Citation

Zerach G, Shalev TB. Arch. Psychiatr. Nurs. 2015; 29(3): 135-142.

Affiliation

Department of Behavioral Sciences, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.apnu.2015.01.002

PMID

26001711

Abstract

This study examined posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms (PTSD), secondary traumatization (ST) and vicarious posttraumatic growth (VG) among Israeli psychiatric nurses (PN) who were compared to community nurses (CN). Furthermore, we examined the contribution of PN perceptions of the etiology of their patients' mental illness to their PTSD, ST and VG.

RESULTS show that PN reported higher levels of both PTSD and ST symptoms, but lower levels of VG, as compare to CN. While ST symptoms were positively related to VG among CN, PTSD and ST symptoms were negatively associated among PN. Finally, exposure to patients' violence, PTSD or ST symptoms, and illness attribution dimensions of 'powerful others', predicted nurses' VG. PN are an at-risk population for work-related stress residues.

Language: en