Advancing science and practice for vicarious traumatization/secondary traumatic stress: A research agenda.

Abstract

Professionals working in the fields of trauma, victim assistance, mental health, law enforcement, fire response, emergency medical services, and other professions are exposed to traumatic events on a regular basis; in some cases, workers are exposed every day. Vicarious trauma (VT) refers to the exposure to the trauma experiences of others, considered an occupational challenge for all of these professions. Research can assist in development of strategies to avoid being left vulnerable to negative impacts of this work, known as vicarious traumatization or secondary traumatic stress (STS). This article reviews existing research and outlines a research agenda for addressing vicarious traumatization/STS in the workplace. The review is organized by the 4 steps of a public health approach: (a) defining the problem including measuring the scope or prevalence, (b) identifying risk and protective factors for negative outcomes, (c) developing interventions and policies, and (d) monitoring and evaluating interventions and policies over time. A research agenda for the field is put forward following these same steps.

PTSD symptomics: network analyses in the field of psychotraumatology

“…Armour, Műllerová, & Elhai, 2015; Colvonen et al, 2017; Kassam-Adams, 2014; Kehle-Forbes & Kimerling, 2017; Molnar et al, 2017; Olff, Van Zuiden, & Bakker, 2015; Wisco et al, 2016). This has led to important discoveries and has inspired some work on improving prevention and intervention strategies for trauma-affected individuals (Brief et al, 2013; Hilton et al, 2017; Horn, Charney, & Feder, 2016; Markowitz et al, 2015; Olff, Armour et al, 2015).…”

An evolutionary concept analysis of secondary traumatic stress in nurses

“…Multiple disciplines, including nursing, traumatology, medicine, midwifery, mental health (military and substance abuse counseling), and law, have analyzed, discussed, or referred to STS in the literature, since it was first defined in the 1990s. STS has been defined as “the stress resulting from helping or wanting to help a traumatized or suffering person” ( p7).…”

“…Analysis of the data revealed exposure, empathy, personal factors, and bonding as the principal overarching antecedents of STS. Exposure is typically (a) prolonged and repetitive (), (b) consists of emotionally challenging situations, and (c) specific to practice settings . A labor and delivery nurse endorsed traumatic exposure when she recalled “It was my first experience with a term infant in this state of decomposition and it shook me to my core!” ( p753).…”

“…Empathy includes (a) bearing witness and joining with patients and families in the context of traumatizing experiences, and (b) the nurse's sense of caring and emotional investment in the patient, family members, and traumatic situation . Personal factors were described as the nurse's (a) past history of personal trauma; (b) personal meaning of the patient's traumatic experience; (c) interpersonal styles and personality type; and (4) the nurse's unrealistic expectation of self …”

The Promise Initiative: Promoting a trauma‐informed police response to sexual assault in a mid‐size Southern community

“…In keeping with a public health approach which emphasizes developing, monitoring, and evaluating interventions and policies (Molnar et al, 2017), a follow-up study will determine if this widespread training will result in fewer unfounded cases, greater victim retention and involvement, and reduced rape myth endorsement.…”