The relationship between dispositional empathy, psychological distress, and posttraumatic stress responses among Japanese uniformed disaster workers: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundDisaster workers suffer from psychological distress not only through the direct experience of traumatic situations but also through the indirect process of aiding disaster victims. This distress, called secondary traumatic stress, is linked to dispositional empathy, which is the tendency for individuals to imagine and experience the feelings and experiences of others. However, the association between secondary traumatic stress and dispositional empathy remains understudied.MethodsTo examine the relationship between dispositional empathy and mental health among disaster workers, we collected data from 227 Japan Ground Self-Defense Force personnel who engaged in international disaster relief activities in the Philippines following Typhoon Yolanda in 2013. The Impact of Event Scale-Revised and the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale were used to evaluate posttraumatic stress responses (PTSR) and general psychological distress (GPD), respectively. Dispositional empathy was evaluated through the Interpersonal Reactivity Index, which consists of four subscales: Perspective Taking, Fantasy, Empathic Concern, and Personal Distress. Hierarchial linear regression analyses were performed to identify the variables related to PTSR and GPD.ResultsHigh PTSR was significantly associated with high Fantasy (identification tendency, β = 0.21, p < .01), high Personal Distress (the self-oriented emotional disposition of empathy, β = 0.18, p < .05), and no experience of disaster relief activities (β = 0.15, p < .05). High GPD was associated with high Personal Distress (β = 0.28, p < .001), marital status (married, β = 0.22, p < .01), being female (β = 0.18, p < .01), medical unit (β = 0.18, p < .05), and no experience of disaster relief activities (β = 0.13, p < .05).ConclusionsAmong Japanese uniformed disaster workers, high PTSR was associated with two subtypes of dispositional empathy: the self-oriented emotional disposition of empathy and high identification tendency, whereas high GPD was associated with high identification tendency. Educational interventions that aim to mitigate these tendencies might be able to relieve the psychological distress of disaster workers.

Pandemic-Specific Factors Related to Generalized Anxiety Disorder during the Initial COVID-19 Protocols in the United States

“…These individuals are likely imagining the experiences and feelings of others, especially those who have experienced a hardship related to the pandemic via secondary or tertiary anecdotal accounts, or featured social media stories. While beyond the scope of this study, there is an established line of research demonstrating associations between psychological distress, empathy, and traumatic responses (Bride, 2004;Nagamine et al, 2018). The suggested clinical recommendation for these findings is to continue to limit news exposure and internet usage related to the pandemic, for those with a psychological vulnerability to stress and anxiety, and especially for those who consider themselves empathic.…”

The pitfall of empathic concern with chronic fatigue after a disaster in young adults

“…These outcomes are in accordance with our hypothesis 1. The balance of EC seems to be important for stressful situations, as distress and well-being are related to empathy [33], although other-oriented empathy could enhance secondary PTG [51]. Twenty subjects in this study showed chronic fatigue based on the CIS-J total scores (chronic fatigue; more than 76) [52].…”

Sociological conceptualizations of compassion fatigue: Expanding our understanding

“…Other researchers have shown the same relationship between individual characteristics and industry work. For example, disaster workers scoring high on measures of empathy scales were at risk for compassion fatigue (Nagamine et al, 2018), trauma treatment specialists with more lengthy experience in the field were less likely to report symptoms of compassion fatigue and burnout (Craig & Sprang, 2010), and therapists who feared working through trauma experience of torture survivors and had high advocacy for their patients presented higher risk for compassion fatigue (Deighton, Gurris, & Traue, 2007). Research examining compassion fatigue experiences of law enforcement professionals also showed a heightened prevalence of compassion fatigue symptoms in comparison to other mental health measures (Dabdoub, Baker, Craw, & Kernes, 2018).…”