The experiences of vicarious trauma and its related coping strategies among a group of South African psychologists : a phenomenological study

Magister Psychologiae - MPsychSignificant research efforts have focused on developing treatments for trauma survivors and evaluating their effectiveness. However, little attention has been given to understanding the impact of working with trauma survivors on psychologists. This research aimed to address this gap in the literature. In South Africa, there is a scarcity of published qualitative studies that focus on the experiences of VT among psychologists who work with survivors of trauma. Given the increasing prevalence of traumatic events in South Africa and increasing patient load, psychologists may be vulnerable to the development of VT. Beneficial treatments for trauma survivors largely depend on psychologists who can effectively handle their clients' intense traumatic material. If a psychologist is adversely affected by the work of trauma, the quality of treatment for trauma survivors will be compromised (Figley, 1999). Hence, it is critical that research continues to explore the effects of VT and ways to ameliorate them. Aim: to explore the experiences of VT among a group of psychologists from Cape Town, South Africa, who work with trauma survivors and the related coping strategies used by them. This research aimed to expand the local research on the phenomenon of VT. Findings of the study will help to facilitate a better understanding of vicarious impact of trauma work as well as the related coping techniques used by psychologists. Identification of protective factors and effective coping mechanisms of those professionals in this study was a distinct contribution to the South African literature base. This study has practical implications for training, supervision and clinical practice for psychologists in South Africa to enhance the efficiency of psychological service delivery. Exploring the challenges South African psychologists experience as a result of working with trauma survivors may help inform policy and develop effective programmes to address the effects of VT. As such, psychologists would be better equipped to care both for themselves and their clients, and to ensure ethical and professional practice

Existence of positive, negative and sign-changing periodic solutions for a class of integral equations

AbstractIn this paper, the simultaneous existence of positive, negative and sign-changing periodic solutions for a class of integral equations of the form ϕ(x)=∫[x,x+ω]∩ΩK(x,y)f(y,ϕ(y−τ(y)))dy,x∈Ω, is considered, where Ω is a closed subset of RN with a periodic structure. Our main result is different from most existing results since they provide three constant sign periodic solutions only

On a discrete nonlinear boundary value problem

AbstractThe nonlinear eigenvalue problem Δ2uk−1+λ|uk|γ=0,k=1,2,…,n under the Dirichlet boundary conditions u0=0=un+1 is studied. An existence and uniqueness theorem is proved. Qualitative properties of solutions are also given

Green's function and stability of a linear partial difference scheme

AbstractThis paper is concerned with a linear partial difference equation which arises from discretizing a heat and a first order wave equations. A Green's function for this equation is derived. Various representation theorems, monotonicity, and oscillatory properties of the Green's functions are obtained. Then by means of the representation theorems, we derive several stability criteria for arbitrary solutions of this equation

Kamenev type oscillation criteria for nonlinear difference equations

summary:By means of Riccati transformation techniques, we establish some new oscillation criteria for second-order nonlinear difference equation which are sharp

Existence and Uniqueness of Periodic Solutions for a Second-Order Nonlinear Differential Equation with Piecewise Constant Argument

Based on a continuation theorem of Mawhin, a unique periodic solution is found for a second-order nonlinear differential equation with piecewise constant argument