The Protective and Risk Factors for Vicarious Trauma in Mental Health Professionals in Jamaica
Vicarious trauma (VT) and compassion fatigue (CF) are common psycho-logical experiences that mental health professionals (MHP) face when they have prolonged exposure to victims of trauma. This study examined the rates of VT and CF on Jamaican MHP and investigated the protective and risk factors of these experiences. Using the Vicarious Trauma Scale, Satisfaction with Work Scale, Silencing Response Scale and the Adverse Childhood Experience survey, this study investigated the risk and protective factors of VT and CF among 86 MHP in Jamaica. Most MHP experienced VT and all experienced a moderate level of CF. Work satisfaction, adverse child-hood experience, sleep quality and clinical supervision are predictors of VT; while relationship satisfaction, sleep quality and years of exposure to trauma treatment affect CF. The findings highlight the importance of trauma-informed care, not only within the therapeutic space but also in clinical supervision. Consideration should also be given to the prevalence of trau-matic events in our environment as they can potentially increase the risk of CF and VT for MHP in Jamaica; therefore, the support they receive must be mindful.
The Caribbean Journal of Psychology is an academic, peer-reviewed journal which publishes literature reviews, empirical studies, book reviews, brief reports and pieces on psychology in the public interest. CJP’s focus is on Caribbean populations, and matters which impact Caribbean people, locally, regionally and globally. The Caribbean Journal of Psychology provides a forum for academic scholarship and discourse, addresses topics of interest in contemporary Caribbean society, encourages publication by Caribbean authors locally and abroad, and aims to build capacity for the production of academic scholarship in the region. The Office of Graduate Studies and Research provides a platform for inter-campus and regional collaboration to support research and publication in psychology as it relates to Caribbean people and society. The CJP is grounded in a multi-disciplinary approach to examining human behaviour, and encourages the integration of sociology, psychology, social psychology, social theory, history and poetics to investigate Caribbean human experience.
