Positive Psychological Impact of Treating Victims of Politically Motivated Violence among Hospital-Based Health Care Providers

Abstract

Background: Health care personnel treating victims of politically motivated violence are at risk for traumatic stress symptoms. Few studies have assessed the positive psychological impact of politically motivated violence on health care workers. In this study, the level of positive psychological impact among health care workers with recurrent exposure to victims of politically motivated violence was examined. Methods: A validated questionnaire survey of health care personnel treating victims of politically motivated violence during 2000–2005 in two hospital settings was conducted. Positive psychological impact was assessed by the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory and traumatic stress symptoms were assessed using the Revised Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Inventory. Subjects included physicians (surgeons and anesthesiologists), nurses, and psychotherapists. Results: The rate of response to the mail-in questionnaires was 68.3% (n = 138). The sample consisted of 70 physicians, 37 nurses, and 31 hospital-based psychotherapists. Positive psychological impact was noted for the entire sample and among all professions. Traumatic stress symptoms predicted positive psychological impact for the entire sample and for each profession, and there was a curvilinear relationship between traumatic stress symptoms and positive psychological impact. Women experienced greater levels of positive psychological impact. Conclusions: Hospital-based health care providers treating victims of politically motivated violence experience both positive and negative psychological impact. Individuals who are more traumatized by their experience are more likely to also have a positive psychological impact.

Vicarious posttraumatic growth: A systematic literature review

“…The term vicarious traumatic exposure has been used in the literature to refer to indirect traumatic exposure, for example exposure to direct trauma survivors and/or the aversive details of a traumatic event, rather than exposure to a traumatic event itself (e.g., Brockhouse, Msetfi, Cohen & Joseph, 2011). A growing body of literature documents VPTG among health professionals (e.g., Shiri, Wexler, Alkalay, Meiner, & Kreitler, 2008a), interpreters (e.g., Splevins, Cohen, Joseph, Murray & Bowley, 2010) and members of the public (e.g., Linley, Joseph, Cooper, Harris, & Meyer, 2003); however, to date a comprehensive evaluation and review of the literature has not been conducted.…”

“…Several studies also reported finding no association between VPTG and secondary traumatic stress (Gibbons et al, 2011;Taubman-BenAri & Weintroub, 2008), while a third suggested a more complex alternative (Shiri et al, 2008a). Shiri et al (2008a) reported that the relationship between VPTG and secondary traumatic stress was best explained as curvilinear.…”

“…Several studies also reported finding no association between VPTG and secondary traumatic stress (Gibbons et al, 2011;Taubman-BenAri & Weintroub, 2008), while a third suggested a more complex alternative (Shiri et al, 2008a). Shiri et al (2008a) reported that the relationship between VPTG and secondary traumatic stress was best explained as curvilinear. Initially, VPTG increased linearly with increases in secondary traumatic stress; however, at a point VPTG reached a plateau and no longer continued to increase despite further increases in secondary traumatic stress (Shiri et al, 2008a).…”

“…Shiri et al (2008a) reported that the relationship between VPTG and secondary traumatic stress was best explained as curvilinear. Initially, VPTG increased linearly with increases in secondary traumatic stress; however, at a point VPTG reached a plateau and no longer continued to increase despite further increases in secondary traumatic stress (Shiri et al, 2008a). This curvilinear model explained the relationship between secondary traumatic stress and VPTG over and above a linear relationship.…”

Positive and Negative Psychological Impact After Secondary Exposure to Politically Motivated Violence Among Body Handlers and Rehabilitation Workers

“…In one qualitative study in which psychotherapists working with trauma victims were interviewed, most therapists expressed beliefs that working with trauma survivors had led to enduring, positive changes in their personality including greater sensitivity, compassion, insight, tolerance, and empathy (Arnold et al, 2005). In other studies which surveyed psychotherapists treating victims of trauma, the respondents mentioned that they had experienced significant growth that was a direct result of their work (Linley et al, 2005, Shiri et al, 2008.…”