First Advisor

Hulac, David

Document Type

Dissertation

Date Created

8-2020

Abstract

Gagliano, Stacey. Protective factors for secondary traumatic stress in residential treatment staff. Unpublished Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation, University of Northern Colorado, 2020. This cross-sectional study examined the relationship between empathy, a problem-focused coping style, compassion satisfaction (CS), staff cohesion, and symptoms of secondary traumatic stress (STS) in residential treatment center (RTC) staff, while controlling for previous direct trauma exposure. A total of 44 participants were recruited from RTCs in a western state and included mental health care providers (clinical staff), direct-care staff, and educational staff. Participants completed a 62-question electronic survey that included several self-report measures evaluating each of the aforementioned variables, in addition to demographics. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis was performed to determine the degree to which these variables explain STS symptoms in RTC staff. A one-factor ANOVA was utilized to compare rates of STS between across occupational groups. Findings of correlational analyses indicated that higher levels of problem-focused coping skills were significantly associated with a greater sense of empathy. Moreover, the experience of direct trauma, empathy, problem-focused coping, CS, and staff cohesion significantly explained STS symptoms in RTC staff. These results suggest that particular individual and/or organizational factors may serve a protective function against STS and further research is warranted as this knowledge may benefit training programs and staff development opportunities across systems that serve traumatized youth.

Extent

163 pages

Local Identifiers

Gagliano_unco_0161D_10864.pdf

Rights Statement

Copyright is held by the author.

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