Secondary Traumatic Stress Among Teachers: The Impact of Race and Years of Teaching Experiences

Abstract

Secondary traumatic stress (STS) can impact teachers who are supporting students exposed to trauma. STS is associated with teacher burnout, but little research is available about certain demographic factors among teachers that can make some more susceptible than others, such as race and years of teaching. The purpose of this study was to examine racial differences and years of teaching among educators working in a majority Black student school system. Findings suggested there was no relationship between years of teaching and STS. However, the results indicated that White teachers reported higher levels of STS than reports by Black teachers