Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Secondary Traumatization in Interpreters for Refugees: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: A substantial proportion of refugees, fleeing persecution, torture, and war, are estimated to suffer from psychological traumatization. After being sheltered in reception centers, the refugees come in close contact with different occupational groups, e.g., physicians, social workers, and interpreters. Previous studies ascertained that such interpreters themselves often suffer from primary psychological traumatization. Moreover, through translating refugees' potentially traumatic depictions, the interpreters are in danger of developing a so-called secondary traumatization. Objective: The present study aimed (1) to analyze the prevalence rates of primary traumatization in interpreters, (2) to assess the prevalence of secondary traumatization, depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms, (3) to examine the association between secondary traumatization symptoms and resilience factors in terms of sense of coherence, social support, and attachment style, and (4) to test whether these resilience factors mediate the relationship between primary and secondary traumatization. Methods: Participating interpreters (n = 64) were assessed for past exposure to potentially traumatic events as well as symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), secondary traumatization, depressive symptoms, anxiety, and subjective stress levels. Furthermore, we conducted psychometric surveys to measure interpreters' sense of coherence, degree of social support, and attachment style as potential predictors. Results: (1) 9% of the interpreters fulfilled all criteria for PTSD and a further 33% had subclinical PTSD; (2) a secondary traumatization was present in 21% of the examined interpreters - of these, 6% showed very high total scores indicating a severe secondary traumatization; furthermore, we found higher scores for depression, anxiety, and stress as compared to representative population samples, especially for females; (3) a present sense of coherence, an existing social support network, and a secure or preoccupied attachment style correlated significantly with low scores for secondary traumatization; and (4) a significant correlation emerged between primary and secondary traumatization (r = 0.595, p < 0.001); a mediation analysis revealed that this effect is partially mediated by secure attachment. Conclusion: A substantial proportion of interpreters working with refugees suffer from primary as well as secondary traumatization. However, high scores for sense of coherence and social support, male gender, and especially a secure attachment style were identified as resilience factors for secondary traumatization. The results may have implications for the selection, training, and supervision of interpreters.

Secondary Traumatization in Caregivers Working With Women and Children Who Suffered Extreme Violence by the “Islamic State”

“…This phenomenon is called secondary traumatization and can be identified in various helping professions including social workers and trauma therapists ( 16 – 18 ). In addition, Kindermann et al recently reported that 21% of interpreters working with refugees suffered from secondary traumatization ( 19 ). The general prevalence rates of secondary traumatization in caregivers illustrate the need for research on risk and resilience factors of secondary traumatization especially in professionals working with highly traumatized patients.…”

Stress on local and international psychotherapists in the crisis region of Iraq

“…The discrepancy between the psychotherapists' high trauma load and the few concessions made by an emotional viewpoint contingent upon this would seem to be mere social expediency [18]. High avoidance levels seem to be evident, namely that they play down their mental stress; they are "professionals" and as such are immune to mental decompensation [34][35][36][37][38]. In the case of potential stigmatising topic areas such as psychological instability and social crisis situations, there is an automatized reversal of roles into that of the expert; even barely sociallyacceptable coping strategies such as heavy smoking, alcohol or sexual debauchery have only been observed at a distance in other psychotherapists and are not confirmed from their own experience.…”

Evaluation des Einsatzes von DolmetscherInnen in der medizinischen und psychosozialen Versorgung Geflüchteter in einer Erstaufnahmeeinrichtung des Landes Baden-Württemberg

“…Diese Form hilft klarzustellen, dass der Dolmetscher kein Ansprechpartner ist und fördert so das Gelingen der Beziehung zwischen BehandlerIn und PatientIn [22]. Jedoch erhöht eine Verdolmetschung in der Ich-Form das Risiko einer sekundären Traumatisierung -sprich die Übertragung affektiver Symptomatik traumatisierter PatientInnen auf den Dolmetscher [23,24]. Eine Verdolmetschung in der dritten Person hingegen erleichtert eine Distanzierung von den vermittelten Inhalten, was insbesondere im Hinblick auf Berichte traumatischer Erfahrungen der PatientInnen von Bedeutung für DolmetscherInnen ist.…”