Document Type
Article
Abstract
We explored the experiences of key family members of Australian civilian bravery award recipients using a constructed grounded theory approach. Twenty-four family members participated in qualitative interviews during 2019–2020. Eighteen reported experiences consistent with possible secondary trauma and negative impacts on mental health and well-being. Participants described helplessness in supporting award recipients, limited knowledge of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSS), and insufficient support for managing their own emotional responses. They also reported anxiety, uncertainty, hypervigilance, behavioral adjustments, social isolation, and sadness associated with living with a person they perceived as changed by the aftermath of heroic action. Fourteen participants described negative relationship changes, including a “ripple effect” across family life and the experience of “walking on eggshells.” These findings highlight the broader relational consequences of civilian bravery and suggest a need for trauma education, mental health services, peer support, and relationship assistance for affected family members.
DOI
10.26736/hs.2026.01.06
Recommended Citation
Voigt, Tom; Balandin, Susan; and Dew, Angela
(2026)
"Victims of Bravery (2): Secondary Trauma and Impacts of Acts of Bravery on Key Family Members of Australian Civilian Bravery Award Recipients,"
Heroism Science: Vol. 11:
Iss.
1, Article 6.
DOI: 10.26736/hs.2026.01.06
Available at:
https://scholarship.richmond.edu/heroism-science/vol11/iss1/6