The Hidden Physical Toll of Vicarious Trauma on Healthcare Workers

Abstract

This study examined whether vicarious trauma, the emotional and psychological effects of repeated exposure to others’ traumatic experiences, may affect hospital workers’ physical health. Focusing on nurses and patient care associates at two large hospitals, researchers linked workers’ vicarious trauma symptoms to subsequent health insurance claims for stress-sensitive gastrointestinal conditions. The research suggests that the effects of caring for traumatized patients may extend beyond emotional distress to become a broader occupational health risk.