Research assistant perspectives on strategies to reduce the likelihood of experiencing vicarious trauma

A variety of strategies to prevent vicarious trauma among research assistants (RAs) exist in the literature, but there is limited evidence regarding which strategies RAs view as effective, especially in online environments. We surveyed 27 RAs who abstracted firearm violence data from court records and assessed their emotional supports outside of the study team, their engagement with the team’s vicarious trauma reduction strategies during the study, and their perceptions of the effectiveness of these strategies. Twenty-six per cent of RAs reported lacking reliable emotional support for study-related impacts outside the study team. The most common strategies RAs used to manage difficult material were taking short breaks (89%) and informally interacting with other RAs on the team (41%); 83 per cent and 91 per cent of RAs, respectively, said these strategies were helpful. We discuss strategies that investigators can use to encourage RAs to take breaks from engaging with emotionally charged material and foster connections that are adaptable to various team structures and needs.