Vicarious posttraumatic growth: A systematic review and thematic synthesis across helping professions.

Abstract

Vicarious posttraumatic growth (VPTG) is a growth experience resulting from indirect trauma exposure. Helping professionals are often exposed to indirect trauma by hearing and addressing the trauma narrative through various capacities. However, there is limited information regarding the experiences of VPTG across helping professions. The purpose of this systematic review and thematic synthesis was to (a) identify current literature of the lived experiences of VPTG across professions, (b) review and integrate findings of multiple qualitative studies, and (c) inform policy and practice to facilitate VPTG across helping professions. The authors identified 6 themes in the thematic synthesis: negative affective responses, changes in world view, creating meaning to change self, changes in interpersonal relationships, engaging in efforts of support and self-care, and client progress impacting growth. The authors discuss implications of findings to inform policy, practice, and training programs across helping professions.

A preliminary validation of the vicarious Posttraumatic Growth Inventory across helping professions and investigation of construct validity.

“…The VPTGI, the instrument under investigation, is comprised of 32 self-report items across a 6-point Likert scale of agreement. The items are formed of experiences of VPTG among helping professionals across six domain areas; (a) negative responses , (b) changes in world view , (c) creating meaning to change self , (d) changes in interpersonal relationships , (e) engaging in efforts of support and self-care , and (f) client progress impacting growth (Deaton et al, 2022). Each item begins with an item stem stating, “As a result of my work with clients or patients who have experienced trauma….”…”

“…The VPTG Inventory (VPTGI) went through a series of steps for scale construction including a thematic synthesis of qualitative literature (Deaton et al, 2022), an expert panel review (American Educational Research Association [AERA] et al, 2014; Dimitrov, 2012; Lambie et al, 2017), and field testing (Lambie et al, 2017). The researchers conducted a systematic review and thematic synthesis of VPTG across helping professions to include counselors, social workers, psychologists, nurses, healthcare professionals, and interpreters (Deaton et al, 2022).…”

“…The VPTG Inventory (VPTGI) went through a series of steps for scale construction including a thematic synthesis of qualitative literature (Deaton et al, 2022), an expert panel review (American Educational Research Association [AERA] et al, 2014; Dimitrov, 2012; Lambie et al, 2017), and field testing (Lambie et al, 2017). The researchers conducted a systematic review and thematic synthesis of VPTG across helping professions to include counselors, social workers, psychologists, nurses, healthcare professionals, and interpreters (Deaton et al, 2022). Initial items were constructed based on the cross-discipline thematic synthesis: (a) negative responses , (b) changes in worldview , (c) creating meaning to change self , (d) changes in interpersonal relationships , (e) engaging in efforts of support and self-care , and (f) client progress impacting growth .…”

“…Initial items were constructed based on the cross-discipline thematic synthesis: (a) negative responses , (b) changes in worldview , (c) creating meaning to change self , (d) changes in interpersonal relationships , (e) engaging in efforts of support and self-care , and (f) client progress impacting growth . Each item corresponds with themes depicting the lived experiences of helping professionals across disciplines (Deaton et al, 2022).…”

“…The aim of this study was to generate psychometric evidence regarding the factor structure of VPTG informed by the lived experiences of helping professionals (Deaton et al, 2022). Moreover, this study aims to support the development of the VPTGI and address the following research questions: What is the factor structure of an initial VPTGI with a sample of helping professionals and helping professionals-in-training exposed to indirect trauma?What is the relationship between initial VPTGI scores and CS scores as measured by the Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL; Stamm, 2010) with a sample of helping professionals and helping professionals-in-training ( examining convergent validity )?What is the relationship between initial VPTGI scores and STS scores as measured by the ProQOL(Stamm, 2010) with a sample of helping professionals and helping professionals-in-training ( examining discriminant validity )?…”