The impact of trauma work on trauma workers: A metasynthesis on vicarious trauma and vicarious posttraumatic growth.
Abstract
The current work examines the impact on trauma workers of working with people who have been traumatised within the framework of both vicarious trauma (VT) and various posttraumatic growth (VPTG) by using a meta-synthesis of findings from 20 published qualitative papers.The synthesis found that the impact of trauma work can potentially increase short and long term levels of distress and that such psychological impact can be managed through personal and organisational coping strategies.It was also found that trauma work leads to changes in schemas and day-to-day routines and that these changes can be both negative and positive.Such changes correspond to both VT and VPTG, but for VPTG to occur, trauma workers will need to be exposed to the client's own growth.
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Research results indicate that both phenomena should be studied together, not treated as mutually exclusive.
“Wyniki badań [22] wskazują na to, że oba te zjawiska powinno się badać łącznie, anie traktować jako wzajemnie wykluczające się.”
From Does it only benefit the patient? Potentially positive impact of psychotherapy of traumatized people — on the therapist (2025) · cites this paper as [22]
Organizational support is also a predictor of VPTG development.
“Predyktorem rozwoju VPTG jest także wsparcie organizacyjne [22].”
From Does it only benefit the patient? Potentially positive impact of psychotherapy of traumatized people — on the therapist (2025) · cites this paper as [22]
Cites
Happiness is everything, or is it? Explorations on the meaning of psychological well-being.
Ryff, C. D. (1989) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-3514.57.6.1069 · Cited by 14,847 · see citing works
The posttraumatic growth inventory: measuring the positive legacy of trauma
Tedeschi, R. G., & Calhoun, L. G. (1996) · Journal of Traumatic Stress · doi:10.1002/jts.2490090305 · Cited by 7,061 · see citing works
Qualitative Metasynthesis: Reflections on Methodological Orientation and Ideological Agenda
Thorne, S., Jensen, L., Kearney, M. H., Noblit, G., & Sandelowski, M. (2004) · Qualitative Health Research · doi:10.1177/1049732304269888 · Cited by 749 · see citing works
Vicarious traumatisation of counsellors and effects on their workplaces
Sexton, L. (1999) · British Journal of Guidance & Counselling · doi:10.1080/03069889908256279 · Cited by 209 · see citing works
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Rauvola, R. S., Vega, D. M., & Lavigne, K. N. (2019) · Occupational Health Science · doi:10.1007/s41542-019-00045-1 · Cited by 225 · see citing works
Melendez‐Torres, G. J., Grant, S., & Bonell, C. (2015) · Research Synthesis Methods · doi:10.1002/jrsm.1161 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
Powell, T. M., Yuma, P. J., Scott, J., Suarez, A., Morales, I., Vinton, M., Marrero, M., & Li, S.-J. (2020) · Traumatology · doi:10.1037/trm0000228 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
Ogińska-Bulik, N., & Juczyński, Z. (2022) · Roczniki Psychologiczne · doi:10.18290/rpsych2022.0006 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Sterna, W. (2025) · Psychoterapia · doi:10.12740/pt/200100 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
- Authors
- Cohen, K., & Collens, P.
- Affiliations
- Goldsmiths University of London (GB)
- ORCID
- Collens, Paula
- Venue
- Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy
- Published
- 2013-11
- Volume
- 5
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 570-580
- ISSN
- 1942-9681 (ISSN-L)
- 1942-969X
- OpenAlex
- W2320258437
- Cited by
- 296
- References
- 4
- Citations by year
- 2026: 27 · 2025: 25 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 28 · 2022: 30 · 2021: 36 · 2020: 30 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 20 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 9.06
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychological Trauma Theory Research Practice and Policy (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Social Sciences › Public Administration › Social Work Education and Practice
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Stress and Burnout Research
- Keywords
- vicarious trauma, vicarious posttraumatic growth, psychological distress, coping strategies, organizational support, schema change, daily routine, customer growth, trauma-informed care
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