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- Title
The Danger of Unrealistic Optimism: Linking Caregivers' Perceived Ability to Help Victims of Terror With Their Own Secondary Traumatic Stress.
- Authors
SHALVI, SHAUL; SHENKMAN, GEVA; HANDGRAAF, MICHEL J. J.; DE DREU, CARSTEN K. W.
- Abstract
This study examined how caregivers' biased perceptions of ability to help traumatized patients relates to the caregivers' secondary traumatic stress (STS). There is reason to believe that caregivers overestimate their ability to help and underestimate their vulnerability to develop STS, but it is unclear how such unrealistic optimism relates to STS. The results show that Israeli caregivers working with terror victims believed that their ability to help traumatic patients is superior to their peers' while their likelihood to be negatively affected by such treatment is lower. Beyond the impact of the number of patients treated and caregivers' experience, unrealistic optimism was positively correlated to caregivers' STS. Theoretical and practical implications for those working with traumatized patients are discussed.
- Subjects
CAREGIVERS; BURDEN of care; PSYCHOLOGICAL stress; JOB stress; HELPING behavior; OPTIMISM; POST-traumatic stress disorder; VICTIMS of terrorism; PATIENTS
- Publication
Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 2011, Vol 41, Issue 11, p2656
- ISSN
0021-9029
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1559-1816.2011.00844.x