Secondary traumatic stress in household members of healthcare workers in the UK: a mixed-method survey study
Abstract Background Due to long working hours, shifts, poor working conditions, and high risk of exposure to traumatic incidents at work, healthcare workers (HCWs) are at high risk of developing mental health and wellbeing issues. Family members and close friends of HCWs are often the primary suppor...
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2025-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02923-6 |
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| author | Sahra Tekin Danielle Lamb Talya Greene Millie Tamworth Dominic Murphy Jo Billings |
| author_facet | Sahra Tekin Danielle Lamb Talya Greene Millie Tamworth Dominic Murphy Jo Billings |
| author_sort | Sahra Tekin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Due to long working hours, shifts, poor working conditions, and high risk of exposure to traumatic incidents at work, healthcare workers (HCWs) are at high risk of developing mental health and wellbeing issues. Family members and close friends of HCWs are often the primary support source for the HCWs. However, while supporting the HCWs, family members’ and friends’ mental health and wellbeing may be impacted negatively. According to the findings of previous literature, family members of other high-risk workers may experience secondary traumatic stress. To date, there has been no research focusing on secondary traumatic stress in family members and friends of HCWs. Methods In this cross-sectional, mixed-method study, we examined secondary traumatic stress and associated factors amongst 320 household members (family members and housemates) of HCWs in the UK using the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale. We used multivariable linear regression to examine the predictors of secondary traumatic stress, specifically sex, age, job role of the HCW, and the relationship with the HCW. Then we used content analysis of responses to open-ended questions to explore the experiences of household members in-depth. Results 33.8% of household members reported secondary traumatic stress within the severe range. Female spouses and partners of HCWs with clinical roles showed higher STS compared to male and other household members of HCWs with non-clinical roles. In our regression model, we found that being female, having a HCW household member with a clinical role, and being a spouse or a partner of a HCW were statistically significant predictors of high STS. Open-ended responses showed that household members reported that HCWs tended to be irritated, quieter/distant, anxious/stressed, in low moods, and exhausted after having a difficult day at work. These feelings and behaviours impacted the rest of the household members negatively. Conclusion This is the first study which has examined secondary traumatic stress amongst household members of HCWs. While trying to support the HCW, household members were at high risk of developing secondary traumatic stress. There are research implications to understand HCWs’ and their household members’ experiences better, including extending current research and conducting further research exploring secondary traumatic stress in HCWs’ household members, and factors associated with it, which go beyond the demographics examined here. There are also organisational and clinical implications to protect and support both HCWs and their household members, such as improved working conditions for HCWs and carefully planned psychological support for both HCWs and their household members. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-eae9464e7edb43b88b28276aadda68dd |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2050-7283 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-eae9464e7edb43b88b28276aadda68dd2025-08-20T03:55:24ZengBMCBMC Psychology2050-72832025-05-0113111310.1186/s40359-025-02923-6Secondary traumatic stress in household members of healthcare workers in the UK: a mixed-method survey studySahra Tekin0Danielle Lamb1Talya Greene2Millie Tamworth3Dominic MurphyJo Billings4Division of Psychiatry, University College LondonDepartment of Applied Health Research, University College LondonResearch Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College LondonDivision of Psychiatry, University College LondonDivision of Psychiatry, University College LondonAbstract Background Due to long working hours, shifts, poor working conditions, and high risk of exposure to traumatic incidents at work, healthcare workers (HCWs) are at high risk of developing mental health and wellbeing issues. Family members and close friends of HCWs are often the primary support source for the HCWs. However, while supporting the HCWs, family members’ and friends’ mental health and wellbeing may be impacted negatively. According to the findings of previous literature, family members of other high-risk workers may experience secondary traumatic stress. To date, there has been no research focusing on secondary traumatic stress in family members and friends of HCWs. Methods In this cross-sectional, mixed-method study, we examined secondary traumatic stress and associated factors amongst 320 household members (family members and housemates) of HCWs in the UK using the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale. We used multivariable linear regression to examine the predictors of secondary traumatic stress, specifically sex, age, job role of the HCW, and the relationship with the HCW. Then we used content analysis of responses to open-ended questions to explore the experiences of household members in-depth. Results 33.8% of household members reported secondary traumatic stress within the severe range. Female spouses and partners of HCWs with clinical roles showed higher STS compared to male and other household members of HCWs with non-clinical roles. In our regression model, we found that being female, having a HCW household member with a clinical role, and being a spouse or a partner of a HCW were statistically significant predictors of high STS. Open-ended responses showed that household members reported that HCWs tended to be irritated, quieter/distant, anxious/stressed, in low moods, and exhausted after having a difficult day at work. These feelings and behaviours impacted the rest of the household members negatively. Conclusion This is the first study which has examined secondary traumatic stress amongst household members of HCWs. While trying to support the HCW, household members were at high risk of developing secondary traumatic stress. There are research implications to understand HCWs’ and their household members’ experiences better, including extending current research and conducting further research exploring secondary traumatic stress in HCWs’ household members, and factors associated with it, which go beyond the demographics examined here. There are also organisational and clinical implications to protect and support both HCWs and their household members, such as improved working conditions for HCWs and carefully planned psychological support for both HCWs and their household members.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02923-6Secondary traumatic stressFamily membersHousehold membersHealthcare workersCross-sectional studyMixed-method study |
| spellingShingle | Sahra Tekin Danielle Lamb Talya Greene Millie Tamworth Dominic Murphy Jo Billings Secondary traumatic stress in household members of healthcare workers in the UK: a mixed-method survey study BMC Psychology Secondary traumatic stress Family members Household members Healthcare workers Cross-sectional study Mixed-method study |
| title | Secondary traumatic stress in household members of healthcare workers in the UK: a mixed-method survey study |
| title_full | Secondary traumatic stress in household members of healthcare workers in the UK: a mixed-method survey study |
| title_fullStr | Secondary traumatic stress in household members of healthcare workers in the UK: a mixed-method survey study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Secondary traumatic stress in household members of healthcare workers in the UK: a mixed-method survey study |
| title_short | Secondary traumatic stress in household members of healthcare workers in the UK: a mixed-method survey study |
| title_sort | secondary traumatic stress in household members of healthcare workers in the uk a mixed method survey study |
| topic | Secondary traumatic stress Family members Household members Healthcare workers Cross-sectional study Mixed-method study |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02923-6 |
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