Navigating the Shadows of Others’ Traumas: An In-Depth Examination of Secondary Traumatic Stress and Psychological Distress among Rescue Professionals
Rescue workers, who often find themselves on the frontlines of traumatic events, face an increased risk of experiencing secondary traumatic stress (STS) and psychological distress (PD). The nature of their work, alongside professional factors, can influence the way these psychological aspects manife...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Behavioral Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/14/1/21 |
| _version_ | 1797344613557600256 |
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| author | Nazia Noureen Seema Gul Aneela Maqsood Humaira Hakim Arooj Yaswi |
| author_facet | Nazia Noureen Seema Gul Aneela Maqsood Humaira Hakim Arooj Yaswi |
| author_sort | Nazia Noureen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Rescue workers, who often find themselves on the frontlines of traumatic events, face an increased risk of experiencing secondary traumatic stress (STS) and psychological distress (PD). The nature of their work, alongside professional factors, can influence the way these psychological aspects manifest and their level of severity. This study aimed to explore the relationship between STS and PD in rescue workers. Additionally, it sought to understand how factors such as age, years of experience, duration of work, training received and direct exposure to trauma explain significant variations in reporting to STS. To conduct this research, a cross-sectional study design was implemented involving a sample of 80 rescue workers from the Punjab province in Pakistan. Data was collected over eight weeks using the secondary traumatic stress scale (STSS-17) and the general health questionnaire (GHQ-12) as primary assessment tools. Participants’ data was analyzed through Pearson correlation analysis, <i>t</i>-tests, and ANOVA. A strong positive correlation between STS and PD among rescue workers was established. Age significantly explains variation in scores, with older workers displaying reduced STS and PD symptoms. Rescue workers working for longer hours reported elevated STS compared to those working shorter shifts. Workers with more extended professional experience showcased lower STS, highlighting the potential resilience acquired over time. The study also underscored the importance of training duration: longer, well-structured training was associated with decreased STS and PD. Interestingly, longer exposure to trauma was found to be related to lower STS scores, albeit this warrants further investigation. This study underscores the intertwined nature of STS and PD among rescue workers and the various modulating factors. The study paves the way for more comprehensive research, expanding geographically and demographically. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T11:05:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5b73f44185d54177a0fc8dac74eb4bf4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-328X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T11:05:15Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Behavioral Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-5b73f44185d54177a0fc8dac74eb4bf42024-01-26T15:05:44ZengMDPI AGBehavioral Sciences2076-328X2023-12-011412110.3390/bs14010021Navigating the Shadows of Others’ Traumas: An In-Depth Examination of Secondary Traumatic Stress and Psychological Distress among Rescue ProfessionalsNazia Noureen0Seema Gul1Aneela Maqsood2Humaira Hakim3Arooj Yaswi4Department of Psychology, Foundation University, Rawalpindi 44000, Punjab, PakistanGeneral Studies Department, College of Humanities and Sciences, Prince Sultan University, Riyadh 11586, Saudi ArabiaNational Centre for Research on Suicide Prevention, Department of Behavioral Sciences, Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi 44000, Punjab, PakistanDepartment of Behavioral Sciences, Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi 44000, Punjab, PakistanGeneral Studies Department, College of Humanities and Sciences, Prince Sultan University, Riyadh 11586, Saudi ArabiaRescue workers, who often find themselves on the frontlines of traumatic events, face an increased risk of experiencing secondary traumatic stress (STS) and psychological distress (PD). The nature of their work, alongside professional factors, can influence the way these psychological aspects manifest and their level of severity. This study aimed to explore the relationship between STS and PD in rescue workers. Additionally, it sought to understand how factors such as age, years of experience, duration of work, training received and direct exposure to trauma explain significant variations in reporting to STS. To conduct this research, a cross-sectional study design was implemented involving a sample of 80 rescue workers from the Punjab province in Pakistan. Data was collected over eight weeks using the secondary traumatic stress scale (STSS-17) and the general health questionnaire (GHQ-12) as primary assessment tools. Participants’ data was analyzed through Pearson correlation analysis, <i>t</i>-tests, and ANOVA. A strong positive correlation between STS and PD among rescue workers was established. Age significantly explains variation in scores, with older workers displaying reduced STS and PD symptoms. Rescue workers working for longer hours reported elevated STS compared to those working shorter shifts. Workers with more extended professional experience showcased lower STS, highlighting the potential resilience acquired over time. The study also underscored the importance of training duration: longer, well-structured training was associated with decreased STS and PD. Interestingly, longer exposure to trauma was found to be related to lower STS scores, albeit this warrants further investigation. This study underscores the intertwined nature of STS and PD among rescue workers and the various modulating factors. The study paves the way for more comprehensive research, expanding geographically and demographically.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/14/1/21secondary traumatic stresspsychological distressrescue workersoccupational stress |
| spellingShingle | Nazia Noureen Seema Gul Aneela Maqsood Humaira Hakim Arooj Yaswi Navigating the Shadows of Others’ Traumas: An In-Depth Examination of Secondary Traumatic Stress and Psychological Distress among Rescue Professionals Behavioral Sciences secondary traumatic stress psychological distress rescue workers occupational stress |
| title | Navigating the Shadows of Others’ Traumas: An In-Depth Examination of Secondary Traumatic Stress and Psychological Distress among Rescue Professionals |
| title_full | Navigating the Shadows of Others’ Traumas: An In-Depth Examination of Secondary Traumatic Stress and Psychological Distress among Rescue Professionals |
| title_fullStr | Navigating the Shadows of Others’ Traumas: An In-Depth Examination of Secondary Traumatic Stress and Psychological Distress among Rescue Professionals |
| title_full_unstemmed | Navigating the Shadows of Others’ Traumas: An In-Depth Examination of Secondary Traumatic Stress and Psychological Distress among Rescue Professionals |
| title_short | Navigating the Shadows of Others’ Traumas: An In-Depth Examination of Secondary Traumatic Stress and Psychological Distress among Rescue Professionals |
| title_sort | navigating the shadows of others traumas an in depth examination of secondary traumatic stress and psychological distress among rescue professionals |
| topic | secondary traumatic stress psychological distress rescue workers occupational stress |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/14/1/21 |
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