Full Text Available
Note: Clicking the button above will open the full text document at the original institutional repository in a new window.
Trauma levels and coping strategies of Southern Gauteng crime scene examiners exposed to traumatic crime scenes and autopsies
Dissertation (MA (Criminology))--University of Pretoria, 2020.
Saved in:
| Other Authors: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
University of Pretoria
2021
|
| Subjects: | |
| Tags: |
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1867613594587234304 |
|---|---|
| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author2 | Klopper, Harriet |
| author_browse | Klopper, Harriet |
| author_facet | Klopper, Harriet |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | © 2019 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. |
| description | Dissertation (MA (Criminology))--University of Pretoria, 2020. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/78372 |
| institution | University of Pretoria (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:38:37.863Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| publishDate | 2021 |
| publishDateRange | 2021 |
| publishDateSort | 2021 |
| publisher | University of Pretoria |
| publisherStr | University of Pretoria |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| spelling | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/78372 Trauma levels and coping strategies of Southern Gauteng crime scene examiners exposed to traumatic crime scenes and autopsies Klopper, Harriet katiegoldman92@yahoo.co.za Steyn, Francois Goldman, Katherine Julia Thandiwe Crime scene examiners Trauma levels Coping strategies Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Traumatic crime scenes UCTD Dissertation (MA (Criminology))--University of Pretoria, 2020. Crime scene examiners (CSEs) spend long hours at traumatic crime scenes, and interact closely with various elements of crime scenes. The topic has only recently attracted international research interest, and in the South African context the offering is meagre. The study set out to determine the profile of Southern Gauteng CSEs; to establish the scope of their tasks and responsibilities; to ascertain their trauma levels in relation to traumatic crime scenes and autopsies; to identify the specific coping strategies they use; to determine their context-specific experiences of job-related stress and trauma; and to ascertain the measure to which they experience contentedness within their workplace and their views on both briefing and debriefing. In pursuit of the objectives of the study, the research paradigm was rooted in positivism. Consequently, a quantitative approach was adopted and a cross-sectional design was employed. Through convenience sampling, 103 respondents were recruited from all eight Local Criminal Record Centres (LCRCs) in Southern Gauteng. The data gathering instrument was a paper-based, self-administered structured questionnaire, which included two standardised measuring instruments for trauma levels and coping strategies respectively. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro-Wilk tests indicated that non-parametric statistical procedures were required. Using the Mann Whitney U test, bivariate analysis allowed for testing the relationships between variables. The findings demonstrate that male CSEs outnumber female CSEs by approximately 3:1. CSEs attend violent crime scenes with striking regularity, but autopsies less frequently. Significant proportions of CSEs are routinely required to both take photographs of crime scenes and compile photo albums. A sizeable number of CSEs present with concerning levels of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptomology. The coping strategy adopted by majority of respondents is acceptance. Although attended less frequently, crime scenes involving deceased children are experienced as very distressing. A large proportion of CSEs are hesitant to access debriefing services, for numerous reasons, despite feeling the need to talk to someone about their work. The trauma experienced by CSEs is unique compared with other policing units. Therefore, it is recommended that trauma interventions should be responsive to their needs. Lastly, the CSEs who have been diagnosed with mental health conditions seem to be at significant risk, and thus they should receive special attention in future interventions. Keywords: crime scene examiner, Local Criminal Record Centres, trauma, traumatic event, crime scene, traumatic crime scene, emotional stress, coping strategy, autopsy, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Southern Gauteng. Social Work and Criminology MA (Criminology) Restricted 2021-02-10T06:47:41Z 2021-02-10T06:47:41Z 2021-04 2020 Dissertation Goldman, KJT 2020, Trauma levels and coping strategies of Southern Gauteng crime scene examiners exposed to traumatic crime scenes and autopsies, MA (Criminology) Dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd <http://hdl.handle.net/2263/78372> A2021 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/78372 en © 2019 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria |
| spellingShingle | Crime scene examiners Trauma levels Coping strategies Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Traumatic crime scenes UCTD Trauma levels and coping strategies of Southern Gauteng crime scene examiners exposed to traumatic crime scenes and autopsies |
| title | Trauma levels and coping strategies of Southern Gauteng crime scene examiners exposed to traumatic crime scenes and autopsies |
| title_full | Trauma levels and coping strategies of Southern Gauteng crime scene examiners exposed to traumatic crime scenes and autopsies |
| title_fullStr | Trauma levels and coping strategies of Southern Gauteng crime scene examiners exposed to traumatic crime scenes and autopsies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Trauma levels and coping strategies of Southern Gauteng crime scene examiners exposed to traumatic crime scenes and autopsies |
| title_short | Trauma levels and coping strategies of Southern Gauteng crime scene examiners exposed to traumatic crime scenes and autopsies |
| title_sort | trauma levels and coping strategies of southern gauteng crime scene examiners exposed to traumatic crime scenes and autopsies |
| topic | Crime scene examiners Trauma levels Coping strategies Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Traumatic crime scenes UCTD |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/2263/78372 |