The role of group identification, self- and collective efficacy on secondary traumatic stress and general health in a sample of emergency medical service volunteers

Abstract

This paper reports the results of a web-based survey on the relationship between group identification, secondary traumatic stress, and psychological distress in a sample of Italian emergency medical service volunteers. The theoretical foundation of this research was based on the social cure approach that suggests that group identification can increase people's wellbeing by enhancing the sense of social support and mastery. Responses from 1214 volunteers (50% men) were collected and structural equation modeling was performed to assess direct and indirect effect of group identification on both secondary traumatic stress and psychological distress. Results supported expectations, and indicated that group identification was associated with decreased secondary traumatic stress and psychological distress: this relation was both direct and mediated by self-efficacy and collective efficacy. Self-efficacy and collective efficacy completely mediated the relationship between group identification and secondary traumatic stress, while mediation was partial for the relationship between group identification and psychological distress. Moreover, our findings revealed that collective efficacy had a higher impact on psychological distress than on secondary traumatic stress. Self-efficacy, instead, had a significant negative effect on both secondary traumatic stress and psychological distress. Finally, secondary traumatic stress had a strong relationship with psychological distress. The practical implications for volunteers' wellbeing and volunteer association are discussed in view of the need to improve collective positive resources.