Exploring the experience of Polish interpreters who interpret for mental health clinicians in the UK: an interpretative phenomenological analysis

Gallagher, Colm; Melluish, Stephen; Löfgren, Saima

doi:10.1080/17542863.2017.1317280

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Indeed, in previous research, seeing traumatized clients recover was often reported as rewarding in the context of interpreting in a therapy setting (e.g., [ 2 , 22 ]) and as eliciting positive feelings such as a sense of growth, hope and inspiration [ 8 ]. Besides witnessing the course of treatment and probably also the recovery process, another reason for the lower level of psychological distress in the psychotherapy setting may be that interpreters are assigned to a case or a psychotherapist who is fully responsible for long-term treatment [ 10 , 32 , 33 ]. This may help to establish a solid and trustful working relationship within the triad and therefore reduce distress.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A comparison of interpreters’ wellbeing and work-related characteristics in the care of refugees across different work settings

et al. 2022

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Background Interpreters in the care of refugees work in various different settings. Qualitative studies suggest that interpreters are confronted with a variety of demands depending on the context in which they work, which may in turn influence their wellbeing. To date, no larger-scale study has investigated differences between work settings regarding interpreters’ work-related characteristics or wellbeing. Objective The aim of this study was to compare the work-related characteristics and possible changes in the wellbeing of interpreters between four main work settings (psychotherapy, counselling, medical setting, and authorities) in the care of refugees. Method Interpreters in refugee care were recruited for a nationwide online survey in Germany with two measurement time points. Participants provided socio-demographic data and answered questions about the working conditions in their respective main work setting. In addition, psychological distress (Brief Symptom Inventory, BSI-18), work-related exhaustion (Copenhagen Burnout Inventory, CBI), and compassion satisfaction (Professional Quality of Life, ProQOL) were assessed. Results Overall, 158 interpreters were included at t1, of whom 63 were also included at t2. Significantly more traumatic content was interpreted in counselling settings and psychotherapy than in medical and authorities settings (H (3) = 26.09, p < .001). The highest proportion of interpreters with an interpreting degree worked in the authorities setting (Fisher’s exact test, p = .002). Significant differences between the four settings were found for psychological distress (Kruskal–Wallis-test, H (3) = 12.02, p = .01) and work-related exhaustion (Kruskal–Wallis-test, H (3) = 8.10, p = .04) but not for compassion satisfaction. Conclusion The presented results indicate differences regarding working conditions, psychological distress, and work-related exhaustion between different work settings of interpreters. Future studies may explore each setting in greater detail and include a larger sample size to reach a better understanding of the relationship between setting-specific challenges and interpreters’ wellbeing.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A comparison of interpreters’ wellbeing and work-related characteristics in the care of refugees across different work settings

et al. 2022

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“…A study addressing interpreters' own perceptions of their roles in health care settings identified several different roles, e.g., functioning as an advocate by empowering the client or being a conduit by only translating ( 4 ). Additionally, interpreters are under pressure within their work situation, as mostly, the practitioner decides whether the interpreter will return for another appointment ( 11 ), thus creating a power imbalance.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the therapeutic context, language is key to facilitating treatment ( 25 ), and some skills are particularly useful for interpreters ( 1 ), e.g., knowledge of psychopathology as well as correct terminology. Two recent studies addressed difficulties for interpreters specific to the mental health setting ( 11 , 20 ), and emphasised that the mental health care structures require complex roles and emotionally demanding skills.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mental Health and Work Experiences of Interpreters in the Mental Health Care of Refugees: A Systematic Review

et al. 2021

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Background: Interpreters often play a crucial role in the health care of refugees. Although interpreters working with refugees are regularly confronted with emotionally stressful content, little is known about their work-related stress and psychological well-being. Primarily qualitative studies indicate increased emotional stress in interpreters, and difficulties in handling the traumatic content from their clients. Additionally, the working conditions of interpreters appear to be demanding, due to low payment and a lack of supervision or adequate preparation.Objective: The presented systematic review aimed to identify and summarise quantitative and qualitative research on the mental health of interpreters in the mental health care of refugees.Method: A systematic search was performed in five databases, and specific interpreting journals were searched. After removal of duplicates, 6,920 hits remained. Eligible studies included quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods studies as well as case studies and grey literature. The studies aimed to examine mental health aspects or work experiences of spoken language interpreters in mental health care settings for adult refugees.Results: Altogether, 25 studies were identified, including six quantitative and 19 qualitative studies. Studies were analysed and presented narratively. In the analysis of the qualitative studies, three themes emerged: “Emotions, behaviour, and coping strategies,” “Working in a triad,” and “Working environment.” In the quantitative studies, interpreters showed heightened levels of emotional stress and anxiety, and secondary traumatic stress reactions. In several qualitative studies, interpreters described a devaluing health care system and stressful working conditions with a lack of support structures.Conclusion: Overall, the results indicate a high level of stress among interpreters working with refugees. Quantitative data are sparse, and studies employ heterogeneous assessments in diverse study settings. Therefore, future quantitative research is necessary to consistently investigate interpreters' mental health in different mental health care settings.Systematic Review Registration:https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier: CRD42019117948.

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A typology of healthcare interpreter positionings

Cotret

Brisset

Leanza

2020

INTP

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The conceptual vagueness surrounding the role of the public service interpreter can hinder collaboration between interpreters and providers. Inspired by Mason’s work on interpreter positioning, the study aimed to clarify providers’ expectations of the role of the interpreter in order to strengthen interprofessional collaboration. A typological analysis was conducted based on 23 healthcare providers’ perceptions of the public service interpreter. The Typology of Healthcare Interpreter Positionings features eight positionings that reinforce the interprofessional collaboration and nine that compromise it. The result is a concrete portrait that depicts the neutrality of the public service interpreter as a powerful driver of collaboration. Providers also agree that interpreters must be able to take their place in the consultation, even if it means being assertive and modifying the discourse of the interlocutors. Navigating such situations while maintaining the provider’s trust requires interactional knowledge (soft skills), which complements technical knowledge (hard skills). The Typology represents a communication tool that both providers and interpreters can use to foster collaboration. It also represents a professionalization tool as it reiterates the importance of neutrality in the work of public service interpreters and their social positioning as professionals.

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Exploring the experience of Polish interpreters who interpret for mental health clinicians in the UK: an interpretative phenomenological analysis

Cited by 5 publications

References 15 publications

A comparison of interpreters’ wellbeing and work-related characteristics in the care of refugees across different work settings

A comparison of interpreters’ wellbeing and work-related characteristics in the care of refugees across different work settings

Mental Health and Work Experiences of Interpreters in the Mental Health Care of Refugees: A Systematic Review

A typology of healthcare interpreter positionings

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