Trauma Informed Approaches to Researcher-Participant Relationships: Examples from a Housing and Health Study
Presenter Biography
We are members of the HOUSE (Housing & Health OpportUnities for Social Equity) Lab. Our team explores the relationships between health and wellbeing and housing security in Portland, Oregon.
Institution
PSU
Program/Major
MPH Health Promotion (Garza) & MSW Social Work (Flores)
Degree
MPH & MSW
Presentation Type
Presentation
Event Website
https://marisawestbrook.com/house-lab
Start Date
4-4-2024 10:30 AM
Keywords
trauma-informed care; qualitative research; study design; community engagement
Abstract
In qualitative research, the aim of researcher-participant relationships is to allow for vulnerability and authenticity while maintaining professional boundaries. Trauma-informed care (TIC) in mental health services and social work considers the impact of violence and victimization in the lives of clients, while emphasizing trauma as causation (SAMHSA, 2014; Butler, 2011). Applying a trauma-informed approach to qualitative research processes may assist in building rapport with research participants, minimizing re-traumatization, appropriately interpreting results, and uncovering cultural significance. Research suggests that trauma-informed approaches avoid excluding underrepresented voices and allows researchers to engage through a social justice and health equity lens (Roche, 2020). For the purpose of gaining new perspectives and input on how to implement a trauma-informed approach to researcher-participant relationships, we will present our TIC approach to designing a study on housing and health. We will apply the TIC lens to community engagement efforts, interview and survey methodology, and research team practice. Through applying these concepts to research in progress, we hope to generate discussion on the value of TIC in research methodology, with the aim of improving participant experiences in contributing to research for health equity.
Trauma Informed Approaches to Researcher-Participant Relationships: Examples from a Housing and Health Study
In qualitative research, the aim of researcher-participant relationships is to allow for vulnerability and authenticity while maintaining professional boundaries. Trauma-informed care (TIC) in mental health services and social work considers the impact of violence and victimization in the lives of clients, while emphasizing trauma as causation (SAMHSA, 2014; Butler, 2011). Applying a trauma-informed approach to qualitative research processes may assist in building rapport with research participants, minimizing re-traumatization, appropriately interpreting results, and uncovering cultural significance. Research suggests that trauma-informed approaches avoid excluding underrepresented voices and allows researchers to engage through a social justice and health equity lens (Roche, 2020). For the purpose of gaining new perspectives and input on how to implement a trauma-informed approach to researcher-participant relationships, we will present our TIC approach to designing a study on housing and health. We will apply the TIC lens to community engagement efforts, interview and survey methodology, and research team practice. Through applying these concepts to research in progress, we hope to generate discussion on the value of TIC in research methodology, with the aim of improving participant experiences in contributing to research for health equity.
https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/publichealthpdx/2024/Presentations/5