The Relationship between Social Support and Secondary Posttraumatic Growth among Health Care Providers Working with Trauma Victims—The Mediating Role of Cognitive Processing

Background: Individuals, who help trauma victims as part of their professional responsibilities, may experience positive effects of their work, occurring in the form of Secondary Posttraumatic Growth (SPTG). Its determinants include environmental factors such as social support, and individual characteristics, particularly cognitive processing of the trauma. The purpose of this study was to determine the associations between SPTG and social support and cognitive processing of trauma, also considered as a mediator, in a group of medical personnel exposed to secondary trauma. Methods: The results of 408 participants, paramedics and nurses, were analyzed. Three measurement tools were used: the Secondary Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, the Social Support Scale measuring four sources of support and the Cognitive Trauma Processing Scale to assess five cognitive coping strategies. Results: The results indicated that SPTG was positively related to social support and cognitive coping strategies. Cognitive coping strategies act as a mediator in the relationship between social support and SPTG. Conclusions: Despite their exposure to secondary traumatization, paramedics and nursing staff experience positive consequences of their work related to helping injured people. In order to promote growth after trauma, it is advisable to encourage medical representatives to use social support and primarily positive coping strategies.