Shared Traumatic Reality During the Continuous War in Ukraine and the Protective Role of Transgenerational Transfer: Voices of Mental Health Professionals

Abstract

Shared traumatic reality has nagative professional effects on mental health providers. The study explores the professional effects of prolonged shared traumatic reality, and the protective role of intergenerational transfer, among Ukrainian psychotherapists during the war with Russia, in the context of their national history of traumatic events. We conducted focus group interviews with 20 Ukrainian therapists who lived and worked in Ukrainian war zones. The recorded transcriptions were analyzed, applying two stages of inductive thematic analysis, and identifying common themes and sub-themes. The main reported negative effect was compassion fatigue, with secondary traumatization and lack of interpersonal and professional support reported as the dominant risk factors. Positive effects included compassion satisfaction and professional growth. The leading protective factors included active coping and social support, while transgenerational transfer of empowering messages increased coping resources. We concluded that intergenerational transfer could promote coping and positive professional effects, especially in the context of chronic shared traumatic reality, suggested as a new construct. Further studies are suggested.