Premium
Participation in trauma research: Is there evidence of harm?
Author(s) -
Griffin Michael G.,
Resick Patricia A.,
Waldrop Angela E.,
Mechanic Mindy B.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of traumatic stress
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.259
H-Index - 134
eISSN - 1573-6598
pISSN - 0894-9867
DOI - 10.1023/a:1023735821900
Subject(s) - harm , psychology , occupational safety and health , major trauma , injury prevention , suicide prevention , poison control , human factors and ergonomics , clinical psychology , medicine , psychological trauma , psychiatry , medical emergency , social psychology , pathology
Abstract Few studies have examined the impact of trauma research participation upon trauma survivors. Empirical data regarding reactions to research participation would be very useful to address the question of whether it is harmful for trauma survivors to participate in trauma studies. We examined participant reactions to different trauma assessment procedures in domestic violence ( N = 260), rape ( N = 108), and physical assault ( N = 62) samples. Results indicated that participation was very well tolerated by the vast majority of the trauma survivors. Participants generally found that the assessment experience was not distressing and was, in fact, viewed as an interesting and valuable experience. The findings suggest that trauma survivors are not too fragile to participate in trauma research even in the acute aftermath of a traumatic experience.