Gain From Pain: Exploring Vicarious Posttraumatic Growth and Its Facilitators Among Health Care Workers Across Two Consecutive Lockdowns During the COVID-19 Pandemic

This study examined the potential facilitators of vicarious posttraumatic growth (VPTG; i.e., secondary traumatic stress symptoms-STS, resilience, coping strategies), the interspecialty differences in VPTG among medical (i.e., physicians and nurses) and nonmedical health care workers (HCWs; i.e., psychologists and social workers) across two consecutive lockdowns (T1 and T2), and the mediating role of the coping strategies in the STS-VPTG relationship. A sample of 1,076 HCWs (752 medical and 324 nonmedical) completed a web-based survey during two lockdowns. The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory was used to measure VPTG, whereas the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale, the Brief Resilience Scale, and the Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory were used to assess potential VPTG indicators. At T2, after controlling for gender and age, all participants reported significantly lower STS scores. Regarding PTGI scores, after controlling for gender and age, an interaction effect was observed between time point and specialty: At T1, the nonmedical HCWs reported higher PTGI scores compared to the medical HCWs, whereas at T2 the medical HCWs reported higher PTGI scores compared to the nonmedical HCWs. VPTG was positively predicted by time point (higher scores in T2), Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale intrusive symptoms, and the coping strategies of active coping, instrumental support, positive reframing, religion, and denial, and negatively predicted by gender, education, and substance use. These coping strategies fully mediated the relationship between intrusion and VPTG. Policies should enhance resources for HCWs at risk of STS and promote VPTG as an important contribution to their ability to deliver high-quality care.