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Prevalence of Secondary Traumatic Stress Among Direct Support Professionals in Intellectual and Developmental
Daniel A Boamah1, Anita P Barbee2
1Daniel A. Boamah, Western Kentucky University.
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
|July 22, 2022
Summary
Direct support professionals (DSPs) assisting individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) can experience secondary traumatic stress (STS). Higher client trauma exposure correlates with increased STS symptoms and PTSD risk in DSPs.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Work
- Public Health
Background:
- Direct support professionals (DSPs) provide essential care for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD).
- DSPs may encounter clients' traumatic experiences, posing risks of psychological distress.
- Secondary traumatic stress (STS) is documented in human services but understudied in DSPs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of STS among DSPs.
- To explore the relationship between client trauma exposure and STS in DSPs.
- To identify demographic factors associated with STS in DSPs.
Main Methods:
- Survey of DSPs assessing exposure to client trauma.
- Evaluation of STS symptoms using established criteria.
- Analysis of demographic data and correlation with STS.
Main Results:
- DSPs frequently encounter traumatic client experiences.
- Increased exposure to traumatized clients significantly correlates with higher STS symptoms.
- 12.4% of DSPs met criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms.
- Demographic factors were associated with variations in STS.
Conclusions:
- DSPs are at risk for STS due to client trauma exposure.
- Targeted support and interventions are needed for DSPs.
- Further research into demographic influences on DSPs' psychological well-being is warranted.
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