Abstract
Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS) is gaining recognition as an occupational risk of providing direct services to traumatized populations. Forensic interviewers of child abuse are especially at risk for developing STS given that their job entails the eliciting of detailed and explicit narratives of abusive traumatic events from children. The purpose of this study was to add to the limited research on STS and the field of forensic interviewing of child abuse by examining levels of STS, correlates and perceived coping strategies in forensic interviewers of child abuse. Specifically, this research project examined the relationship between levels of STS in a sample of 73 forensic interviewers of child abuse, working in Children's Advocacy Centers (CACs), and length of employment in current agency, level of exposure to clinical trauma, Compassion Satisfaction, and job related self-efficacy. Perceived coping strategies, and supervisory and collegial support were also explored. Results indicate that slightly more than half (54.7%) of the participants scored in the medium to high ranges for risk of STS, supporting the research hypothesis. Correlations were examined using Spearman's rho. Results suggest associations between levels of STS and Compassion Satisfaction: r(73) = -.233, p < .05; self-efficacy: r(71) = .251, p < .05; and differences in coping strategies: r(71) = -.325, p < .01. Correlation between STS levels and length of time in current agency and frequency of exposure to clinical levels of trauma were not statistically significant, p > .05. Recommendations and implications for social work practice are discussed.