Secondary traumatic stress among police officers – the relationship with personality and ruminations

Abstract

Like many professionals who work with victims of trauma, police officers may experience negative consequences expressed in the form of secondary traumatic stress (STS) symptoms. The study aim was to establish the relationship between personality, ruminations (intrusive and deliberate) and secondary traumatic stress symptoms, including the mediating role of ruminations, in a group of police officers exposed to secondary trauma. participants and procedureA group of 235 police officers working, at least partly, with trauma victims were surveyed. The age of the participants ranged from 30 to 60 years (M = 40.79, SD = 3.96). Three questionnaires were used: the Secondary Traumatic Stress Inventory, the NEO Five-Factor Inventory and the Event-Related Rumination Inventory. resultsThe results demonstrate a rather low level of STS among police officers. Ruminations, particularly intrusive ones, were more strongly connected with symptoms of STS than personality traits. Neuroticism correlated more strongly with STS than other personality traits, and extraversion was not connected with any negative effects of secondary trauma exposure. The conducted analysis confirmed that ruminations act as mediators in the relationship between neuroticism and STS. conclusionsAlthough the police officers working with trauma victims revealed low levels of STS symptoms, it is nevertheless advisable to ameliorate, if not prevent, them. Interventions should aim to expand the competencies in coping with trauma, including reducing the tendency to ruminate about the traumatic events experienced by clients.

Negatywne I Pozytywne Konsekwencje Wtórnej Ekspozycji Na Traumę U Funkcjonariuszy Policji

“…Nieliczne badania przeprowadzone wśród funkcjonariuszy policji wskazują na niejednoznaczne wyniki w tym zakresie. W badaniach przeprowadzonych wśród holenderskich policjantów uzyskano wyniki świadczące o pozytywnym, choć niewielkim związku pomiędzy nasileniem wtórnego stresu i wtórnego wzrostu 40 . W tych przeprowadzonych wśród fi ńskich funkcjonariuszy policji ujawniony został negatywny związek pomiędzy nasileniem wtórnej traumatyzacji a poziomem wtórnego wzrostu -im wyższy poziom negatywnych objawów traumy, tym mniejsze nasilenie pozytywnych zmian 41 .…”

“…cyt., s. 125-177. 40 traumatycznych i wypełniło udostępnione im kwestionariusze. Wyniki tych 520 funkcjonariuszy uwzględniono w analizach.…”

From negative to positive effects of secondary exposure to trauma – the mediating role of cognitive coping strategies

“…Research conducted in this area indicates the occurrence of STS among various groups of professionals working with people after traumatic experiences, including social workers, medical rescuers, nurses, therapists/psychologists and probation officers [4][5][6][7][8][9]. The STS symptoms have also been observed among police officers [10] and clergymen providing pastoral care in hospitals, hospices or prisons [11].…”