Secondary Traumatic Stress: Risk Factors, Consequences, and Coping Strategies

Figley (1999) describes the ‘Secondary Traumatic Stress’ as a work-related condition resulting from secondary exposure to trauma, “the natural, consequent behaviors and emotions resulting from knowledge about a traumatizing event experienced by a significant other. It is the stress resulting from helping or wanting to help a traumatized or suffering person”. The literature highlights that in workers that face others’ needs (i.e., healthcare professional, police officers, counselor, psychologist, and so on), some variables such as stress arising from exposure (direct or indirect) to traumatic events, organizational stressors, and the absence of organizational support, are variables can have an impact on the workers in terms of secondary trauma.

The aim of this Research Topic is to present investigation in Secondary Trauma, its consequences, and coping strategies used by individuals and organization. About consequences, psychological symptoms are like those caused by post-traumatic stress disorder that is acquired through contact with those suffering from the effects of trauma. Thus, it can cause negative consequences in workers, including anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, intrusive thoughts, maladaptive coping strategies (for example, increased consumption of psychotropic substances), and negative feelings such as anger and feelings of inadequacy. Moreover, Secondary Trauma can influence resilience, with consequences on the workers’ performance: for example, a decrease in the effectiveness of the intervention on patients/clients/citizens, etc., an inability to express negative feelings by denying the difficulties encountered at work, the emotional withdrawal that can compromise the emotional (relatives, friends) and social context (colleagues, supervisors).

This Research Topic focuses on qualitative, quantitative, and mix-method studies about the nature of individual and organizational risk factors in Secondary Traumatic Stress, its consequences, and coping strategies. Case studies as well as Reviews about preventive and intervention programs, their development, and evaluation on efficacy, are welcomed.