Posttraumatic Growth and Related Factors of Child Protective Service Workers

Abstract

ObjectivesThe aim of the study is to measure the level of vicarious trauma, posttraumatic growth (PTG), and other factors affecting PTG among child protective service workers.MethodsWe include posttraumatic stress, social support, stress coping, and demographic data as independent variables. Data was collected from 255 full-time social workers from 43 child protective agencies as acomplete enumeration and 204 included in the final analysis.ResultsThe major findings of the study were as follows: The mean score of PTG was 44.09 (SD:21.73). Hierarchical multiple regression was adopted and "pursuing social support as a way of coping with stress" was the strongest predictive factor (β=0.319, p<0.001) of PTG.ConclusionWe suggest that child protective workers are vulnerable to posttraumatic stress and mental health services are indicated. We also recommend various types of training for stress coping program, especially strengthening the social support system of the child protective service workers in South Korea.

The Benefits of Indirect Exposure to Trauma: The Relationships among Vicarious Posttraumatic Growth, Social Support, and Resilience in Ambulance Personnel in China

“…Further, China’s traditional cultural value systems (i.e., Confucianism, Taoism) might affect thinking patterns of individuals who might form a more meaningful narrative about trauma [ 60 , 61 ]. In addition, the score was slightly higher than that reported in studies of psychiatric nurses and social workers [ 24 , 30 , 62 ]. Emergency rescues involve extremely urgent life-and-death situations, short recovery times between emergencies, and frequent exposure to trauma experienced by patients [ 27 ].…”

“…Individuals with high levels of support have more opportunities to narrate their trauma and survival, and to adopt a perspective that can be integrated into a schema change [ 15 , 29 ]. A growing body of literature supports research findings of a positive effect of social support on PTG [ 30 - 33 ]. One investigation of cancer survivors indicated that social support helped traumatized people reinterpret their present situation, stimulate their cognitive processes, and, in turn, foster their meaning-making process [ 33 ].…”

A Positive Side of Deployment: Vicarious Posttraumatic Growth in U.S. Military Nurses Who Served in the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars

“…Reported predictors of vicarious PTG include social support and empathy (Rhee, Ko, & Han, 2013), working with trauma victims (Brockhouse, Msetfi, Cohen, & Joseph, 2011), bonding with patients (Linley & Joseph, 2007), job satisfaction (Gibbons et al, 2011), and professional self‐esteem (Taubman‐Ben‐Ari & Weintroub, 2008). Some of these predictors were mentioned in the open‐ended question responses, where some nurses described positive changes in their lives after caring for war trauma victims.…”

Intervenants en protection de la jeunesse : exploration des motifs de carrière initiaux, des sources de motivation actuelles et des répercussions perçues de ces sources de motivation actuelles

“…Les travailleurs en protection de la jeunesse (PJ) sont à haut risque d'éprouver des problèmes de santé psychologique tels qu'un trouble de stress post-traumatique (TSPT; Horwitz, 2006;Rhee, Ko et Han, 2013) ou un épuisement professionnel (Anderson, 2000;Bennett, Plint et Clifford, 2005). Des études (Meadors et Lamson, 2008;Regehr, Hemsworth, Leslie, Howe et Chau, 2004) montrent que cet état de fait est partiellement attribuable à l'environnement de travail de la PJ.…”