Secondary Traumatic Stress in K-12 Educators: Identifying Factors of Susceptibility

• In Event: Division D Graduate Student in Progress Research Gala

Abstract

The phenomenon of secondary traumatic stress (STS) has a significant adverse impact on many in the teaching profession. STS can be described as the symptoms of extreme stress experienced as a result of direct exposure to traumatized individuals. K-12 teachers working in close contact with traumatized students can suffer many of the symptoms of STS. Several factors have been identified in scholarly literature that potentially make individuals more susceptible to STS. These include gender, history of personal trauma, and a teacher’s status as a novice. The Professional Quality of Life instrument measures STS and can correlate factors of susceptibility.

Author

• Beth Rankin, Oregon State University