Secondary Traumatic Stress in Teachers and School Communities Impacted by the Opioid Epidemic

• In Event: The Emotional Lives of Teachers Roundtable

Abstract

People who support others who have experienced trauma can sometimes be affected by a type of stress called secondary traumatic stress (STS). This study investigated STS in K-12 public school teachers (n=450) in 26 states and Washington, D.C., in areas of low, medium, and high opioid impact. Teachers were surveyed utilizing a validated instrument for STS and asked about student trauma. Over 59% of teachers experienced STS at a moderate or higher level. Teachers in high opioid zones reported the highest mean scores (M = 43.78). Between 91-93% of teachers endorsed adverse events experienced by their students. Although correlations did not reveal a relationship between opioid zone or teacher characteristics and STS, additional findings and implications are discussed.

Author

• Anne J. Steketee, Millikin University