Peer-Reviewed Journal Details
Mandatory Fields
Brockhouse, R,Msetfi, RM,Cohen, K,Joseph, S
2011
January
Journal Of Traumatic Stress
Vicarious exposure to trauma and growth in therapists: The moderating effects of sense of coherence, organizational support, and empathy
Published
()
Optional Fields
POSTTRAUMATIC GROWTH SOCIAL-WORKERS TRAUMATIZATION SURVIVORS WORKING
24
735
742
Therapists who work with traumatized individuals can experience psychological growth following this vicarious exposure to trauma. The purpose of the present study is to examine the variables that may moderate such vicarious posttraumatic growth. Therapists (N = 118) completed measures of vicarious exposure to trauma and growth, as well as empathy, sense of coherence, and perceived organizational support. Results showed that having a strong sense of coherence negatively predicted growth (beta = -.28, p = .001), whereas empathy was a positive predictor (beta = .37, p < .001). Empathy also moderated the exposure to growth relationship when growth involved relating to others (beta = -.20; p = .018). Organizational support did not predict growth. The results have implications for the recruitment, training, and supervision of therapists working with individuals who have experienced trauma.
10.1002/jts.20704
Grant Details