The mediating role of anxiety in the relationship between secondary traumatic stress and way of the humour defence mechanism and coping with it

The purpose of this research is to examine examine the mediating role of anxiety in the relationship between secondary traumatic stress and coping with humor. It will also take into consideration whether these three variables differ depending on the demographic characteristics of individuals. The study group of the research consists of 581 individuals, 408 women and 173 men, over the age of 18. In this study, Demographic Information Form, Secondary Traumatic Stress Inventory, Differentiation Through Humor Scale and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were used as data collection tools. While analyzing the data, IBM SPSS 26.0 statistical package program was used. In the analysis phase of the data, regression analysis based on Independent Sample t-Test, One Way ANOVA, Pearson Correlation Analysis and Bootstrap method was performed. As a result of the research, it was found that anxiety has a mediating role in the relationship between secondary traumatic stress and coping with humor. In addition, a significant difference was found in the mean scores of involuntary influences, avoidance, arousal and secondary traumatic stress according to age. Participants in the 18-24 age group have the highest mean scores of involuntary influences, avoidance, arousal and secondary traumatic stress, while the mean scores of the participants in the 25 44 and 65+ age groups are the lowest. The mean scores of involuntary influences, avoidance, arousal, and secondary traumatic stress show a significant difference according to the status of having a child. The mean scores of involuntary influences, avoidance, arousal and secondary traumatic stress were significantly higher in the participants who did not have children. Moderately positive correlations were found between involuntary influence scores and state and trait anxiety scores. It was found that there were low and moderate positive and negative relationships between avoidance scores and coping with humor, state anxiety and trait anxiety scores. It was found that there were moderate positive correlations between arousal scores and state anxiety and trait anxiety scores. It was observed that there were low and moderate negative and positive correlations between secondary traumatic stress scores and coping with humor, state anxiety and trait anxiety scores, respectively. It was found that coping with humor, state and trait anxiety together had a significant relationship with involuntary influences, avoidance and arousal. Key words: Secondary traumatic stress, coping with humor, anxiety.