title: Shared War reality effects on the professional quality of life of mental health professionals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To date, studies on the outcomes of a shared war reality among mental health professionals (MHPs) in southern Israel have focused only on those residing and working in Otef Gaza. The aim of this study is to determine the impact of different exposure levels to shared trauma on the professional quality of life of MHPs in southern Israel. This study compares the level of secondary traumatic stress, burnout, and compassion satisfaction of social workers from Otef Gaza to social workers living and working in the Beer-Sheva area who experience occasional missile attacks.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Professional Quality of Life Scale was used to examine the level of secondary traumatic stress, burnout, and compassion satisfaction of 125 social workers living and working in the Negev: 72 from Beer-Sheva and 53 from the regional councils of Otef Gaza.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No statistically significant differences were found in the three professional quality of life variables between the Otef-Gaza and Beer-Sheva groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The lack of secondary traumatic stress and burnout differences between the study groups, despite the chronic exposure to terror attacks among the Otef Gaza social workers, may be explained by the strong sense of belonging and support evidenced by many Otef Gaza residents as well as by the comprehensive trauma training MHPs receive for work in the region. The results of this study are important for health policy geared to trauma prevention efforts, moderating the effects of work under shared war reality, and promoting the professional quality of life of MHPs in conflict areas.
authors.affiliation: Spitzer Department of Social Work and the Regional Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Center (RADAR) , Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, POB 653, Beer-Sheva, 84105 Israel.
authors.forename: Itay
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pruginin
authors.affiliation: Spitzer Department of Social Work and Center for Women's Health Studies and Promotion, Ben- Gurion University of the Negev, POB 653, Beer-Sheva, 84105 Israel.
authors.forename: Dorit
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Segal-Engelchin
authors.affiliation: Spitzer Department of Social Work and the Regional Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Center (RADAR) , Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, POB 653, Beer-Sheva, 84105 Israel.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Isralowitz
authors.affiliation: Spitzer Department of Social Work and the Regional Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Center (RADAR) , Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, POB 653, Beer-Sheva, 84105 Israel.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reznik
keywords: Mental health professionals; Professional quality of life; Shared war reality; Trauma exposure levels