Vicarious Traumatization, Secondary Traumatic Stress, and Burnout Among Child Welfare Workers

Abstract

The relationship of work-family conflict, general perceived self-efficacy, and history of traumatic experience to vicarious traumatization, secondary traumatic stress, and burnout was examined among 127 child welfare workers. Child welfare workers who reported higher levels of work-family conflict, lower levels of self-efficacy, and a history of traumatic experience reported higher levels of vicarious traumatization than those workers who reported lower levels of work-family conflict, higher levels of self-efficacy, and no history of traumatic experience. Work-family conflict was positively correlated with vicarious traumatization, secondary traumatic stress, and burnout. Work-family conflict was predictive of workers' intentions to leave their jobs, but level of self-efficacy and history of traumatic experience were not. Suggestions for future research directions are provided.