Effects of Internet-Based Self-Efficacy Intervention on Secondary Traumatic Stress and Secondary Posttraumatic Growth among Health and Human Services Professionals Exposed to Indirect Trauma

Abstract

Background: Although the evidence for the associations among self-efficacy, secondary traumatic stress (STS) and secondary posttraumatic growth (SPTG) is mounting, there is a lack of the experimental evidence for the influence of self-efficacy on positive and negative mental health outcomes among professionals indirectly exposed to trauma.Purpose: This study investigated the effects of an internet-based self-efficacy intervention (the experimental condition), compared to an education (the active control condition) on STS and SPTG among workers exposed to traumatic events indirectly, through their clients. We hypothesized that the group assignment (experimental vs. control) would affect STS and SPTG indirectly, with a mediating role of self-efficacy beliefs.Methods: Participants were 168 health and human services professionals (78% women), exposed indirectly to a traumatic event at work. They were randomly assigned to either a 4-session internet-based self-efficacy intervention (n = 87) or an education control group (n = 81) which received information about coping resources and consequences of stressors at work or at home. STS, SPTG, and self-efficacy were measured at the baseline (Time 1), 1-month follow-up (Time 2) and 2-month follow-up (Time 3).Results: Analysis of covariance showed that the group assignment had a significant effect on STS (Time 2) and self-efficacy (Time 2), with lower STS and higher self-efficacy reported by the self-efficacy intervention participants. Compared to the experimental group, the active control (education) group participants reported higher SPTG at Time 2. Mediation analyses indicated that the group assignment had indirect effects on STS and SPTG at Time 3. Workers who experienced increases in self-efficacy (Time 2) through the intervention were more likely to report lower STS and higher SPTG at Time 3.Conclusion: Elucidating the mediating processes that explain why an intervention for secondary trauma works is essential in order to develop more effective support systems that promote improved mental health outcomes among health and human services professionals. Prevention programs for workers exposed indirectly to traumatic events may target self-efficacy enhancement and education.

I believe I can craft! introducing Job Crafting Self-Efficacy Scale (JCSES)

“…This construct was measured in Study 2 with the short version of the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES-9; [ 43 ]) in adaptation by Cieslak and colleagues [ 44 ]. The instrument consists of 9 items (e.g., “At work, I am bursting with energy”, α = .90).…”

“…Thus, we introduced a predictor that is not only more precise, but its advantage (as compared to, for example, personality traits) is the potential for malleability. Self-efficacy is a modifiable belief [5], which may be successfully enhanced using psychological interventions [44,64]. Techniques enhancing self-efficacy that are used in these interventions are usually based on sources of self-efficacy listed by Bandura [18], for example, vicarious or mastery experiences.…”

Compassion Fatigue, Secondary Traumatic Stress, and Vicarious Traumatization: a Qualitative Review and Research Agenda

“…For example, studies assigning participants into groups based upon job, work group, or organization (e.g., Crowder and Sears 2017;Grundlingh et al 2017) present opportunities for higherlevel variables (e.g., workload, team culture, supervisor attitudes and behaviors, local resources), as well as individual differences related to self-selection, to act as confounding factors. Of the studies that do employ random assignment, approximately half of the randomly assigned studies employ no-treatment control groups (e.g., Cieslak et al 2016;Novoa and Cain 2014), whereas the remainder of random assignment studies tends to employ alternative-treatment control groups (e.g., Berger et al 2016;Riley et al 2017;Singh et al 2018;Wylde et al 2017). In general, more studies employing random assignment to conditions are needed.…”

The pitfall of empathic concern with chronic fatigue after a disaster in young adults

“…One type of positive adaptation, posttraumatic growth (PTG), is the experience of positive change that occurs as a result of the struggle with highly challenging life crises [17]. Importantly, indirect exposure to traumatic experiences (secondary post-traumatic stress) also causes symptoms that are similar to those of post-traumatic stress [18]. Accordingly, “secondary PTG” could occur through the enormous continuing distress and struggle of people who care for direct victims [18].…”

“…Importantly, indirect exposure to traumatic experiences (secondary post-traumatic stress) also causes symptoms that are similar to those of post-traumatic stress [18]. Accordingly, “secondary PTG” could occur through the enormous continuing distress and struggle of people who care for direct victims [18]. There are several specific terms related to secondary PTG.…”