The present study experimentally investigated the way in which exposure to various aetiological explanations of anorexia nervosa (AN) differentially affected stigmatisation and behavioural intention outcomes. University students (N = 161) were randomly assigned to read one of four aetiological vignettes presenting the causes of AN as biological/genetic, socio-cultural, environmental, or multifactorial. Results indicate that those who received a socio-cultural explanation made stronger socio-cultural causal attributions, fewer biological/genetic causal attributions, and were significantly less willing to sign a health insurance petition for AN. Unexpectedly, the multifactorial group considered individuals with AN as more responsible and blameworthy for their condition. Overall, findings were comparative with previous research and partially support the propositions of attribution theory. Results also suggest that by conceptualising the aetiology of AN as biological or genetic, or at least increasing one's knowledge of these contributing factors, it may be possible to decrease the level of blame-based stigma associated with AN.
Therapists who work with trauma survivors, such as survivors of sexual violence, can experience compassion satisfaction while experiencing negative effects of trauma work, such as secondary traumatic stress. We examined whether the negative effects of secondary traumatic stress on therapist adjustment would be buffered by compassion satisfaction and whether the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions could be applied to examine the factors (positive emotions and positive reframing) that relate to compassion satisfaction. Sixty-one therapists who work with sexual violence survivors completed measures of secondary traumatic stress, compassion satisfaction, adjustment, positive emotions and positive reframing. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses found that compassion satisfaction buffered the negative impact of secondary traumatic stress on therapist adjustment when adjustment was conceptualised as anxiety. Using non-parametric bootstrapping, we found that the relationship between greater positive emotions and greater compassion satisfaction was partially mediated by positive reframing. The findings indicate that compassion satisfaction is likely to be helpful in ameliorating the negative effects of secondary traumatic stress on anxiety in therapists who work with sexual violence survivors and that the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions may provide a strong theoretical basis for the further examination of compassion satisfaction in trauma therapists.
Posttraumatic growth (PTG) is now recognized as a possible outcome in the wake of trauma that has been experienced either directly or indirectly. With this in mind, the aims of the current study were threefold: to assess the applicability of Calhoun and Tedeschi’s (2006, 1996) five-factor model of PTG in relation to vicarious PTG; assess the factors that are predictive of vicarious PTG; and assess the extent to which vicarious PTG is able to predict adjustment. The sample comprised of 126 university students and general community members. The factor analysis revealed that a two-factor solution (personal growth and changes in worldview) best explained vicarious PTG. The regression analyses revealed that intrusion was a significant positive predictor of personal growth and that intrinsic religiosity, meaningfulness, and intrusion were significant positive predictors of changes in worldview. It was also found that changes in worldview predicted better adjustment while personal growth predicted poorer adjustment. Implications and future directions for research are discussed in light of the results obtained.
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