ABSTRACT

International research has documented that prosecutors and lawyers are at increased risk of reporting symptoms of internalizing mental health disorders. Much existing research is based on small convenience samples and no studies have hitherto been conducted among Danish prosecutors. EU estimates indicate that Denmark reports among the highest number of legal cases while simultaneously figuring among the countries with the lowest governmental expenditures on courts of law. The aim of this study was to estimate the occurrence of burnout, secondary traumatization, and posttraumatic stress disorder among Danish prosecutors. Additionally, we aimed to study the relationship between these outcomes perceived work-environment and stressors at work, as well as different coping strategies in handing emotionally demanding cases at work. A nation-wide online survey was distributed to all attorneys in Denmark. A total on N = 233 participated, corresponding to a participation rate of 39%. Findings indicated that burnout was the most important concern among Danish prosecutors compared to rates of secondary traumatization and PTSD that were generally low. Quantitative demands, abusive behavior from professional counterparts and emotional impact from cases were the main correlates of burnout symptoms.

摘要

国际研究表明，检察官和律师报告内化精神健康障碍症状的风险增加。现有的许多研究都是基于小规模的便利样本，迄今为止尚未在丹麦检察官中进行过任何研究。欧盟的估计表明，丹麦是法律案件数量最多的国家之一，同时也是政府法院支出最低的国家之一。本研究的目的是估计丹麦检察官中职业倦怠、继发性创伤和创伤后应激障碍的发生率。此外，我们的目的是研究这些结果感知的工作环境和工作压力源之间的关系，以及处理工作中情感要求较高的案件时的不同应对策略。向丹麦所有律师分发了一项全国范围的在线调查。共有 N = 233 人参与，对应的参与率为 39%。调查结果表明，与普遍较低的继发性创伤和创伤后应激障碍发生率相比，倦怠是丹麦检察官最关心的问题。定量要求、专业同行的辱骂行为以及案件的情绪影响是倦怠症状的主要相关因素。