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Vicarious traumatisation in lawyers working with traumatised asylum seekers: a pilot study
Line Rønning1, Jocelyn Blumberg2, Jesper Dammeyer3
1St.Olavs Hospital, Nidaros DPS, Trondheim, Norway.
Summary
Asylum lawyers experience significant work-related stress and anxiety from assisting trauma-exposed clients. This pilot study reveals potential negative mental health impacts, underscoring the need for further research and support.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Occupational Health
- Legal Studies
Background:
- Vicarious traumatization is documented in many professions.
- Research on asylum lawyers' exposure to vicarious trauma is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of working with traumatized clients on asylum lawyers.
- To explore potential psychological distress among asylum lawyers.
Main Methods:
- Pilot study involving 70 asylum lawyers.
- Utilized validated scales: Trauma and Attachment Belief Scale, Impact of Event Scale-Revised, Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales.
- Included a work-characteristics questionnaire.
Main Results:
- Increased contact with trauma-exposed clients correlated with higher anxiety.
- More weekly work hours and less experience were linked to increased stress.
- Fewer years of experience correlated with higher general trauma scores and intrusion symptoms.
- Higher client volume per week was associated with cognitive changes regarding trust.
Conclusions:
- Working with traumatized clients can detrimentally affect asylum lawyers' mental well-being.
- Findings suggest a need for further investigation into occupational hazards for asylum lawyers.
- Highlights the importance of support systems for legal professionals in this field.
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