Exposure to traumatic events and shame in adolescent surf lifesavers: An Australian perspective

Emergency service personnel experience high levels of psychological distress, with increasing evidence of associations with shame and trauma. Additionally, adolescence is a critical time in social and cognitive development, in which shame plays an important role. In Australia, adolescent volunteer surf lifesavers (SLS) are particularly vulnerable due to exposure to potentially traumatic experiences (PTEs) such as rescues and resuscitation of human lives. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between direct or indirect PTEs, and the relationship PTSS and shame may have in adolescent surf lifesavers. This cross-sectional study surveyed patrolling adolescent SLS, aged 13–17 years, recruited via internal communications and social media groups. Complete responses from patrolling adolescents (n = 118; 59% female; mean age 15.4 years) were used to determine exposure to PTEs across global, direct, and within SLS trauma domains. Associations between demographics, PTEs, post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), with shame as a moderator were assessed for each trauma domain. PTEs and PTSS were positively associated across trauma domains. Shame was identified as a significant predictor of PTSS and as an important moderator of PTSS for experiences within SLSA, but not global or direct trauma. By exploring links between PTEs, PTSS, and shame, these findings contribute to the development of strategies and interventions for adolescents during stressful times. Responsiveness to adolescents via feedback and genuine, reassuring relationships that acknowledge the complexity of coping with stressful situations, may be potentially effective approaches to support coping with experiences of shame following PTE’s in adolescent surf lifesavers.