Associação entre trauma vicário, ansiedade, estresse e depressão em trabalhadores que atuam na rede de atenção psicossocial (RAPS)

Abstract

Vicarious Trauma (VT) refers to the psychological changes resulting from continuous exposure to the suffering and traumatic narratives of others and is commonly observed among professionals working with victims of violence, disasters, and other traumatic experiences. VT may lead to emotional, cognitive, physical, and behavioral consequences, including anxiety, stress, depression, changes in beliefs about safety and trust, emotional exhaustion, impaired interpersonal relationships, and reduced mental health and occupational functioning. This study aimed to examine the association between VT and symptoms of depression, stress, and anxiety among professionals working in the Brazilian Psychosocial Care Network (Rede de Atenção Psicossocial – RAPS). The sample comprised 48 professionals aged between 23 and 68 years (M = 37.5, SD = 11.8), most of whom were women (91.7%), self-identified as White (70.8%), single (47.9%), and held a postgraduate degree (45.8%). Most participants (56.3%) reported a monthly income between one and three Brazilian minimum wages, followed by those earning between four and six minimum wages (20.8%), and 41.7% had more than 10 years of professional experience. Participants completed an online survey including a sociodemographic questionnaire, the **Revised Vicarious Trauma Scale (VTS-R)**, and the **Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale – 21 Items (DASS-21)**. The results indicated relevant levels of overall VT (M = 49.56, SD = 8.43), as well as its affective (M = 29.79, SD = 4.27) and cognitive (M = 19.77, SD = 4.94) dimensions. Regarding psychological distress, participants presented, on average, moderate levels of stress (M = 9.83, SD = 6.02), anxiety (M = 6.94, SD = 5.99), and depression (M = 7.92, SD = 6.02). Correlation analyses revealed significant positive associations (p < .001) between VT and all indicators of psychological distress. Strong correlations were found between overall VT and anxiety (ρ = .749) and between overall VT and stress (ρ = .718), whereas the association with depression was moderate (ρ = .637). Furthermore, significant moderate positive correlations (p < .001) were observed between the affective dimension of VT and stress (ρ = .656), anxiety (ρ = .660), and depression (ρ = .602), as well as between the cognitive dimension and stress (ρ = .637), anxiety (ρ = .701), and depression (ρ = .555). These findings highlight the need for ongoing professional training and institutional support to promote the mental health of professionals who provide care to victims of violence.