Predictors of Secondary Posttraumatic Growth Among Police Officers Exposed to Secondary Trauma.

The research undertaken was aimed at determine the predictors of secondary growth after trauma among police officers. The independent variables comprised five personality traits, secondary trauma self-efficacy, and ruminations about the events experienced by clients. The indicators of secondary exposure to trauma were professional experience in helping people after traumatic events and the numbers of hours in a week devoted to working with trauma survivors. The results of 682 police officers exposed to secondary trauma were analyzed. The study employed a survey and four standard tools. A high level of secondary posttraumatic growth was reported by 26% of examined police officers, a low level by 38%, and an intermediate level by nearly 36%. Secondary posttraumatic growth positively correlated with ruminations, especially deliberate ones, and to a lesser extent, with extraversion, openness to experience, and conscientiousness. Deliberate ruminations appeared the main predictor of SPTG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]