Social service providers play a critical role in disaster recovery yet are disproportionately affected by disaster-related distress such as burnout and secondary traumatic stress. Psychosocial interventions designed for social service providers in the aftermath of a disaster are critical to aid in recovery. This article examines the impact of the Caregivers Journey of Hope (CJoH), a psychosocial intervention designed to alleviate stress and amplify coping resources in caregivers after a disaster. Social service providers (N ϭ 722) living and working in New York and New Jersey during Superstorm Sandy were surveyed before and after participation in the CJoH. The surveys examined knowledge, stress, satisfaction, future orientation, and social support. Paired samples t tests illustrated all of the scale items significantly improved across time for the participants following participation in the CJoH. Significant negative correlations existed between current stress, coping knowledge, and perceived ability to handle stress. Results of a regression analysis found that social support was positively related to higher levels of knowledge of community resources, awareness of the signs of stress, and knowledge of coping strategies and mindfulness breathing techniques. Fewer years of work experience and higher satisfaction with the CJoH were also associated with significant gains in several types of knowledge. Implications for ways through which psychosocial interventions such as the CJoH may reduce the negative psychological impact on disaster-affected social service providers are discussed.

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Objectives This study examined the mediating or moderating relationship of social health on physical health and post-traumatic stress symptoms among displaced Syrians and Jordanians at high risk for physical and mental health ailments. Frequency of mental health symptoms stratified by demographic factors was also explored. We hypothesized social health would mediate and/or moderate the relationship between physical and post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). Methods This cross-sectional study includes 598 adults between 18 and 75 years old recruited from three health centers in the city of Irbid, Jordan, 20 km away from the Syrian border. Post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) were measured through the primary care post-traumatic stress disorder checklist. Physical and social health were assessed through the Duke Health Profile. One-way ANOVA and independent samples T-tests examined mean scores of social health, PTSS, physical health stratified by age, gender, nationality, education level, and trauma exposure. Bivariate correlations explored the relationship between social health, PTSS, and physical health. PROCESS macro tested social health as a moderator and mediator on the association of the physical health and PTSS. Results Social health moderated and mediated the relationship between physical health and PTSS. Males reported ( t = 2.53, p < .05) better physical health scores than females. Those who had less than a high school education reported lower social health ( F = 13.83, p < .001); higher PTSS (F = 5.83, p < .001); and lower physical health (F = 5.76, p < .01) than more educated individuals. Syrians reported significantly higher PTSS (F = 4.13, p < .05) than Jordanians, however, there was no significant differences between nationality for physical or social health. Social health was positively associated with better physical health (r = 0.10, p < .01) and negatively with PTSS (r = -.293, p < .01). Conclusions Our results support our primary hypothesis suggesting social health mediates and moderates PTSS and physical health. Secondary findings illustrate gender, educational, and income differences in physical health and PTSS. Clinical trials registry NCT03721848