The psychological burden of volunteers in psychosocial emergency care

• Verfasst von: Greinacher, Anja [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Cranz, Anna [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Jenzer, Julia [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Nikendei, Alexander [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Kottke, Renate [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Wiesbeck, Jürgen [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Friederich, Hans-Christoph [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Nikendei, Christoph [VerfasserIn]
• Titel: The psychological burden of volunteers in psychosocial emergency care
• Titelzusatz: a qualitative interview study
• Verf.angabe: Anja Greinacher, Anna Cranz, Julia Jenzer, Alexander Nikendei, Renate Kottke, Jürgen Wiesbeck, Hans-Christoph Friederich & Christoph Nikendei
• Jahr: 2022
• Umfang: 13 S.
• Fussnoten: Online eröffentlicht: 9. Februar 2021 ; Gesehen am 24.04.2023
• Titel Quelle: Enthalten in: Current psychology
• Ort Quelle: New York, NY : Springer, 1988
• Jahr Quelle: 2022
• Band/Heft Quelle: 41(2022), 10, Seite 7337-7349
• ISSN Quelle: 1936-4733
• DOI: doi:10.1007/s12144-021-01382-7
• Datenträger: Online-Ressource
• Sprache: eng
• K10plus-PPN: 1843438674
• K10plus-PPN:
  Universitätsbibliothek
• Lokale URL UB: Zum Volltext

Abstract

Psychosocial emergency care personnel provide voluntary psychological support directly after potentially traumatic events. During emergency responses, they experience challenging situations. However, previous quantitative studies suggest that the psychological burden of psychosocial emergency care personnel does not exceed that of the general population. This study aimed to obtain an in-depth analysis of the volunteers’ psychological reactions and resources regarding emergency responses. 36 psychosocial emergency care volunteers (12 pre-training, 12 post-training, 12 experienced) were invited to participate in semistructured interviews. The volunteers were selected from previous cross-sectional and longitudinal studies on secondary traumatization in psychosocial emergency care volunteers. A qualitative content analysis of the transcribed interviews was performed following the principles of summary and inductive category development. We identified 845 codes which we summarized in three overarching categories: (I) reactions to emergency responses, (II) psychosocial emergency care work related resources and (III) experiences and changes in life perspective related to working in psychosocial emergency care. The volunteers described both emotional and physical reactions to emergency responses. While they perceived social support as a key coping resource and reported a greater appreciation of their own lives and their families due to their work, many volunteers also felt increased concern that something could happen to them. The volunteers’ reactions and symptoms are reasonable responses to stress and not indicative of serious impairment. Nevertheless, emergency responses are both emotionally and physically challenging. Volunteers should be carefully selected, receive regular supervision and determine the frequency of emergency responses.