Caregivers, Trauma and the Road to Resiliency

Previous research on trauma has shown that caregivers are not immune to secondary traumatization, burnout and the pursuant difficulties. This study investigated the residual effects of secondary traumatization on caregivers.  The study explored the key factors in resiliency traits of professional and familial caregivers.  Resiliency referred to the ability to rebound and adapt to difficult life events; a state of hardiness. The term “caregiver” included members of the family system or any professional engaged in the care of a victim of disability following a traumatic episode for a minimum of four years.

Participants were 20 each of professional and familial caregivers and 20 control subjects. Eight caregivers also participated in an in-depth qualitative interview.  Participants were recruited through volunteer posters placed in Massachusetts and New York area hospitals

Two quantitative self-report questionaires, the Modified PTSD Symptom Scale and the Resiliency Scale and a qualitative semi-structured interview and questionaire were used.  The primary variables were PTSD, resiliency, and  caregiver type

The quantitative hypotheses for this study were basically confirmed;  1. There will be significant differences on PTSD scores in familial and professional caregivers compared to control participants consistent with secondary traumatization.  2. There is an inverse relationship, between the two measures of resiliency and PTSD.  3. There will be   gender effects on familial and professional caregivers PTSD scores.  The quantitative testing methods were; analysis of variance and Pearson Correlations. 

Research questions for qualitative in-depth interview further revealed: (1) That the caretaking experience includes features of secondary traumatization and somewhat different difficulties for familial and professional caregivers of this experience;  (2) Risk factors that aggravate, or protective factors that ameliorate the difficulties of the caretaking experience; (3) The value of spirituality and hope in resiliency for familial caregivers particularly; and finally, (4) Recommendations from professional and familial caregivers to others to help them remain resilient and sustain the caregiving battle.  The qualitative research questions revealed protective factors that are related to resiliency; social connectedness, self-esteem and spirituality.  The implications of this study support further examination of the relationship between caregiver strain following a traumatic event and factors contributing to resiliency.