Jodi M. Jacobson

The Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale (STSS): Confirmatory Factor Analyses with a National Sample of Mental Health Social Workers

SUMMARY The Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale (STSS; Bride, Robinson, Yegidis, & Figley, 2004) is an easy to administer 17-itemself-report measure of secondary trauma. Bride et al. (2004) reported a measure of three domains of traumatic stress specifically associated with secondary exposure to trauma: intrusion, avoidance, and arousal. The STSS was reported to have high levels of internal consistency reliability and indicated evidence of convergent, discriminant, and factorial validity. The purpose of this paper is to examine the reliability and validity of the STSS with a national, random sample of mental health social workers. To assess the fit of the data to the three-factor structure proposed by Bride et al., a confirmatory factor analysis was performed on data from 275 social workers who indicated exposure to client trauma. The model fit the data adequately although high factor intercorrelations strongly suggest a unidimensional scale. Subsequent confirmatory factor analysis of a unidimensional scale and a second order factor analysis yielded similar results. Findings indicate the need for further scale validation. Challenges remain for measuring and distinctly differentiating between secondary trauma symptoms of arousal, avoidance, and intrusion. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Prevalence of and Reactions to Fatal and Nonfatal Client Suicidal Behavior: A National Study of Mental Health Social Workers:

A majority of mental health social workers come in contact with suicidal clients during their career. As a result, social workers may experience high levels of stress that can ultimately impact their quality of and ability to practice. The present study examined the prevalence of fatal and nonfatal client suicidal behavior experienced by mental health social workers and examined their subsequent reactions. A random national sample of 697 mental health social workers from the NASW database was anonymously surveyed. Findings indicate that both fatal and nonfatal client suicidal behavior is not a rare occurrence for mental health social workers and that both types of behaviors relate to increased levels of subjective stress as measured by the Impact of Event Scale (IES);. Implications of these findings are discussed.

Compassion Fatigue, Compassion Satisfaction, and Burnout: Reactions Among Employee Assistance Professionals Providing Workplace Crisis Intervention and Disaster Management Services

Summary Over the past several decades the mental health field has become increasingly concerned about potential negative effects in professionals of providing crisis intervention and traumatic stress services to individuals and groups. The employee assistance (EA) field has not received adequate attention with regard to the study of these negative effects, such as compassion fatigue. This paper highlights results from a national research study of members of the Employee Assistance Professionals Association (EAPA) who were assessed for risk for compassion fatigue and burnout, as well as potential for compassion satisfaction. Additionally, coping methods for dealing with work-related stress resulting from the provision of workplace crisis intervention services were measured. Findings indicate that EA professionals who provide clinical services and/or crisis intervention services in the workplace are at low risk for burnout, moderate risk for compassion fatigue, and have high potential for compassion satisfaction. Implications for the EA field, in terms of training and practice, are discussed.

Randomized Trial of Suicide Gatekeeper Training for Social Work Students

Problem: Education and research on social work’s role in preventing client suicide is limited. Method: Seventy advanced master of social work students were randomly assigned to either the training group (Question, Persuade, and Referral suicide gatekeeper training) or the control group. Outcomes measured over time included suicide knowledge, attitudes toward suicide prevention, self-efficacy, and skills. Results and Conclusion: Interaction effects between group assignment and time suggest improvement among the intervention group with regard to knowledge, efficacy to perform the gatekeeper role, and skills. Both groups improved over time for reluctance to engage with clients at risk for suicide, referral, and gatekeeper behaviors. The intervention group reported improved knowledge of resources and perceived preparedness. No changes in attitudes were observed.

Preparing for the Inevitable: Training Social Workers to Cope with Client Suicide

ABSTRACT Little attention has been given to educating and training social work students and professionals about working with suicidal clients. This article summarizes the literature on client suicide and the professional social worker, as well as presents results from a mixed methods study, which utilized both qualitative and quantitative data collected from a national study on client suicide among social workers. The results indicate that 55% of social workers will experience at least one client suicide attempt and 31% will experience a client suicide completion during the course of their career. Additionally, less than 50% of the social workers surveyed received previous training or education about client suicide in their MSW programs. Suggestions from social workers for the content of training classes on client suicide are included. Implications for practice and research are also discussed.

Risk of compassion fatigue and burnout and potential for compassion satisfaction among employee assistance: professionals protecting the workforce

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) professionals provide a majority of the mental health services to adults within the workplace. With increased traumatic events at work, including workplace violenc...

Outcome Measurements of an Integrated Employee Assistance and Work-Life Program

This research study describes an innovative method for evaluating outcome measurements of an Employee Assistance and Work-Life program. Method: This research is unique due to the fact that “true” service outcomes, as defined by the employees who utilized services, were collected within a brief time period (3 to 6 months) after services were provided. The data for the study were collected through the telephonic interviews with employees covered by a major provider of EAP and Work-Life services. Results: Findings indicate that after services, stress levels decreased, attendance improved, work performance improved, and relationships with supervisors and coworkers improved. Additionally, significant correlations were found between various reported personal and work-related problems. Conclusion: This research represents the first empirical study of its kind in the Employee Assistance and Work-Life fields and provides a better understanding of how effective services are in helping employees resolve both personal and work-related problems.

Risk for Burnout and Compassion Fatigue and Potential for Compassion Satisfaction Among Clergy: Implications for Social Work and Religious Organizations

ABSTRACT This study explores the relationship of personal and organizational characteristics, along with symptoms of depression, and clergy compassion fatigue, burnout, and potential for compassion satisfaction. Ninety-five clergy from a cluster of Lutheran churches in the Mid-Atlantic United States completed anonymous surveys. Results suggested that clergy were at low risk for burnout and moderate risk for compassion fatigue and they had a moderate potential for compassion satisfaction. Results further revealed that years in service and reported depression significantly predicted burnout. The model did not predict risk for compassion fatigue. Similarities and differences between social workers and clergy are discussed, with recommendations for collaboration and support between the two professions.

Standards for the EAP Profession: Isn't It Time We All Start Speaking the Same Language?

Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) are expected to provide efficient and effective services to their customers. Practice standards, including evidence-based interventions and standardized outcomes, have not been established. This article reports findings from an online survey focused on EAP outcomes from 23 EAP owners, who cover 1,500 work organizations and more than 900,000 employees. Results suggest work-related stress and cost of health care are of paramount concern to EAPs and their customers, and standardized outcomes and reporting formulas would be welcomed. Implications for future research to advance the EAP field and better demonstrate value are discussed.

Reactions of Mental Health Social Workers following a Client Suicide Completion: A Qualitative Investigation

The impact of client suicidal behavior on mental health social workers is slowly receiving increased empirical attention. This qualitative study examined the impact of client suicide on social workers. Results indicate that social workers experience multiple personal and professional reactions immediately following a client suicide completion. Long-term effects, such as the continual experience of emotional reactions and permanent behavior changes, including changing practice strategies, are also reported. The results of this study have significant implications for the preparation of social workers and other mental health therapists for practice with suicidal clients.