ABSTRACT

Background: Journalists covering traumatic news events can develop symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, they may also experience perceived post-traumatic growth (PTG). The outcome may be affected by whether work-related traumatic stress has a degree of personal risk.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between PTSD symptoms and PTG among journalists who experienced work-related trauma and to examine whether positive associations would exist between exposure to personal risk and PTG.

Method: A web-based survey measuring post-traumatic stress symptoms and post-traumatic growth was completed by print and broadcast journalists (N = 69) working for UK-based media organizations. An open-ended question asked participants how media organizations can help to promote growth after work-related trauma.

Results: The findings show a significant relationship between PTSD symptoms and PTG (p = 0.04). Journalists working in war-zones had significantly more PTSD symptoms (p < .001) and PTG scores (p < .001) than those who did not. Journalists who described their worst, work-related trauma as having a degree of personal, life-threatening risk, also reported higher levels of PTG than those who did not (p < .001). This was consistent across all PTG subscales.

Conclusions: This study, the first to examine PTSD symptoms, personal risk and post-traumatic growth within journalists, suggests those working in conflict areas experience significantly higher levels of post-traumatic stress and post-traumatic growth, than those who do not. Those who experience personal risk also had high PTG levels. Media companies can help develop PTG by recognizing when personal risk plays a role in covering demanding assignments. Participants suggested organizations also needed to allow sufficient time for reflection and meaning-making for all those working in hostile environments.

摘要

背景：报道创伤性新闻事件的记者可能会出现创伤后应激障碍 (PTSD) 的症状。然而，他们也可能经历感知到的创伤后成长 (PTG)。结果可能受到与工作相关的创伤性压力是否具有一定程度的个人风险的影响。

目的：调查经历过工作相关创伤的记者的 PTSD 症状与 PTG 之间的关系，并检验个人风险暴露与 PTG 之间是否存在正相关。

方法：为英国媒体机构工作的印刷和广播记者 ( N = 69)完成了一项衡量创伤后应激症状和创伤后成长的网络调查。一个开放式问题询问参与者媒体组织如何帮助促进与工作有关的创伤后的成长。

结果：研究结果显示 PTSD 症状与 PTG 之间存在显着关系 ( p =  0.04)。在战区工作的记者比没有在战区工作的记者有明显更多的 PTSD 症状 ( p < .001) 和 PTG 分数 ( p < .001)。将最严重的工作相关创伤描述为具有一定程度的危及生命的个人风险的记者，也报告了比没有这种情况的记者更高水平的 PTG (p < .001 )  。这在所有 PTG 分量表中都是一致的。

结论：这项研究首次检查了记者的 PTSD 症状、个人风险和创伤后成长，表明在冲突地区工作的人经历的创伤后压力和创伤后成长水平明显高于那些不在冲突地区工作的人。那些经历个人风险的人也有很高的 PTG 水平。媒体公司可以通过识别个人风险何时在覆盖要求高的任务中发挥作用来帮助开发 PTG。与会者建议组织还需要为所有在敌对环境中工作的人留出足够的时间进行反思和理解。