A phenomenological exploration of work-related post-traumatic growth among high-functioning adults maltreated as children

Abstract

IntroductionChildhood maltreatment is a highly prevalent traumatic experience, and its adverse psychological and behavioral consequences are well-documented. Notwithstanding these adverse outcomes, many individuals who suffered from traumatic experiences report post-traumatic growth, i.e., transformative positive changes resulting from their struggle to cope. Post-traumatic growth has been extensively explored among adult survivors of childhood maltreatment, with findings indicating both the previously recognized domains (personal strength, relating to others, appreciation of life, openness to new possibilities, and spiritual change) as well as abuse-specific domains of growth (e.g., increased ability to protect themselves from abuse). However, little attention has been given to vocational aspects of post-traumatic growth among survivors, despite the central role and importance of work in adulthood. Exploration of post-traumatic growth at work has focused on certain vocational traumatic experiences, such as those which occur in the military, or through secondary trauma. This exploratory qualitative study focuses on the question: What is the lived experience of work-related post-traumatic growth among high-functioning adult survivors of CM?MethodTwenty in-depth interviews were held with high-functioning working adults who were maltreated as children. Phenomenological analysis was applied to the retrospective data reported in these interviews.ResultRich descriptions of work-related positive psychological changes were provided by all participants. Analysis revealed that survivors’ post-traumatic growth corresponded with all five previously recognized domains of growth: changes in self, relating to others, openness to new possibilities, finding meaning to the abuse, and appreciation of life. It also revealed that work is perceived as a form of resistance (a subtheme of changes in self), and that finding meaning entails three emerging subthemes: being a survivor and a role model, giving others what was needed and never received, and making a better world.Discussion:While the vocational lives of survivors of childhood maltreatment have rarely been examined through the lens of post-traumatic growth, our results show this lens to be highly valuable. Work-related post-traumatic growth has relevance not only regarding vocational traumas occurring in adulthood as has been previously studied, but also in the context of childhood traumas. Moreover, our research broadens the understanding of the possible domains of work-related growth.

Job Burnout Among the Helping Professions: The Roles of Childhood Maltreatment, Attachment Styles and Perceived Supervisor Support

“…2023), future studies could benefit from a systematic exploration of possible moderators that may explain these inconsistencies. The nature of the high‐functioning sample used in the current study may also suggest that these professionals may exhibit resilience, that is, positive adaptation despite significant adversity (Luthar, Cicchetti, and Becker 2000); thus, they may represent a subsample of CM survivors (e.g., Kaye‐Tzadok and Icekson 2022).…”

Childhood Maltreatment and Adult Work Absenteeism: Work Meaningfulness as a Double-Edged Sword

“…High-functioning CM survivors often describe their careers in the helping professions as "callings" [29]. Many relate to their work as a strong source of significance and value in their lives by allowing them to serve as a role model, giving to others what they needed and never received, and contributing to a better world [28]. However, such a perception may come with a cost.…”

“…First, the percentage of CM survivors in the helping professions is higher than in other professions, and higher than in the general population [26,27]. Second, survivors of CM frequently characterize their occupations within the helping professions as "callings" [28,29]. While a sense of calling at work is intuitively beneficial, and indeed quite often it is [30], high levels of a sense of calling have also been found to be associated with negative occupational outcomes, especially for workers in very demanding roles and working environments [31][32][33][34][35].…”