Crimes Against Caring: Exploring the Risk of Secondary Traumatic Stress, Burnout, and Compassion Satisfaction Among Child Exploitation Investigators
Date
2017
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Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology
Abstract
Secondary traumatic stress (STS) and burnout are
debilitating occupational hazards that inhibit helping professional’s overall well-being. Much of the extant scholarship on
this topic has focused on mental health and child welfare
workers and not law enforcement officials who investigate
Internet child exploitation. This study used data from 433
Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force personnel to explore the impact of individual and work-related factors associated with the risk of STS, burnout, and compassion
satisfaction. Findings indicated that nearly one in four ICAC
personnel exhibited low compassion satisfaction and high
levels of STS and burnout. Individual-level protective factors
for increasing compassion satisfaction and mitigating symptoms of STS and burnout included having a strong social
support system outside of work and the frequent use of positive coping mechanisms. Work-related risk factors such as
frequent indirect exposure to disturbing materials, low organizational support, and frequently feeling overwhelmed at
work were all associated with higher STS and burnout and
lower levels of compassion satisfaction. Policy implications
and future avenues of research are discussed.
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Keywords
secondary traumatic stress, research, support, policy, exploitation, criminal investigation
Citation
Brady, P. Q. (2017). Crimes against caring: Exploring the risk of secondary traumatic stress, burnout, and compassion satisfaction among child exploitation investigators. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, 32(4), 305-318.