Traumatic Events and Factors Affecting Post-traumatic Growth of Nurses in General Hospitals

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors that affect post-traumatic growth of general hospital nurses after they experience traumatic events. Methods: A cross-sectional correlation study design was used. Participants were 232 nurses from general hospitals in South Korea. Data, including self-report questionnaires, were collected from July 11th to 31st, 2019, and analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, One-way ANOVA, Scheffé test, Pearson's correlation coefficients and hierarchical multiple regression analysis in IBM SPSS Statistics 25.0. Results: Post-traumatic stress (r=.24, p<.001), resilience (r=.36, p<.001), and social support (r=.37, p<.001) for general hospital nurses had a positive correlation with post-traumatic growth. The factors that affected post-traumatic growth were a) sleep disturbance, emotional paralysis and dissociation symptom subcategory of post-traumatic stress (β=.34, p<.001) and b) persistence subcategory of resilience (β=.33, p<.001) and c) evaluation support subcategory of social support (β=.29, p<.001). Conclusion: Results indicate that it is necessary to develop and provide programs to nurses to improve post-traumatic stress management, strengthen their resilience and provide social support.

Nurses' post‐traumatic stress symptoms and growth by perceived workplace bullying: An online cross‐sectional study

“…Despite the non‐significant indirect effects of PTG, we did observe that PTG was negatively associated with mental health among the perceived group, but not significant among the non‐perceived group. According to Kim et al., (2020), PTG may also play a pivotal role related to resilience, which in turn makes nurses report their bullying experience less. The appraisal mechanism involved in this specific process is still unknown, as is the impact of PTG problems on workplace bullying and whether it can be explained by individual appraisal.…”

“…A recent study showed that 26.6% of nurses had suffered from high levels of psychological distress (Sauer & McCoy, 2017). The most salient point is that some nurses have shown positive changes after traumatic experiences, such as post‐traumatic growth (PTG), either personally or professionally (Kim et al., 2020). Although PTG can improve mental health problems (Kim et al., 2020), workplace‐related trauma has the lowest rate of PTG among life traumas (Okoli et al., 2020).…”

“…The most salient point is that some nurses have shown positive changes after traumatic experiences, such as post‐traumatic growth (PTG), either personally or professionally (Kim et al., 2020). Although PTG can improve mental health problems (Kim et al., 2020), workplace‐related trauma has the lowest rate of PTG among life traumas (Okoli et al., 2020). Notably, not everyone with traumatic experiences develops PTG, and those that do may require a long period.…”

“…The hierarchical culture affected their mental health and extended the time to discover mental health issues caused by workplace bullying among nurses (Ullah et al, 2018). Therefore, it is important to provide therapeutic interventions after workplace bullying that specifically focus PTSS management among Asian nurses (Kim et al, 2020;Park et al, 2018). We suggest that psychological interventions or strategies for nurses be implemented, such as cognitive rehearsal programmes, transition phase programmes and incivility education programmes (Park et al, 2018) as well as tailored monitoring by the perception of bullying (Logan & Malone, 2018).…”

Factors influencing posttraumatic growth among nurses caring for COVID‐19 patients: A path analysis

“…The social support of nurses who participated in COVID‐19 patient care had a direct effect on deliberate rumination and had direct and indirect effects on posttraumatic growth. Nurses working in general hospitals who experienced traumatic events coped with negative psychological responses, and through social support promoted and experienced posttraumatic growth (Kim et al, 2020 ). However, a study of nurses who worked in a designated inpatient treatment hospital during MERS found that social support was not a significant factor in the mental health status of nurses (Park, 2016 ).…”