Research topic: The Effects of Vicarious Trauma on Social Workers

Abstract

Vicarious trauma, also known as secondary trauma, is an emotional residue experienced by caregivers who work closely with trauma victims such as accident survivors, among others. Therefore, these groups of people, particularly counselors and social workers, also experience trauma due to the nature of their work. Some of the signs of this condition include difficulty in sleeping, dreaming about the client’s experiences, anger, or irritation, to name just a few. Vicarious trauma has the following effects on social workers; avoidance of job responsibilities, decreased productivity, poor communications, poor relationships, among others that will be explored in this project. It is crucial to understand the effects of vicarious trauma on social workers so that necessary interventions are adopted to prevent the adverse effects of the condition.

Statement of the problem

Most scholars have attempted to study the effects of vicarious trauma on social workers. However, very few scholars have researched the intervention strategies that can be adopted to help social workers manage the condition. Therefore, this presents a research gap that this group project aims to address.

Research questions

• What are the signs of vicarious trauma on social workers?
• What are the effects of vicarious trauma on social workers?
• How can social workers manage vicarious trauma?

Research objectives

• To understand the signs of vicarious trauma on social workers
• To assess the effects of vicarious trauma on social workers
• To recommend intervention strategies for the management of vicarious trauma