Degree
Master of Arts
Program
Education
Supervisor
Dr. Susan Rodger
Abstract
This study investigated the role that cognitive deficits in emotional processing (i.e., alexithymia) play in the development of traumatic responses, such as secondary traumatic stress (STS), following work with clients who have experienced trauma. Using a prospective cohort of novice counselling psychology and pre-service education students, participants were measured for traits of alexithymia and STS before and after their first practicum placements. Elevated rates of STS consistent with a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder were identified in participants following initial practicum placement. Correlation analyses demonstrated that alexithymia and alexithymia symptom clusters were significantly, and robustly, associated with STS and STS symptom clusters. Finally, hierarchal multiple regression analysis found that scores of alexithymia, pre-trauma exposure, predicted a significant amount of the variance in post-trauma exposure STS. Implications for identification, prevention, treatment, and destigmatization of negative emotional responses to working with clients who have experienced trauma are discussed along with future directions of study.
Recommended Citation
Vandermeer, Matthew R. J., "Secondary Traumatic Stress and Alexithymia in High-Risk Professionals" (2014). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 1973.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/1973
Included in
Clinical Psychology Commons, Counseling Psychology Commons, Counselor Education Commons, Psychological Phenomena and Processes Commons