The Relationship of Dissociation Proneness to Secondary Trauma, Burnout, and Compassion Satisfaction in Mobile Crisis Workers

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between general dissociation experiences (DES) and dissociation absorption experiences (DESAB) to secondary traumatic stress (STS), burnout (BO), and compassion satisfaction (CS). Mobile crisis workers in Maine (N = 30) anonymously completed the Dissociative Experiences Scale II and the Professional Quality of Life Scale; biographical data was masked. Results indicated high resiliency in this sample as 80% of scores reflected CS, while 24% of scores reflected STS and 7% reflected BO. Analysis produced moderate, statistically significant correlations between STS and DES (r = .31); STS and DESAB (r = .32); BO and DES (r = .44); and BO and DESAB (r = .43). CS and DES/DESAB did not yield a significant correlation. This suggests a previously unreported relationship between dissociation vulnerability and the experience of STS and BO. Findings warrant further study of STS as a manifestation of a primary trauma disorder and not a distinct category. Results can inform mental health provider training and burnout prevention efforts.

Secondary traumatic stress and dissociative coping strategies in nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic: The protective role of resilience

“…As suggested by Samson and Shvartzman (2018) , medical personnel tend to develop a clinical level of dissociation that puts them at increased risk for STS. There are few studies available which, however, prove the connection between STS and peritraumatic dissociation in mobile crisis workers ( Plouffe, 2015 ), palliative care providers ( Samson & Shvartzman, 2018 ), and social workers ( Lev-Wiesel et al, 2009 ; Samson et al, 2021 ). According to Ozer et al (2003) , a crucial predictor of posttraumatic symptoms is a personal tendency toward dissociation during exposure to a stressful event that results in detachment experienced in the course of a traumatic event ( Samson et al, 2021 ) and worsens the prognosis ( Levin et al, 2014 ).…”