Resiliencia y trauma vicario en el trabajo juvenil: Desafíos y estrategias de apoyo

Catalina Guerrero-Romera; Veronika Šromová; José David Cuesta Sáez de Tejada

doi:10.65598/rps.5972

Authors

Catalina Guerrero-Romera Universidad de Murcia, España https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6080-1676
Veronika Šromová Asociación Red Europea los jóvenes importan ahora, España
José David Cuesta Sáez de Tejada Universidad de Murcia, Spain https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8500-0605

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.65598/rps.5972

Keywords:

Safe youth workers, Resilience, Vicarious trauma, Self-care, Well-being, Mental Health

Abstract

This paper, carried out within the framework of the Erasmus Plus Safe Youth Workers project, analyses the prevalence of vicarious trauma and its psychosocial impact among youth workers in Spain. Based on vicarious trauma theory and the compassion fatigue model, the mediating role of organisational/institutional support and professional training in emotional resilience is considered fundamental. A quantitative approach was used, with a non-experimental, cross-sectional, descriptive correlational design, using a structured survey on the Qualtrics platform, aimed at 78 youth work professionals. The results indicate that more than 50% of participants are frequently exposed to emotionally demanding situations. Moderate and significant correlations were found between emotional exhaustion and perceived overload, as well as between organisational support and a reduction in exhaustion, although with no effect on overload. Training in self-care and trauma showed moderate to strong protective effects. We can conclude that vicarious trauma is a recurring phenomenon and is related to emotional deterioration. Professional training and a favourable organisational environment can help reduce exhaustion, but structural reforms are also required. A comprehensive intervention is needed that encompasses decisions on mental health policy, management and handling of the workload experienced, and continuous professional development as a mechanism to strengthen resilience in youth work.

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Author Biography

Veronika Šromová, Asociación Red Europea los jóvenes importan ahora, España

Proyecto Erasmus Plus Safe Youth Workers

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