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Secondary Traumatic Stress and Psychosocial Wellbeing Among Humanitarian Health Workers in Northwestern Nigeria: The Moderating Role of Hardiness

Abraham Tersugh Kwaghgbah, Joyce Mcivir Terwase (Ph.D), & Samuel Terzungwe Anhange (Ph.D)

Abstract

This study investigated the moderating role of hardiness between secondary traumatic stress and psychosocial wellbeing among humanitarian health workers in Northwestern Nigeria. Cross- sectional survey design was adopted using a sample of 344 humanitarian health workers. They comprised 208 (60.5%) males and 136 (39.5%) females. Their ages ranged from 25-61years with a mean age of 39.29years and standard deviation of 10.83years. The sample for the study was drawn using Multistage sampling technique where census, purposive, proportionate and simple random sampling were used in stages. Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale, Hardiness Scale and the Copenhagen Psychosocial Wellbeing Scale were used for data collection. The four hypotheses postulated were tested using Multiple Linear Regression, Hayes Process Macro Moderation Analysis and Standard Multiple Regression Analysis. Results indicated that, secondary traumatic stress negatively influenced psychosocial wellbeing among humanitarian health workers. The result further showed that intrusions, avoidance and arousal independently and inversely predicted psychosocial wellbeing. The result also indicated that, hardiness positively influenced psychosocial wellbeing among humanitarian health workers. The result further showed that challenge, control and commitment independently and positively predicted psychosocial wellbeing. The result also showed that, hardiness significantly moderated the relationship between secondary traumatic stress and psychosocial wellbeing among humanitarian health workers. Lastly, secondary traumatic stress and hardiness jointly influenced psychosocial wellbeing among humanitarian health workers. It was recommended that clinical psychologists design hardiness training programmes for humanitarian health workers. The training should cover strategies in which staff can develop the skills to face challenges, develop control of events around them and emphasize commi

Keywords

Secondary traumatic stresshardinesspsychosocial wellbeinghumanitarianhealth

References

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