Stress, Coping, and Social Support Processes: Where Are We? What Next?

Thoits, Peggy A.

doi:10.2307/2626957

Cited by 2,750 publications

(2,551 citation statements)

References 164 publications

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“…However, others have argued that it is the perception of support, as opposed to the actual support provided, that really matters. 46,47 Furthermore, our data suggest that many of the youths met their natural mentors through formal systems of care. Many of the mentors are adults that work for the child welfare, education, and mental health systems.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 67%

Nonkin Natural Mentors in the Lives of Older Youths in Foster Care

Munson

McMillen

2006

J Behav Health Serv Res

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This study explored the nonkin natural mentoring relationships among older youths in foster care. Three hundred thirty-nine youths nearing their exit from one state's alternative care system were interviewed. Those that reported the presence of a natural mentor, 62% (n=211), were subsequently asked about how they met their mentor, how long they have known their mentor, how frequently they have contact with their mentor, and the quality of the relationship. Seventy percent of the youth with mentors reported having known their mentors for over 1 year. Youth reported high levels of contact and relationship quality. Ethnic group membership, gender, where youth were living, and clinical characteristics were associated with individual mentoring characteristics. Child and adult service delivery systems might benefit from considering ways to support the continuation of these relationships during the transition period.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 67%

Nonkin Natural Mentors in the Lives of Older Youths in Foster Care

Munson

McMillen

2006

J Behav Health Serv Res

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“…Both stress (Thoits, 1995) and CF researchers (Figley, 1995(Figley, , 2002b Kassam-Adams, 1999) have also suggested that other aspects of the formal caregiver's life can influence his or her likelihood of developing CF. For example, a history of trauma, lower social support, and an inability to cope with the demands of caregiving are thought to increase the likelihood of developing CF.…”

Section: Compassion Fatigue (Cf)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…On the basis of Figley's (1995Figley's ( , 2002b conceptional of CF and psychosocial stress theory (Pearlin, 1989;Thoits, 1995), we included demographics, stressor exposures, and psychological resources as independent variables. The five demographic variables were gender, race/ethnicity, age, marital status, and years working in professional counseling.…”

Section: Independent Variablesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Finally, none of the demographic characteristics consistently predicted scores on the GHQ-12. This last finding is surprising, given that most research shows some statistically significant associations between demographic characteristics and psychological distress (Pearlin, 1981;Thoits, 1995). …”

mentioning

confidence: 94%

“…In this study, we conceptualize CF within a stress process framework (Pearlin, 1989 . This framework contends that challenging environments (stressors) typically require individuals to respond both physiologically, through alterations in the neuroendocrine and hormonal systems (Boscarino, 1997), and psychologically, usually through alterations in cognitive functioning (Francis, 1997;Thoits, 1995).Both stress (Thoits, 1995) and CF researchers (Figley, 1995(Figley, , 2002b Kassam-Adams, 1999) have also suggested that other aspects of the formal caregiver's life can influence his or her likelihood of developing CF. For example, a history of trauma, lower social support, and an inability to cope with the demands of caregiving are thought to increase the likelihood of developing CF.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Compassion fatigue and psychological distress among social workers: A validation study.

Adams

Boscarino

Figley

2006

American Journal of Orthopsychiatry

599

444

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Few studies have focused on caring professionals and their emotional exhaustion from working with traumatized clients, referred to as compassion fatigue (CF). The present study had 2 goals: (a) to assess the psychometric properties of a CF scale, and (b) to examine the scale's predictive validity in a multivariate model. The data came from a survey of social workers living in New York City following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. Factor analyses indicated that the CF scale measured multiple dimensions. After overlapping items were eliminated, the scale measured 2 key underlying dimensions-secondary trauma and job burnout. In a multivariate model, these dimensions were related to psychological distress, even after other risk factors were controlled. The authors discuss the results in light of increasing the ability of professional caregivers to meet the emotional needs of their clients within a stressful environment without experiencing CF. Keywords compassion fatigue; secondary trauma; occupational stressAlthough the psychological consequences of providing social support and care to traumatized individuals have been noted for over 2 decades, relatively few studies have focused on formal caregivers (i.e., therapists, child protection workers, nurses, etc.) and their emotional response to dealing with traumatized clients (Figley, 1995). Studies have shown that providing such care can be both highly rewarding and highly stressful (Ohaeri, 2003). Individuals working in the caring professions, though, may have occupational environments and caregiving demands that increase the likelihood of adverse psychological outcomes (Figley, 2002a;Sabin-Farrell & Turpin, 2003).Theoretically, individuals working in the caring professions often attempt to alter the behaviors and emotions of their clients by providing emotional support (e.g., empathy), strategies for coping with emotions, or better cognitive management skills (Boscarino, 1997;Francis, 1997;Thoits, 1986). Within the context of formal caregiving, providing therapy to clients who have survived a traumatic event can be particularly stressful (Figley, 1995 (Figley, 1995;Nelson-Gardell & Harris, 2003;Schauben & Frazier, 1995). The adverse impact of working with clients who have a history of psychological trauma (e.g., sexual and physical abuse, military combat, or community disaster) has been described under a variety of terms: vicarious traumatization, secondary traumatic stress, and compassion fatigue (CF;Jenkins & Baird, 2002). Compassion Fatigue (CF)For the present study, we use the term CF. Consistent with most current usage, we defined this as the formal caregiver's reduced capacity or interest in being empathic or "bearing the suffering of clients" and is "the natural consequent behaviors and emotions resulting from knowing about a traumatizing event experienced or suffered by a person" (Figley, 1995, p. 7; see also Figley 2002a see also Figley , 2002b. Thus, CF is a hazard associated primarily with the clinical sett...

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