Date of Award
1-1-2009
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Organizational Unit
College of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences
First Advisor
Stephen Shirk, Ph.D.
Second Advisor
Karen Mallah
Third Advisor
Arthur Jones
Fourth Advisor
Daniel McIntosh
Fifth Advisor
Maria Riva
Keywords
Qualitative, Trauma, Youth
Abstract
During adolescence, peers become increasingly important sources of social support for youth. In addition to discussing the trials and tribulations of daily life, it is possible that youth are having intimate conversations concerning their experiences of trauma. This study examined the types of traumatic experiences disclosed to youth by their friends, youth's experiences of supporting a friend following disclosure of trauma, youth's secondary traumatic stress (STS) reactions to their friends' disclosures, and potential risk factors for the development of STS. The validity of an adult measure of STS, the Secondary Trauma Scale, with an adolescent population was also explored. Utilizing qualitative and quantitative research methods, 60 youth (ages 11-16) participated in a semi-structured interview and completed questionnaires. Results suggest the preliminary validity of the Secondary Trauma Scale for use with adolescents. Additionally, increased levels of positive and negative affect were associated with increased levels of STS and general traumatic distress. Furthermore, females reported more general posttraumatic symptomatology than males, while youth indirectly exposed to a friend's interpersonal trauma reported more symptoms of STS compared to youth indirectly exposed to a friend's noninterpersonal trauma. Implications for the development of programs to educate youth about peer helping and self-care strategies are discussed.
Publication Statement
Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
Rights Holder
Lindsay E. Smart
Provenance
Received from ProQuest
File Format
application/pdf
Language
en
File Size
111 p.
Recommended Citation
Smart, Lindsay E., "The Provision of Social Support by Adolescent Youth and Their Subsequent Risk for Secondary Traumatic Stress Reactions" (2009). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 610.
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/610
Copyright date
2009
Discipline
Clinical psychology