ORIGINAL PAPER
The mediating role of job satisfaction in the relationship between social support and the consequences of secondary exposure to trauma among medical providers working with trauma victims
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1
Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
(Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Electrocardiology, Department of Electrocardiology and Heart Failure)
2
University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland
(Institute of Psychology, Department of Health Psychology)
Online publication date: 2023-09-11
Corresponding author
Piotr Jerzy Gurowiec
Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Electrocardiology, Department of
Electrocardiology and Heart Failure, Ziołowa 45/47, 40-635 Katowice, Poland
Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2023;36(4):505-16
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ABSTRACT
Objectives: Medical providers working with trauma survivors are exposed to the negative and positive effects of secondary trauma, both of
which are affected by social support and job satisfaction. The aim of this study was to determine the mediating role of job satisfaction in the relationship
between social support and the negative and positive effects of secondary exposure to trauma among medical personnel. The negative
indicator of such exposure was secondary traumatic stress (STS), while the positive indicator was secondary posttraumatic growth (SPTG). Material and Methods: The analyses included 419 medical providers working with trauma victims (201 paramedics and 218 nurses). Data
was collected with the Secondary Traumatic Stress Inventory, Secondary Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, Social Support Scale, Work Satisfaction
Scale, and survey. Mediation analyses were applied to assess relationships between variables. Results: The mediation analyses indicated that job
satisfaction mediates (mainly partly) the relationship between social support and STS and SPTG. This may indicate that both social support and
job satisfaction act as significant predictors of the negative and positive effects of secondary exposure to trauma. Conclusions: As a friendly and
mutually-supportive environment can increase job satisfaction, reducing the risk of secondary traumatic stress and promoting positive posttraumatic
changes, it is important to increase social support and job satisfaction among medical providers exposed to secondary trauma. Int J Occup
Med Environ Health. 2023;36(4):505–16