Weir Patricia, Jones Liz, Sheeran Nicola, Kebbell Mark
School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia.
Department of Psychology, Monash University Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia.
Psychiatr Psychol Law. 2021 Oct 28;29(4):610-630. doi: 10.1080/13218719.2021.1956384. eCollection 2022.
Many lawyers experience regular exposure to traumatic material yet little is known about its effects. This study examines what traumatic material affects lawyers, how they respond in the moment and how they recover. The participants ( = 18 lawyers) completed a five-day diary study and a semi-structured interview regarding their experiences. The analysis identified clients' negative emotions and experiences, domestic violence and child abuse as most impactful. The participants reported experiencing sadness, anger, frustration, disgust and/or compassion; some reported not being overly distressed or not experiencing emotions. Most participants reported using social support and emotion-focused coping strategies, drawing on their identities as lawyers to suppress or conceal emotions. At the end of a working day many participants reported coping by working longer hours but also through physical activity and social interactions. We discuss the implications for lawyers' well-being and the role of organisations and education in managing the impacts of traumatic material.
许多律师经常接触到创伤性材料,但其影响却鲜为人知。本研究考察了哪些创伤性材料会影响律师,他们当下如何应对以及如何恢复。参与者(18名律师)完成了一项为期五天的日记研究以及一次关于他们经历的半结构化访谈。分析确定客户的负面情绪和经历、家庭暴力和虐待儿童是最具影响力的。参与者报告称经历了悲伤、愤怒、沮丧、厌恶和/或同情;一些人报告没有过度痛苦或没有经历情绪。大多数参与者报告使用社会支持和以情绪为中心的应对策略,利用他们作为律师的身份来压抑或隐藏情绪。在工作日结束时,许多参与者报告通过延长工作时间来应对,但也通过体育活动和社交互动来应对。我们讨论了对律师福祉的影响以及组织和教育在管理创伤性材料影响方面的作用。