Date of Publication

2025

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Psychology Major in Clinical Psychology

Subject Categories

Clinical Psychology

College

College of Liberal Arts

Department/Unit

Psychology

Thesis Advisor

Melissa R. Garabiles

Defense Panel Chair

Roseann Tan-Mansukhani

Defense Panel Member

Melissa Lucia L. Reyes
Imelu G. Mordeno

Abstract (English)

Promoting and protecting human rights through the collective efforts of Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) requires a prompt and coordinated response to human rights violations. HRDs provide legal, medical, or psychological assistance to the victim-survivors, and may also handle evidence directly. Due to the sensitive and high-risk nature of these tasks, HRDs are often exposed to potentially traumatic events (EPTEs), which have been linked to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Guided by the Conservation of Resources Theory (COR), this study examined whether the HRDs’ personal and social resources, such as Coping Flexibility (CF) and Perceived Social Support (PSS), buffer the relationship between EPTEs and PTSD symptoms. Participants were recruited through formal invitations and conducting social media inquiries to their respective organizations. Using hierarchical multiple regression and after controlling for their previous psychological interventions, the analysis showed that none of the proposed moderators buffered between EPTEs and PTSD symptoms. These findings highlight that resource-based interventions may require more tailored approaches to effectively mitigate PTSD symptoms among Filipino HRDs.

Keywords: human rights defenders, PTSD, coping flexibility, perceived social support, trauma exposure, perceived organizational support

Abstract Format

html

Abstract (Filipino)

Ang pagtataguyod at pangangalaga sa karapatang pantao sa pamamagitan ng kolektibong pagsisikap ng mga Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) ay nangangailangan ng mabilis at koordinadong pagtugon sa mga paglabag sa karapatang pantao. Nagbibigay ng legal, medikal, o sikolohikal na tulong sa mga victim-survivors, at maaari ring direktang humawak ng ebidensya and mga HRDs. Dahil sensitibo at mataas ang antas ng panganib ng mga gawaing ito, ang mga HRDs ay madalas na may pagkalantad o exposure to potentially traumatic events (EPTEs) na siya ring iniuugnay sa mga sintomas ng posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Sa patnubay ng Conservation of Resources theory (COR), ang pag-aaral na ito ay nagsiyasat kung ang personal at sosyal na yaman o resources, gaya ng Coping Flexibility (CF) at Perceived Social Support (PSS), ay magpapahina sa ugnayan ng EPTEs at sintomas ng PTSD. Ang mga kalahok sa pag-aaral ay inimbitahan sa pamamagitan ng pormal na pagsulat at pagtatanong sa social media ng kani-kanilang mga organisasyon. Gamit ang hierarchichal multiple regression at matapos kontrolin ang kanilang mga naunang sikolohikal na interbensyon, ipinakita ng analisis na wala sa mga inilatag na moderator ang nagpahina sa EPTEs at sintomas ng PTSD. Ipinapakita ng mga resultang ito ang pangangailangan ng mas maiging paglapat ng mga resource-based intervention upang epektibong matugunan ang mga sintomas ng PTSD sa mga Pilipinong HRDs.

Keywords: human rights defenders, PTSD, coping flexibility, perceived social support, trauma exposure, perceived organizational support

Abstract Format

html

Language

English

Format

Electronic

Keywords

Human rights workers--Philippines; Post-traumatic stress disorder--Philippines; Adjustment (Psychology); Social networks

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Embargo Period

11-20-2025

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