Secondary Traumatic Stress and Post Traumatic Growth Among Frontliners during Covid-19: Role of Coping Strategies

Abstract

The study aimed at investigating the mediating role of coping strategies in secondary traumatic stress and post traumatic growth among frontliners during covid-19. It was hypothesized that relationship between secondary traumatic stress and post traumatic growth would be mediated by problem focused and emotion focused coping strategies. The study elaborated the prevalence of secondary traumatic stress and post traumatic growth among frontliners during covid-19. Moreover, it highlighted the effect of demographic variables on study variables among frontliners. Using correlational research design; Secondary traumatic stress scale (Self translated Urdu Version of scale), post traumatic growth inventory-sf (Aziz, 2012) and coping styles scale (Zaman, 2015) were administered on 290 frontline healthcare workers who consisted of doctors and paramedics. The results indicated significant relationship between study variables. Findings further revealed that coping strategies (problem focused and emotion focused) partially mediated the relationship between secondary traumatic stress and post traumatic growth among frontliners during covid-19. Results further indicated significant differences on the bases of age in experiencing secondary traumatic stress and post traumatic growth. Therefor it can be concluded that frontliners experienced more post traumatic growth due to utilization of problem focused coping strategies during crises situation. Doctors were found to experience less secondary traumatic stress as compared to paramedics. Younger age adults experienced high level of post traumatic growth as compared to middle age adults. Results of current study will help researchers to understand importance of adaptive coping skills in these traumatic situations to reduce secondary traumatic stress and enhance posttraumatic growth.