title: Cultivating secondary traumatic growth among healthcare workers: the role of social support and self-efficacy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This 2-study longitudinal investigation examined the indirect effects of secondary traumatic stress (STS) on secondary traumatic growth via two mediators: perceived social support and secondary trauma self-efficacy. In particular, we tested if the 2 hypothetical mediators operate sequentially, that is, with secondary trauma self-efficacy facilitating social support (i.e., cultivation hypothesis) and/or social support enhancing self-efficacy (i.e., enabling hypothesis).
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants in Study 1 (N = 293 at Time 1, N = 115 at Time 2) were behavioral healthcare providers working with U.S. military personnel suffering from trauma. Study 2 was conducted among Polish healthcare workers (N = 298 at Time 1, N = 189 at Time 2) providing services for civilian survivors of traumatic events.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both studies, multiple mediational analyses showed evidence for the cultivation hypothesis. The relationship between STS at Time 1 and secondary traumatic growth at Time 2 was mediated sequentially by secondary trauma self-efficacy at Time 1 and social support at Time 2. The enabling hypothesis was not supported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Education and development programs for healthcare workers may benefit from boosting self-efficacy with the intent to facilitate perceived social support.
authors.affiliation: University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.
authors.forename: Kotaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shoji
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bock
authors.forename: Roman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cieslak
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zukowska
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Luszczynska
authors.forename: Charles C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Benight
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011582:Psychological Theory; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: mediation; perceived social support; secondary traumatic growth; secondary traumatic stress; self-efficacy; social cognitive theory