Family Outcomes Associated With Occupational Trauma Exposure in Frontline Workers: Protocol for a Scoping Review

Frontline workers are routinely exposed to traumatic and highly stressful events. Although the psychological effects of occupational trauma are well established, evidence suggests that these effects extend beyond the family members, affecting their psychological health, relationships, and functioning. Reported outcomes include secondary traumatic stress, psychological distress, caregiver burden, relationship difficulties, disrupted family functioning, and broader social impacts. However, evidence remains fragmented across occupational groups, disciplines, methodological approaches, and sociocultural contexts, limiting understanding of how occupational trauma affects families and hindering the development of family-inclusive, trauma-informed policies and services.

This scoping review aims to systematically map and synthesize evidence on family outcomes associated with occupational trauma exposure among civilian frontline workers. It will characterize psychological, relational, social, and family functioning outcomes; examine variation across occupations, family roles, and sociocultural contexts; explore how family impacts have been conceptualized and measured; identify methodological approaches; and identify evidence gaps to inform future research, policy, and family-inclusive, trauma-informed practice.

The review will be conducted according to the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews), the Joanna Briggs Institute methodological framework, and relevant elements of the PRISMA-S (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Literature Search Extension). Comprehensive searches will be conducted from database inception to the final search date in PubMed (MEDLINE), PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Scopus. Eligible qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods primary research will examine psychological, relational, social, or family functioning outcomes among family members of civilian frontline workers. Two reviewers will independently screen studies and chart data using a standardized framework, with disagreements resolved through discussion or consultation with a third reviewer. Evidence will be synthesized using narrative synthesis and evidence mapping.

Protocol development was undertaken between December 2025 and July 2026, including preliminary scoping searches; refinement of the Population, Concept, and Context (PCC) framework and eligibility criteria; development of the search strategy; stakeholder consultation; and piloting of the data-charting framework. No specific external funding was received for this review. As this is a scoping review, participant recruitment is not applicable. At the time of protocol submission, formal database analysis had not commenced. Comprehensive database searches and study screening are projected to commence in August 2026, with data charting and evidence synthesis undertaken between September and October 2026. Completion of the review is anticipated by November 2026, with publication of the review findings expected by the end of 2026.

This review will comprehensively map how family outcomes associated with frontline occupational trauma have been conceptualized, measured, and reported across diverse civilian frontline occupations. It will identify evidence gaps, inform future research priorities, and support the development of family-inclusive, trauma-informed policies, services, and interventions for frontline workers and their families.