Confidentiality as a barrier to social support: A cross-sectional study of Norwegian emergency and human service workers.

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to investigate confidentiality as a possible barrier to emotional support in a sample of 464 Norwegian nurses, rescue workers, police officers, chaplains, and undertakers. Informal discussions more than formal meetings were settings where emotional work experiences could be aired. The most important sources of emotional support were partners and colleagues. The need to maintain confidentiality was associated with lower utilization of personal support network. Confidentiality, the need to demonstrate emotional capability, and professional integrity were identified as barriers for seeking support. These barriers were present regardless of organizational strategies to support each other in formal and informal meetings. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)