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Exposure to Violence, Support Needs, Adjustment, and Motivators Among Guatemalan Humanitarian Aid Workers

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American Journal of Community Psychology

Abstract

Indigenous aid workers carry out the majority of humanitarian aid work, yet there is little empirical information available on their support needs in different contexts. Focus groups (N = 26: Study 1) and a survey (N = 137; Study 2) were conducted with Guatemalan aid workers to explore their exposure to violence, posttraumatic stress symptoms, burnout, support needs, and motivators. Participants reported experiencing an average of 13 events of community violence and 17% reported symptoms consistent with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Direct community violence exposure and levels of emotional exhaustion were positively related to PTSD symptoms, while levels of personal accomplishment were inversely related to PTSD symptoms. Expressed support needs, motivators and rewards for aid work in the face of adversity are also reported as potential protective factors for further exploration. Implications for training and support of aid workers in similar contexts are also suggested.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Psychology, Fuller Theological Seminary, 180 N. Oakland Ave, Pasadena, CA, 91101, USA

    Katharine M. Putman, Jeanette I. Lantz, Cynthia L. Townsend, Autumn M. Gallegos, Amy A. Potts, Rebecca C. Roberts, Emily R. Cree & Cynthia B. Eriksson

  2. Maestria en Psicologia Social y Violencia Política, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, Guatemala City, Guatemala

    Marina de Villagrán

  3. The Graduate School of Education and Psychology, Pepperdine University, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    David W. Foy

Authors
  1. Katharine M. Putman
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  2. Jeanette I. Lantz
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  3. Cynthia L. Townsend
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  4. Autumn M. Gallegos
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  5. Amy A. Potts
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  6. Rebecca C. Roberts
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  7. Emily R. Cree
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  8. Marina de Villagrán
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  9. Cynthia B. Eriksson
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  10. David W. Foy
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Correspondence to Katharine M. Putman.

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Putman, K.M., Lantz, J.I., Townsend, C.L. et al. Exposure to Violence, Support Needs, Adjustment, and Motivators Among Guatemalan Humanitarian Aid Workers. Am J Community Psychol 44, 109–115 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10464-009-9249-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10464-009-9249-5

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