Book Description

The purpose of the current study is to explore secondary traumatic stress as it pertains to child welfare supervisors. Previous studies have found that child welfare workers suffer from high levels of secondary traumatic stress that negatively impacts their quality of life (Adams, Boscarino & Figley 2006; Bride, 2007; Conrad & Kellar-Gunther, 2006; Cornille & Meyers 1999; Van Hook & Rothenburg 2009), and additional studies have shown that supportive supervision acts as a protective factor for those at risk for developing secondary traumatic stress (Anderson, 2000; Badger et al., 2008; Dekel & Nuttman-Shwartz, 2009; DePanfilis and Zlotnik, 2008; Dickason and Perry, 2002; Finklestein, Boyas, & Wind, 2010; He, Phillips, Lizano, Rienks, & Leake, 2018; McDaniel & Slack, 2005; Slattery & Goodman, 2009; Stein, Greene, Bronstein, & Solomon, 2015; Strand & Dore, 2009). However, there is little research focused on how child welfare supervisors are affected by secondary trauma, and how that trauma impacts their quality of life and subsequently, their ability to provide supportive supervision to the child welfare workers they supervise. It is hypothesized that child welfare supervisors also suffer from traumatic stress, which has a negative impact on their quality of life. A quantitative research approach utilizing electronic surveys was employed to explore this phenomenon. The surveys were sent to supervisors in four different regional offices in the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. Participation was voluntary and anonymous. Two scales were utilized to collect and analyze data; the Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) developed by Beth Hudnall Stamm (2005), and the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale (STSS), developed by Bride, Robinson, Yegidis & Figley (2004). Three additional qualitative short answer sections were included. The study found that secondary traumatic stress negatively impacts the personal and professional quality of life of a great number of supervisors. Further, a significant relationship was found in regard to Secondary Traumatic Stress and Compassion Satisfaction. As levels of Secondary Traumatic Stress increased, levels of Compassion Satisfaction decreased. These findings were consistent, and not affected by the number of years on the job, number of years as a supervisor, or education level.