Childs developmental stage (consideration of chronological age & emotional age).Mental & physical health of the child and his/her caregivers.poverty, homelessness, previous trauma, parental separation, or substance use) Number and types of co-occurring hardships (i.e.Type(s) of trauma the child is exposed to.What May Trigger a Secondary Traumatic Reaction?Īccording to an article in the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, factors that influence how a child will adjust to trauma include the following:
These things need not be happening to someone directly for them to begin having symptoms of anxiety, depression, lowered sense of self-efficacy, perceiving one’s self as a victim, or feeling fear and isolation. For example, a parent returning from deployment who lives with post-traumatic stress disorder and has regular nightmares that keep a child awake at night images of war played on the television living in a community where drug or gang violence threatens physical safety daily hearing detailed stories of abuse and suffering.
Learning that a traumatic event occurred to a close family member or friend.Possibility of family or community violence.Awareness of details regarding emotional, physical, or sexual abuse.Types of Events That May Cause Secondary Trauma in Children. Children who have been exposed to overwhelming, uncontrollable events, those that did not happen directly to them but leave them feeling unsafe, vulnerable and even helpless, may show signs of post-traumatic stress. There is another population at great risk for secondary trauma that may not be as easily recognized or understood. Typically, the first people to come to mind when thinking about risk for secondary trauma are members of the armed forces, first responders, and mental health professionals who either physically see or listen to firsthand accounts of traumatic events unfolding around them as part of their regular jobs. Secondary trauma, sometimes called vicarious trauma, is emotional duress experienced by someone as a result of prolonged exposure to the details of another person’s traumatic experience. What Is Secondary Trauma and What Do I Need to Know About It? These may be one-time events, also referred to as an acute trauma or chronic trauma, events that are repeated and last over a period of time. Trauma, as defined by Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, is a “disordered psychic or behavioral state resulting from severe mental or emotional stress or physical injury an emotional upset.” Accidents, natural disasters, loss of a loved one, physical, emotional or sexual abuse are just a few types of trauma that adults and children may experience. What Does Secondary Trauma Have to Do with Trauma from Kids Who Are Adopted or Fostered?
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