Individual-and Setting-Level Correlates of Secondary Traumatic Stress in Rape Crisis Center Staff

Abstract

Secondary traumatic stress (STS) is an issue of significant concern among providers who work with survivors of sexual assault. Although STS has been studied in relation to individual-level characteristics of a variety of types of trauma responders, less research has focused specifically on rape crisis centers as environments that might convey risk or protection from STS, and no research to knowledge has modeled setting-level variation in correlates of STS. The current study uses a sample of 164 staff members representing 40 rape crisis centers across a single Midwestern state to investigate the staff member-and agency-level correlates of STS. Results suggest that correlates exist at both levels of analysis. Younger age and greater severity of sexual assault history were statistically significant individual-level predictors of increased STS. Greater frequency of supervision was more strongly related to secondary stress for non-advocates than for advocates. At the setting level, lower levels of supervision and higher client loads agency-wide accounted for unique variance in staff members' STS. These findings suggest that characteristics of both providers and their settings are important to consider when understanding their STS.

Factors Associated with Secondary Traumatic Stress among Emergency Nurses: An Integrative Review

“…This review is supporting previous reports that personal factors have very little influence on STS [30], some, but not all personal factors were associated with STS [22]. This review also support the conclusion reached by Morrison and Joy that nurses in ED had a perception that personal characteristics are not related to STS symptoms [16].…”

“…stated that organizational characteristics are more important than personal characteristics in developing STS [30]. Several studies examined the role of some organizational characteristics in developing STS.…”

“…[32], history of sexual assault [30], trauma training, social support, personal trauma history [22], and spirituality level [2]. While the organizational factors identified in the literature are: trauma case load [22], organizational support [33], clinical supervision, and relationship with colleagues [30]. The following sections will explore and discuss the literature found on a selected group of these factors in details and combine findings from both the quantitative and qualitative literature.…”

“…Moreover, the models explain the STS ignored addressing effects of secondary exposure on nurses, and rather, focused prevalence and contributing factors. [32], history of sexual assault [30], trauma training, social support, personal trauma history [22], and spirituality level [2]. While the organizational factors identified in the literature are: trauma case load [22], organizational support [33], clinical supervision, and relationship with colleagues [30].…”

Prevalence of Secondary Traumatic Stress Among Psychiatric Nurses in Greece

“…Increasing the awareness of this phenomenon in the workplace may prevent emotional exhaustion and potential job separation of psychiatric nurses who suffer from STS (Dominguez-Gomez & Rutledge, 2008). Also, study findings suggest that characteristics of both health care providers and their settings are important to consider when implementing preventing measures (Dworkin, Sorell, & Allen, 2014) Further research is needed in order to fill the gaps in literature that still exist, such as comparison studies of larger populations and implementation of qualitative studies to provide greater depth to quantitative findings.…”