Determinants of Vicarious Trauma among Health Workers: A Case of Murang'a Level 5 Hospital, Murang'a County, Kenya

Abstract

Vicarious trauma refers to the emotional and psychological effects experienced by professionals repeatedly exposed to traumatic experiences of others. The purpose of this study was to assess the determinants of vicarious trauma among health workers at Murang'a Level 5 Hospital, Murang'a County, Kenya. The study aimed to assess the prevalence of vicarious trauma, examine personal factors associated with vicarious trauma, assess workplace factors influencing vicarious trauma development, evaluate organizational support systems' role in mitigating vicarious trauma, and examine personal coping mechanisms in managing vicarious trauma. This research was grounded in three theoretical frameworks: Constructivist Self-Development Theory, Conservation of Resources Theory, and Job Demands-Resources Theory. A descriptive cross-sectional design targeted health worker with at least one year of experience. Stratified random sampling selected 139 participants from 147 across different professional cadres, achieving a 94.6% response rate. Data were collected using validated scales: Vicarious Trauma Scale, Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey, Workplace Violence Scale, Perceived Organizational Support Scale, and Brief COPE Inventory. The study revealed high vicarious trauma prevalence with 95.7% experiencing moderate to high levels and 56.1% experiencing high levels. No significant associations were found between personal factors and vicarious trauma levels, with demographic variables explaining only 3.0% of variance. All participants experienced workplace violence showing negligible correlation with vicarious trauma. Organizational support was perceived as moderate by 99.3% but demonstrated weak positive correlation with vicarious trauma. Coping mechanisms showed that workers employed adaptive strategies, but these explained only 3.3% of variance. Findings indicated vicarious trauma was primarily driven by systemic factors. The study recommended establishing comprehensive occupational mental health support systems, trauma-informed care training, peer support networks, workplace violence prevention programs, and enhanced organizational support policies