Mental health and law enforcement professionals: Trauma history, psychological symptoms, and impact of providing services to child sexual abuse survivors

Date

1994

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Professional psychology: Research and practice

Abstract

A survey of 558 mental health and law enforcement professionals assessed current and past trauma experiences, exposure to traumatic client material, and the sequelae of both of those types of personal and professional trauma experiences. Results indicated that 29.8% of therapists and 19.6% of officers reported experiencing some form of childhood trauma. The 2 groups differed in their reports of psychological symptoms, trauma-specific symptoms, and work-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. There was some evidence that professionals with a history of child abuse reported significantly higher levels of symptoms that have been associated with trauma survivors in past research. However, more proximal variables seem to have greater relevance to current functioning. The implications for training and prevention of secondary traumatization are discussed. (Author Abstract)

Description

Keywords

child abuse, vicarious trauma, secondary traumatic stress, research

Citation

Follette, V. M., Polusny, M. M., & Milbeck, K. (1994). Mental health and law enforcement professionals: Trauma history, psychological symptoms, and impact of providing services to child sexual abuse survivors. Professional psychology: Research and practice, 25(3), 275.

DOI