The cost of caring: professional differences in the burden of trauma-related work

Background: Although children and adolescents exposed to traumatic events face a high risk of developing mental health disorders, access to trauma-specific care in Germany remains insufficient. Professionals involved in the care of affected children and adolescents experience work-related stress. Along with structural barriers and limited systemic support, work-related stress can negatively impact the quality of care. This study investigates the concerns, strains, consequences of perceived stress and needs of these professional groups and examines differences in their experiences to derive implications for improving organizational and professional deficiencies as well as care of affected children and adolescents.Methods: Data were collected and analyzed from N = 637 participants via an online survey. Our sample included child and youth psychotherapists (CP), youth welfare professionals (YWP), and psychiatric care staff (PCS), and was assessed using the Trauma Professionals' Burden Scale (TPBS). ANOVAs and Pearson correlations, were conducted, with adjustments for multiple testing and covariates like age, professional experience, working hours and gender.Results: Our study identified concerns, strains, needs and stress consequences faced by professionals working with traumatized children and adolescents. The greatest concern among participants was the risk of children being agitated through external triggers, while the most significant strain involved children having to return to potentially violent homes. A need for better structural conditions was also expressed. The most significant stress was reported by YWP while CP revealed the lowest stress levels.Discussion: Our results highlight the distress among professionals working with traumatized children and adolescents. These findings suggest that working with traumatized children and adolescents is itself a stressor, warranting additional research. Our results highlight the need for structural improvements, such as increased staff. Moreover, greater access to training to acquire evidence-based knowledge and skills might help to alleviate the stress experienced by professionals working with traumatized children and adolescents.