Childhood abuse history, secondary traumatic stress, and child welfare workers.
Social workers are exposed to trauma vicariously through the trauma of their clients. This phenomenon, called secondary traumatic stress, vicarious traumatization, or compassion fatigue, presents a risk of negative personal psychological consequences. Based on a sample of 166 child welfare workers and using standardized measures, the study findings document the link between a personal history of primary trauma, childhood abuse or neglect, and the heightened risk for secondary traumatic stress in child welfare workers.
Nelson-Gardell
Debra
D
School of Social Work, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa 35487-0314, USA.
Harris
Deneen
D
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015897:Comorbidity; D003379:Countertransference; D004522:Educational Status; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012947:Social Work / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015144:Southeastern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D040921:Stress Disorders, Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*