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Burnout and secondary trauma among forensic interviewers
Destinee Starcher1, Stacia N Stolzenberg2
1School of Criminal Justice, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
Child & Family Social Work
|March 5, 2021
Summary
Forensic interviewers at Child Advocacy Centers experience burnout and secondary trauma due to organizational stressors like heavy caseloads and funding issues. Continued training and mental health support are recommended for these vital professionals.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Work
- Child Welfare
Background:
- Child Advocacy Centers (CACs) offer child-friendly environments for forensic interviews and investigations.
- Limited research exists on the impact of burnout, secondary trauma, and organizational stressors on forensic interviewers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of burnout and secondary trauma among forensic interviewers.
- To investigate how organizational stressors contribute to burnout and secondary trauma in this profession.
Main Methods:
- An online survey was administered to forensic interviewers at CACs nationwide.
- Data collection focused on assessing burnout, secondary trauma, and perceived organizational stressors.
Main Results:
- Forensic interviewers reported significant levels of burnout and secondary trauma.
- Key organizational stressors identified include decreased job support, funding constraints, and heavy caseloads.
- These stressors were directly linked to increased burnout and secondary trauma.
Conclusions:
- Findings highlight the psychological toll on forensic interviewers. Addressing organizational stressors is crucial for supporting interviewer well-being.
- Recommendations include enhanced training and accessible mental health services for forensic interviewers.
- Future research should explore qualitative data and the influence of specific protocols on interviewer experiences.
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