Secondary traumatic stress and vicarious trauma: A validational study

Abstract

Vicarious trauma (VT) and secondary traumatic stress (STS) or compassion fatigue both describe effects of working with traumatized persons on therapists. Despite conceptual similarities, their emphases differ: cognitive schemas vs. posttraumatic symptoms and burnout, respectively. The TSI Belief Scale (TSI-BSL) measures VT; the Compassion Fatigue Self-Test (CFST) for Psychotherapists measures STS. Neither has substantial psychometric evidence yet, nor has their association been studied. Results for 99 sexual assault and domestic violence counselors show concurrent validity between TSI-BSL and CFST, moderate convergence with burnout but useful discrimination, and strong convergence with general distress, but adequate independent shared variance. Counselors with interpersonal trauma histories scored higher on CFST, but not TSI-BSL or burnout, consistent with the CFST's emphasis on trauma symptomatology.

Compassion fatigue and psychological distress among social workers: A validation study.

“…Figley (2002b) has suggested, however, that secondary trauma is not the same as burnout syndrome and that each should be treated as having a unique effect on a professional's well-being (see also Jenkins & Baird, 2002;Sabin-Farrell & Turpin, 2003;Salston & Figley, 2003). Burnout syndrome is often defined as a response to prolonged exposure to demanding interpersonal situations and is characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment (Maslach, Schaufeli, & Leiter, 2001).…”

“…This type of vicarious trauma often is referred to as secondary traumatic stress in the literature (Boscarino, Figley, & Adams, 2004). Thus, when therapists, doctors, nurses, or child protection workers report symptoms related to reexperiencing the client's traumatic event, wishing to avoid both the client and reminders of the client's trauma, and feeling persistent arousal due to intimate knowledge about the client's traumatic experiences, they are likely suffering from secondary trauma (Figley, 1995(Figley, , 2002bJenkins & Baird, 2002;Schauben & Frazier, 1995).…”

“…This type of vicarious trauma often is referred to as secondary traumatic stress in the literature (Boscarino, Figley, & Adams, 2004). Thus, when therapists, doctors, nurses, or child protection workers report symptoms related to reexperiencing the client's traumatic event, wishing to avoid both the client and reminders of the client's trauma, and feeling persistent arousal due to intimate knowledge about the client's traumatic experiences, they are likely suffering from secondary trauma (Figley, 1995(Figley, , 2002bJenkins & Baird, 2002;Schauben & Frazier, 1995).More recently, Figley (1995Figley ( , 2002aFigley ( , 2002b and others (e.g., Gentry, Baranowsky, & Dunning, 2002;Jenkins & Baird, 2002;Nelson-Gardell & Harris, 2003;Salston & Figley, 2003;Stamm, 2002) have observed that secondary trauma and what has been termed job burnout overlap, in that both are characterized by the emotionally exhausting nature of working with survivors of trauma. Figley (2002b) has suggested, however, that secondary trauma is not the same as burnout syndrome and that each should be treated as having a unique effect on a professional's well-being (see also Jenkins & Baird, 2002;Sabin-Farrell & Turpin, 2003;Salston & Figley, 2003).…”

“…All of the addresses appeared to be correct, as none of the questionnaires/letters from the three mailings was returned by the post office. (Jenkins & Baird, 2002;Stamm, 2002). The scale was designed to assess both vicarious trauma and job burnout.…”

“…The adverse impact of working with clients who have a history of psychological trauma (e.g., sexual and physical abuse, military combat, or community disaster) has been described under a variety of terms: vicarious traumatization, secondary traumatic stress, and compassion fatigue (CF; Jenkins & Baird, 2002).…”