Indirect Trauma in the Field Practicum: Secondary Traumatic Stress, Vicarious Trauma, and Compassion Fatigue Among Social Work Students and Their Field Instructors

A sample of BSW students and their field instructors was assessed for the presence of indirect trauma, including secondary traumatic stress, vicarious trauma, and compassion fatigue. Results indicated that students were at greater risk of experiencing vicarious trauma than their field instructors and research participants in previous studies. Risk factors for students and social workers included age, experience, gender, and placement in a child welfare setting. Race was a risk factor only for students. The results underscore the protective effects of advance preparation, agency support, and agency supervision, but also suggest that specific education about indirect trauma is lacking. Also discussed are the links among indirect trauma, burnout, and students' career aspirations, as well as suggestions for future research.