Enhancing resilience as a self-care strategy in professionals who are vicariously exposed to trauma: A case study of social workers employed by the South African Police Service

ABSTRACT

Social workers employed by the South African Police Service Social workers employed by the South African Police Service in either an occupational or forensic capacity are vulnerable to vicarious trauma. In order to enhance coping it is imperative that social workers develop self-care practices. In the last few decades, the concept of resilience has received significant attention, particularly in relation to coping with trauma. Hence, the aim of the study was to explore resilience levels in a social work population employed in a traumatogenic environment. A mixed methods research design was adopted and 128 social workers participated in the study. From a quantitative perspective, the Resilience Scale was used to explore resilience levels of social workers. Qualitative interviews were then conducted with 30 social workers to further explore the concept of resilience. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, while qualitative data were subjected to thematic analysis. The majority of social workers had medium to high levels of resilience. Interview participants predominantly identified how personality characteristics contributed to resilience. Some, however, had a broader understanding of resilience and included cultural and community influences in strengthening resilience. As part of their self-care practices, social workers need to strengthen and build on their own resilience. Individuals and organizations have a responsibility in this regard to help ameliorate the effects of vicarious trauma.

KEYWORDS:

• Resilience
• vicarious trauma
• coping strategies
• self-care
• social workers

Notes

¹ Meyer (2014, p. 161) explains that “‘Coloured people’ refer to the descendants of the Malaysian slaves in South Africa (forced migration by the Dutch East India Company) who inter-married with White farmers and local Khoi people.”

² South African organisations are expected are expected to categorise people according to these racial groups so that the government can monitor transformation.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of South Africa [92681].