Resilience for Trauma-Informed Professionals

Title: Resilience for Trauma-Informed Professionals

Description: The revised definition of Criterion A in the DSM-5 (2018) diagnosis of PTSD for the first time included exposure to others' traumatic experiences--particularly in the context of one's work--as a form of trauma, termed secondary traumatic stress (STS). Accordingly, there has been increasing interest in understanding the factors that account for risk and resilience in professionals involved in delivering services to trauma-impacted individuals as well as those who have contact with trauma-related information in the context of their work. Mental health professionals, including health service psychologists, comprise one such group. The purpose of the present study is to examine characteristics and practices that are associated with increased risk of STS as well as those that are protective. Specific hypotheses will be tested derived from the R-TIP (Kerig, 2019) model, which focuses on the six dimensions of appraisals, self-efficacy, emotional awareness, affect regulation, resilience, and prevention. In one branch of this IRB-approved study, participants are being invited to attend a training focused on prevention of STS, and the effectiveness of their use of the skills imparted in the training will be assessed at pre, post, and follow-up. In the branch of the study for which we are currently recruiting participants, data from a non-workshop comparison group will be gathered.

Specifics: Study Population:
All mental health professionals in all regions are eligible for participation in this study.

Participant Obligation:
Participants will complete an online survey that will take approximately 40 minutes. At the end of the survey, participants will be invited to participate in repeat surveys 3 and 6 months following.

This study is being conducted in the context of an international research consortium team, including Dr. Julie Goldenson of the Univ. of Toronto and Dr. Patricia Kerig of the University of Utah. The survey was created in Dr. Kerig's lab and was IRB-approved at that site.

Location: Online-Salt Lake City, Utah.

Project lead: Julie Goldenson

Study Dates: July 25, 2024 to July 31, 2025

Study Website: https://csbsutah.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eeXOGYPrby1Lyt0%20