extraction and synthesisTwo reviewers screened articles, and one reviewer extracted data (with cross-checking from another reviewer) from the included studies and assessed quality using an established tool. Narrative synthesis was used to synthesise the findings from the quantitative studies, and thematic synthesis was used to synthesise the findings of included qualitative studies.ResultsSearches yielded 1240 unique titles, with 130 retained for full-text screening. Forty-five studies from 17 countries were included. The psychological outcomes included in the studies were mental health diagnoses, medication for mental illness, depression, anxiety, stress, fear, post-traumatic stress, post-traumatic growth, emotional issues, self-harm, self-esteem, self-concept, stigmatisation, quality of life, level of disability, resilience, coping, and suicidality.ConclusionsOur findings highlight paediatric burn patients as a particularly vulnerable population following a burn injury. Studies suggest elevated anxiety and traumatic stress symptoms, and higher rates of psychopathology in the long-term. Further research is recommended to determine the psychological outcomes in the other mental health domains highlighted in this review, as findings were mixed.Clinical care teams responsible for the aftercare of burn patients should involve psychological support for the children and families to improve outcomes.

Economic Precarity, Financial Strain, and Job-Related Stress Among Philadelphia's Public Mental Health Clinicians.

Efforts to improve mental health treatment delivery come at a time of rising inequality and cuts or insufficient increases to mental health funding. Public mental health clinicians face increased demands, experience economic stress, and treat underresourced patients disproportionately burdened by trauma. The authors sought to understand clinicians' current economic and psychological conditions and the relationship of these conditions to the delivery of an evidence-based intervention (EBI) designed to treat posttraumatic stress disorder among youths. In July 2020, 49 public mental health clinicians from 16 Philadelphia clinics who were trained in an EBI, trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), were surveyed by e-mail. Respondents reported on their economic precarity, financial strain, burnout, secondary traumatic stress (i.e., the stress response associated with caring for people exposed to trauma), and TF-CBT use. Associations between clinicians' job-related stressors and their use of TF-CBT were examined with mixed models. Content coding was used to organize clinicians' open-ended responses to questions regarding financial strain related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Clinicians' economic precarity, financial strain, and job-related stress were high; 37% of clinicians were independent contractors, 44% of whom wanted a salaried position. Of 37 clinicians with education debt, 38% reported owing ≥$100,000. In the past year, 29% of clinicians reported lack of personal mental health care because of cost, and 22% met the cutoff for experiencing secondary traumatic stress symptoms. Education debt was negatively associated with use of TF-CBT (p<0.001). The stress of providing care in underresourced clinical settings may interfere with efforts to integrate scientific evidence into mental health care.

The memory-experience gap for PTSD symptoms: The correspondence between experience sampling and past month retrospective reports of traumatic stress symptoms

Posttraumatic stress disorder assessments typically require individuals to provide an aggregate report on the frequency or severity of symptoms they have experienced over a particular time period. Yet retrospective aggregate assessments are susceptible to memory recall and retrieval difficulties. This study examined the correspondence between a month of real-time experience sampling methodology (ESM) reports of traumatic stress symptoms and a retrospective assessment of past-month traumatic stress symptoms for that same period. Participants were a convenience community sample (n=96) from Southern and Central Israel exposed to rocket fire during the Israel-Gaza July-Aug 2014 conflict. Participants provided ESM reports on traumatic stress symptoms twice a day for 30 days via smartphone. Average ESM scores, rather than peak or most recent reports, were most highly correlated with retrospective assessments. For individual symptoms, concentration difficulties had the highest correspondence between ESM and retrospective reports, while amnesia had the lowest correspondence. Regression analysis found that average ESM scores and younger age significantly predicted past-month retrospective assessments of PTSD symptoms. Additionally, previously experiencing more types of trauma predicted PTSD symptoms, but did not moderate the relationship between ESM and retrospective assessments. These findings have implications for assessment.

Gender And Workplace Associated With Psychosocial Status Of Nursing Population In Third Month Covid-19 Outbreak

Health care professionals have a higher risk of contracting Covid-19 with high stress, overwork, sometimes without proper training and personal protective equipment. Gender, occupation and workplace were factors affected to cope stress ability in person daily life. Aim of this study was to identify association between gender and workplace with psychosocial status on 920 mental health nursing seminar participants in the first three months of Covid-19 outbreak in various Indonesian regions. Accidental sampling was conducted an hour before the Indonesian National Nurses Association of South Sulawesi started the seminar with The Self-Reporting Questionnaires (SRQ29) online form with informed consent. There were 920 of 1500 participants filled the form. Variable association was analyzed by using Pearson Chi Square and Fisher Exact Test. The results show that based on gender, women significantly dominated anxiety symptom, somatic symptom, decreased energy symptom and post traumatic stress symptom Workplace significantly associated with depression symptom, cognitive symptom, psychotic symptom and post traumatic stress symptom which dominate in college. Gender and workplace were associated with psychosocial symptom. Therefore, it is essential for further research to arrange strategies for minimizing those symptoms.

Early psychological interventions for prevention and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and post-traumatic stress symptoms in post-partum women: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Pre-term or full-term childbirth can be experienced as physically or psychologically traumatic. Cumulative and trans-generational effects of traumatic stress on both psychological and physical health indicate the ethical requirement to investigate appropriate preventative treatment for stress symptoms in women following a routine traumatic experience such as childbirth. The objective of this review was to investigate the effectiveness of early psychological interventions in reducing or preventing post-traumatic stress symptoms and post-traumatic stress disorder in post-partum women within twelve weeks of a traumatic birth. Randomised controlled trials and pilot studies of psychological interventions preventing or reducing post-traumatic stress symptoms or PTSD, that included women who had experienced a traumatic birth, were identified in a search of Cochrane Central Register of Randomised Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, Embase, Psychinfo, PILOTS, CINAHL and Proquest Dissertations databases. One author performed database searches, verified results with a subject librarian, extracted study details and data. Five authors appraised extracted data and agreed upon risk of bias. Analysis was completed with Rev Man 5 software and quality of findings were rated according to Grading of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation. Eleven studies were identified that evaluated the effectiveness of a range of early psychological interventions. There was firm evidence to suggest that midwifery or clinician led early psychological interventions administered within 72 hours following traumatic childbirth are more effective than usual care in reducing traumatic stress symptoms in women at 4-6 weeks. Further studies of high methodological quality that include longer follow up of 6-12 months are required in order to substantiate the evidence of the effectiveness of specific face to face and online early psychological intervention modalities in preventing the effects of stress symptoms and PTSD in women following a traumatic birth before introduction to routine care and practice. CRD42020202576, https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=202576.

Shook Ones: Understanding the Intersection of Nonfatal Violent Firearm Injury, Incarceration, and Traumatic Stress Among Young Black Men

Violent injury is a leading cause of death and disability among young Black men, with the highest rates occurring in low-income urban populations. Hospital-based violence intervention programs (HVIPs) offer a promising opportunity to address the biopsychosocial factors that adversely affect this population. However, there are major gaps between the needs of young Black male survivors of violent injury and the forms of care provided by HVIPs. Patient-centered outcomes research provides a useful mode of inquiry to develop strategies to decrease these differences. Care for survivors, including treatment for traumatic stress disorders, must be reconceptualized to center the lived experiences of young Black men. This paper qualitatively explores how these survivors of gun violence express symptoms of traumatic stress and the ways in which their narratives can inform the implementation of the biopsychosocial model in HVIPs. A phenomenological variant ecological systems theory framework was used to analyze participant narratives to aid in understanding their symptoms of traumatic stress and post-injury affective changes as both psychologically and socially important experiences. Such insight may inform changes to HVIP practice to address persistent health disparities related to violence.

Child adjustment to parental cancer: A latent profile analysis.

This study aimed to identify latent classes of adjustment in children confronted with parental cancer, based on profiles of traumatic stress symptoms, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and satisfaction with life. In addition, correlates of classes were examined. Families were recruited through social media, health care providers, and cancer support centers. The sample consisted of 175 children (52% girls, aged M = 11.98, SD = 3.20, range = 6-20 years) from 92 families, including 90 parents with a current or past cancer diagnosis and 71 healthy parents. Children and parents completed self-report questionnaires at home. A latent profile analysis was conducted to identify classes based on child traumatic stress symptoms, HRQoL, and satisfaction with life. Four classes were identified, which were labeled (a) average functioning across domains (64%); (b) high stress, below-average HRQoL and life satisfaction (14%); (c) high stress, below-average HRQoL, and average satisfaction (11%); and (d) high functioning across domains (11%). Child age, parent traumatic stress symptoms, and perceived parental warmth were significantly associated with class membership. Child gender, which parent was diagnosed with cancer, and illness phase were unrelated to class membership. Meaningful subgroups of children can be distinguished based on positive and negative indicators of adjustment to parental cancer. Whereas the majority of children appear to adjust well, 25% of children display high levels of traumatic stress and impaired HRQoL, in some cases combined with low life satisfaction; these children may need specific attention to improve adjustment in the long term. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Psychological responses of hospital-based nurses working during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States: A cross-sectional study

Studies show decreased well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for healthcare providers from Asia. Less is known about the psychological responses of working during the pandemic on hospital-based registered nurses (RNs) in the United States (US). Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to report the well-being of U.S.-based hospital RNs working during the initial acute phase of COVID-19 and compare it with well-being among healthcare workers described in two global meta-analyses. We conducted a cross-sectional survey in May–June 2020 (N = 467). Well-being was measured using the following tools: Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Patient Health Questionnaire-2 for depressive symptoms, Impact of Events Scale-Revised for traumatic stress, and the Insomnia Severity Index. Compared with global rates from two meta-analyses, US-based RNs reported significantly more traumatic stress (54.6% vs. 11.4% and 21.5%; p < .001) and depressive symptoms (54.6% vs. 31.8% and 21.7%; p < .001). Rates of insomnia were also higher in U.S.-based RNs than in the meta-analysis that reported insomnia (32.4% vs 27.8%; p < .033). Rates of anxiety symptoms among US-based RNs did not differ from that reported in one meta-analysis (37.3% vs. 34.4%), while it was significantly higher in the other (37.3% vs. 22.1%; p < .001). Hospital-based RNs from the US exhibited over twice the rates of trauma and nearly double the rates of depressive symptoms than shown in reports from hospital workers globally during the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. The lasting effects of this distress are unknown and warrant ongoing evaluation and solutions to better support emotional well-being and prevent burnout in the workplace.

Empathy and Cognitive Processing as Factors Determining the Consequences of Secondary Exposure to Trauma Among Roman Catholic Clergymen

By helping individuals after traumatic experiences, the helper is also exposed to the consequences of trauma. The aim of this study was to determine the predictors of consequences of secondary exposure to trauma among clergymen and therapists (N = 140) helping victims of trauma in Poland. Symptoms of secondary traumatic stress (STS) were identified in 22.9% of the clergymen and 8.6% of therapists, and secondary posttraumatic growth (SPTG) in 61.4% of the clergymen and 42.9% of therapists. STS and SPTG predictors were identified based on regression models. In the case of clergymen, regret is a determinant of STS, and positive cognitive restructuring of SPTG. Research findings highlight the need to increase awareness of exposure to secondary trauma among the clergy, and for them to acquire greater skills for coping with stress.