Posttraumatic Growth in Self-Referred Healthcare Workers to the Trauma Response Network UK During COVID-19: An Exploratory Study

Healthcare workers (HCWs) have experienced inordinate stress and trauma, especially since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has also been evident that HCWs have experienced posttraumatic growth (PTG), although the relationship between PTG and trauma symptoms is complex. This study aimed to examine PTG and its associations with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, dissociation, and resilience in HCWs (n = 62) who voluntarily sought support from the Trauma Response Network UK during the first six months of the pandemic. The retrospective design involved bivariate correlations, multiple regression, and a mixed model approach. The study found HCWs experienced moderate PTG (m = 36.11, sd = 23.56), high PTSD (m = 41.58, sd = 17.69) and depression (m = 13.71, sd = 6.64), and low dissociation (m = 7.47, sd = 10.79). Greater PTG was associated with greater resilience (m = 18.17, sd = 8.18; r = 0.542) and lower PTSD (r = -0.265). PTSD was positively correlated with depression (r = 0.590) and dissociation (DES-II, r = 0.411). Results indicate self-referring HCWs showed positive adaptation to the trauma of COVID-19 reflected across multiple PTG domains. Therapists identified facilitating factors that medical organizations can use to enhance PTG in HCWs. Recommendations are made for staff policies that acknowledge growth as a process alongside support for ongoing distress. Longitudinal research is needed to trace PTG, resilience, and symptoms.