NIOSHTIC-2 Publications Search

Advanced Search   Search Help   About NIOSHTIC-2    Feedback

Police trauma encounters: precursors of compassion fatigue.

Authors
Violanti JM; Gehrke A
Source
Int J Emerg Mental Health 2004 Mar; 6(2):75-80
Link
http://www.omicsonline.com/open-access/archive-international-journal-of-emergency-mental-health-and-human-resilience.php
NIOSHTIC No.
20029435
Abstract
Given frequent assignments of responding to critical situations, police officers are a high-risk population for exposure to traumatic stress. It was hypothesized that types and increased frequencies of certain traumas lead to increased risk for PTSD symptoms and eventually to a state of compassion fatigue through secondary processes. Compassion fatigue was conceptualized as the cost of caring without reward or result. Results indicated that the homicide of another officer in the line of duty and dealing with victims of serious crime resulted in the greatest increased risk of trauma symptoms. Gender differences were found in trauma risk, with women officers experiencing higher risk from dealing with abused children and male officers experiencing higher risk due to shooting incidents where officers were involved. It was concluded that increased frequency and type of traumas, especially those occurring to other co-workers and those associated with gender, may eventually lead to a secondary process of emotional compassion fatigue. Available strategies for prevention are discussed.
Keywords
Health-hazards; Health-surveys; Police-officers; Law-enforcement; Age-factors; Physiological-factors; Women; Psychological-factors; Psychological-responses; Traumatic-injuries; Children; Stress; Author Keywords: police; PTSD; gender; compassion fatigue
Contact
John M Violanti, PhD, School of Public Health and Health Professions, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, 270 Farber Hall, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14214
Publication Date
20040301
Document Type
Journal Article
Email Address
violanti@buffalo.edu
Funding Amount
76986
Funding Type
Grant
Fiscal Year
2004
Identifying No.
Grant-Number-R03-OH-003772
Issue of Publication
2
ISSN
1522-4821
Priority Area
Research Tools and Approaches: Intervention Effectiveness Research
Source Name
International Journal of Emergency Mental Health
State
NY
Performing Organization
University of New York at Buffalo
Page last reviewed: May 11, 2023
Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Education and Information Division