Critical factors shaping vicarious posttraumatic growth in nurses: a cross-sectional study

Nurses face high levels of occupational stress due to direct and indirect trauma exposure, resulting in psychological challenges such as anxiety, depression, and secondary traumatic stress. However, vicarious posttraumatic growth (VPTG), a positive outcome of trauma exposure, can improve resilience and professional satisfaction. Understanding the factors affecting VPTG is key to developing strategies that enhance nurse well-being. This study sought to explore the various factors that affect VPTG among clinical nurses, using a cross-sectional design.

A cross-sectional survey was performed during the period from September to November 2023, involving 1,025 nurses from 13 tertiary and secondary hospitals across China. The study utilized various validated scales, including the Chinese adaptation of the Vicarious Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, the Coping Style Questionnaire, the Perceived Social Support Scale, the Event Related Rumination Inventory, the Interpersonal Reactivity Index, and the Core Beliefs Inventory. Statistical analysis, including Pearson correlation and stepwise multiple regression, was performed using SPSS 27.0 to identify key factors influencing VPTG.

The average VPTG score was 105.02 (SD = 15.75), with 70.1% of nurses exhibiting low to moderate levels of VPTG. Positive coping (β = 0.358), social support (β = 0.266), core beliefs (β = 0.186), age (β = 0.083), and empathy (β = 0.066) were significant positive predictors of VPTG, while intrusive rumination (β =-0.078) negatively impacted VPTG. Receiving psychological trauma training also contributed positively (β = 0.046). These factors explained 49.8% of the variance in VPTG.

Positive coping strategies, social support, core beliefs, and empathy play pivotal roles in enhancing VPTG among nurses. Tailored interventions focusing on these areas could significantly promote VPTG, thereby improving nurse resilience and patient care quality.