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This study examined the potential facilitators of vicarious posttraumatic growth (VPTG; i.e., secondary traumatic stress symptoms--STS, resilience, coping strategies), the interspecialty differences in VPTG among medical (i.e., physicians and nurses) and nonmedical health care workers (HCWs; i.e., psychologists and social workers) across two consecutive lockdowns (T1 and T2), and the mediating role of the coping strategies in the STS-VPTG relationship. A sample of 1,076 HCWs (752 medical and 324 nonmedical) completed a web-based survey during two lockdowns. The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory was used to measure VPTG, whereas the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale, the Brief Resilience Scale, and the Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory were used to assess potential VPTG indicators. At T2, after controlling for gender and age, all participants reported significantly lower STS scores. Regarding PTGI scores, after controlling for gender and age, an interaction effect was observed between time point and specialty: At T1, the nonmedical HCWs reported higher PTGI scores compared to the medical HCWs, whereas at T2 the medical HCWs reported higher PTGI scores compared to the nonmedical HCWs. VPTG was positively predicted by time point (higher scores in T2), Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale intrusive symptoms, and the coping strategies of active coping, instrumental support, positive reframing, religion, and denial, and negatively predicted by gender, education, and substance use. These coping strategies fully mediated the relationship between intrusion and VPTG. Policies should enhance resources for HCWs at risk of STS and promote VPTG as an important contribution to their ability to deliver highquality care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study seeks to expand previous research by examining (a) the prevalence rates of posttraumatic growth (PTG) and its potential predictors (posttraumatic stress symptoms [PTSS], perceived stress, adaptive coping strategies, social support) during the first and second lockdown in the general population of Greece, and (b) the mediating role of the stress indicators (PTSS/perceived stress) in the relationship between positive reframing and PTG. A sample of 1,361 participants (1.009 in the first lockdown and 352 in the second lockdown) completed the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, the Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory and the ENRICHD Social Support Instrument (ESSI). Moderate levels of PTG were found during both lockdowns. PTG did not significantly increase during the second lockdown. PTG was associated with PTSS during the first lockdown and with perceived stress during the second one; these two stress indicators partially mediated the positive reframing—PTG relationship in the first and second lockdown, respectively. Both adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies predicted PTG during the first lockdown, whereas only adaptive coping strategies predicted PTG during the second lockdown. Perceived social support, emotional during the first lockdown and instrumental during the second one, predicted PTG during the two lockdowns, respectively. The results of this study may enhance our understanding of PTG and its predictor to inform the design of interventions moving beyond growth cognitions into growth actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]