ERIC Number: EJ1357671
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022-Aug
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1934-9491
EISSN: EISSN-1934-9556
Prevalence of Secondary Traumatic Stress among Direct Support Professionals in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Field
Boamah, Daniel A.; Barbee, Anita P.
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, v60 n4 p273-287 Aug 2022
Direct support professionals (DSPs) are deemed by existing literature as vital support to persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD). They may be exposed to the traumatic experiences of people with IDD with potential psychological implications. Secondary traumatic stress (STS) has been studied among related professionals across human services, but little is known among DSPs. The current study examines the prevalence of STS in a sample of DSPs. The results suggested that DSPs are exposed to traumatic experiences, and exposure to a greater number of traumatized clients is significantly correlated with symptoms of STS. At least 12.4% of DSPs in this sample met the diagnostic criteria for experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Also, results suggest STS differences in DSPs based on demographics.
Descriptors: Caregivers, Allied Health Personnel, Intellectual Disability, Developmental Disabilities, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Empathy, Emotional Response, Trauma
American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. P.O. Box 1897, Lawrence, KS 66044-1897. Tel: 785-843-1235; Fax: 785-843-1274; e-mail: AJMR@allenpress.com; Web site: https://meridian.allenpress.com/aaidd
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A