Relationship between resilience, secondary traumatic stress and work-related factors among mental health professionals

Relationship between resilience, secondary traumatic stress and work-related factors among mental health professionals R esilience is the ability to adapt effectively in the face of stress and adversity. [1]In this context, resilience is defined as one's ability to recover in the face of complex life events and to overcome disasters. [2]Although many factors explain resilience, [2] these factors often appear as protective and risk factors. [3]The protective factors of individuals play the most fundamental role in their ability to survive and cope with various difficulties encountered throughout life. [3]Protective factors include family harmony, personal structural characteristics, and external support systems.Personal factors include physical strength, sociability, intelligence, communication skills, self-efficacy, talent, and problem-solving.Familial protective factors emphasize that family closeness, harmony and structure, and relationships with at least one parent or a substitute parent are important. [1,4]External support systems that increase resilience may include social support, such as close bonds with at least one person or good peer relationships that help individuals overcome difficulties. [1,5] the formation of resilience, individuals must encounter some risk factors.Risk is defined as any event, situation, or experience that increases the likelihood that a problem will emerge, persist, or worsen.Traumatic experiences such Objectives: Resilience is the ability to maintain or rapidly recover mental health under stress.Mental health professionals are often exposed to workplace stress through violence, emotional labor, restrictions, and traumatic stories.Secondary traumatic stress results from being affected by others' traumatic experiences.Examining the relationship between resilience and secondary traumatic stress among mental health professionals is therefore essential.Methods: This descriptive study was conducted between February and April 2022.Data were collected using the Personal Information Form, the Resilience Scale for Adults, and the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale.Participants included 212 psychiatric and mental health nurses, 28 psychiatrists, 14 psychologists, and six social workers.Results: A significant positive relationship was found between resilience and secondary traumatic stress.The regression model, including secondary traumatic stress, gender, educational status, willingness to work in mental health, job satisfaction, and unit of work, significantly predicted resilience.Conclusion: Secondary traumatic stress and work-related factors, such as willingness and satisfaction with working in mental health and the unit of work, were found to play an essential role in resilience.Institutional support and supervision may strengthen resilience, while reducing secondary traumatic stress can enhance motivation and wellbeing.Institutions are recommended to implement strategies that address these factors to improve both resilience and professional effectiveness.