Coping strategies in secondary traumatization and post-traumatic growth among nurses working in a medical rehabilitation hospital: a pilot study

Purpose: Secondary traumatization and post-traumatic growth have been recognized as psychological reactions that might occur among the medical staff in general, and among nurses in particular. Nurses in the field of medical rehabilitative care might reveal such reactions as their work involves stress and traumatic situations. Coping strategies might either alleviate or exacerbate work-related stress experienced by nurses. The aims of the current study were to explore the link between secondary traumatization and post-traumatic growth exhibited by nurses in the field of medical rehabilitative care, and to examine the link between problem-focused coping strategies and emotion-focused coping strategies to secondary traumatization and post-traumatic growth. Material and method: One hundred and fifty-three rehabilitative nurses completed self-report questionnaires regarding personal data, post-traumatic growth, secondary traumatization, ways of coping strategies and personal negative life events. Results: Correlation matrix for the path analysis model revealed positive significant correlation between secondary traumatization and post-traumatic growth. Both, problem-focused coping and emotion-focused coping strategies were linked to secondary traumatization and post-traumatic growth. Conclusions: Nurses employed in a medical rehabilitation hospital who cope via problem-focused strategies as well as emotion-focused strategies in their work, might reveal secondary traumatization but might simultaneously benefit from post-traumatic growth.