Secondary traumatic stress among home visiting professionals

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Social Work
• Public Health

Background:

• Secondary traumatic stress (STS) can impact helping professionals.
• Home visitors are at risk due to frequent exposure to client trauma.
• Validated measurement tools are crucial for assessing STS in this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale (STSS) among home visitors.
• To determine the prevalence of STS within this professional group.
• To identify personal and workplace factors associated with STS.

Main Methods:

• Survey data from 301 home visitors were collected between 2015-2020.
• The 17-item STSS, assessing intrusion, avoidance, and arousal symptoms, was administered.
• Reliability analyses, confirmatory factor analyses, and linear regressions were performed.

Main Results:

• The STSS demonstrated sound internal consistency and good model fit.
• Approximately 8-10% of home visitors met criteria for PTSD.
• Higher exposure to adverse childhood experiences and poorer work environments were linked to increased STS.

Conclusions:

• The STSS is a psychometrically sound measure for home visitors.
• Findings highlight the need for further research into STS prevalence and causes.
• Addressing STS is vital for home visitor well-being and professional effectiveness.