Preventing Vicarious Trauma in Gun Violence Research

• In Event: Gun Violence: Causes, Consequences, and Culpability

Abstract

Objective: Gun violence research can be emotionally demanding due to both the graphic subject matter and the charged sociopolitical environment in which the research occurs. The purpose of this study is to describe the strategies to prevent vicarious trauma used by a large, multi-site research team abstracting data from extreme risk protection order (ERPO) case files.
Data/methods: After data collection on the study was completed, research assistants (n=60) completed an online survey with closed and open-ended questions about their engagement with vicarious trauma prevention strategies during data collection, their perceptions of the effectiveness of those strategies, and what other strategies or resources they would have liked the team to use.
Results: Findings illuminate which strategies research assistants found the most helpful and the frequency with which they engaged in these strategies.
Conclusions/implications: As part of the research planning process, gun violence researchers can assess their project’s need to implement vicarious prevention strategies and ensure resources are designated for strategies to be incorporated into trainings, protocols, and supports for research assistants.

Authors

• Jennifer Paruk, Michigan State University

• Sara Rhode, University of South Florida

• Amy Molocznik, Johns Hopkins University

• Annette Christy, University of South Florida

• Chris Knoepke, University of Colorado

• Reena Kapoor, Yale School of Medicine

• Shannon Frattaroli, Johns Hopkins University

• April Zeoli, Michigan State University