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Vicarious Trauma: Exploring the Experiences of Qualitative Researchers Who Study Traumatized Populations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 December 2021

Erin Smith Open the ORCID record for Erin Smith [Opens in a new window] ,
Julie-Ann Pooley ,
Lisa Holmes ,
Kristine Gebbie  and
Robyn Gershon
Erin Smith*
Affiliation:
Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia Dart Centre Asia Pacific, Melbourne, Australia
Julie-Ann Pooley
Affiliation:
Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia
Lisa Holmes
Affiliation:
Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia
Kristine Gebbie
Affiliation:
Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia
Robyn Gershon
Affiliation:
New York University, New York, NY, USA
*
Corresponding author: Erin Smith, Email: Erin.Smith@dartaspac.org.
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Abstract

Objective:

A substantial body of research exists regarding vicarious trauma (VT) exposure among helping professionals across disciplines and settings. There is limited research, however, on exposure to VT in qualitative researchers studying traumatized populations. The objective of this study was to explore the experiences of qualitative researchers who study traumatized populations and to identify potential protective strategies for reducing the risk of VT.

Methods:

The study utilized a qualitative methodological design. Focus groups and in-depth interviews were conducted using a semi-structured script. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify both risk factors and protective factors associated with VT. A sample of 58 research participants were recruited using a multimodal recruitment strategy.

Results:

Using thematic analysis, the following key themes emerged: exposure to primary trauma, the impact of stigma, organizational context, individual context, and research context. The opportunity for posttraumatic growth was also identified.

Conclusion:

Qualitative researchers of traumatized populations need to recognize the potential for VT and implement appropriate protection strategies from the risk of VT. The development of policies and guidelines that recognize the importance of both self-care and plan for researcher safety and well-being is a potential strategy for building researcher resilience and preventing VT.

Keywords

vicarious traumasecondary traumaqualitative researchresearch
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 17 , 2023 , e69
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc.

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