Journal of Traumatic Stress
Volume 31, Issue 2, 2018, Pages 202-212

Secondary Traumatic Stress and Burnout Among Refugee Resettlement Workers: The Role of Coping and Emotional Intelligence (Article)

Akinsulure-Smith A.M.* , Espinosa A. , Chu T. , Hallock R.
  • a Department of Psychology, City College of New York, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, United States
  • b Department of Psychology, City College of New York, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
  • c Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences, Brooklyn College, City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY, United States
  • d Department of Psychology, City College of New York, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States

Abstract

To promote a better understanding of the impact of refugee resettlement work on refugee resettlement workers, this study examined the prevalence rates of deleterious mental health and occupational outcomes, such as secondary traumatic stress and burnout, among a sample of 210 refugee resettlement workers at six refugee resettlement agencies in the United States. The study also explored coping mechanisms used by service providers to manage work-related stress and the influence of such strategies and emotional intelligence on secondary traumatic stress and burnout. Our findings show that certain coping strategies, including self-distraction, humor, venting, substance use, behavioral disengagement, and self-blame, were strongly related to deleterious outcomes, βs =.18 to.38, ps =.023 to <.001. Emotional intelligence was a negative correlate for all outcomes, βs = −.25 to −.30, ps <.001, above and beyond the effects of trauma, coping styles, job, and demographic characteristics. These findings have potential implications for clinical training and organizational policy regarding refugee mental health. Copyright © 2018 International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

human epidemiology coping behavior Emotional Intelligence Adaptation, Psychological Surveys and Questionnaires Young Adult United States Humans Burnout, Professional psychology burnout male female risk factor Risk Factors questionnaire prevalence adult migration Emigration and Immigration compassion fatigue
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85045639635&doi=10.1002%2fjts.22279&partnerID=40&md5=b786f0420217950069c94ec43e69c5ed
DOI: 10.1002/jts.22279
ISSN: 08949867
Original Language: English