Exploratory study on the role of trauma-informed self-care on child welfare workers' mental health

• Published in: Children and youth services review 2019-06, Vol.101, p.299-306
• Main Authors: Salloum, Alison, Choi, Mi Jin, Stover, Carla Smith
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activities of daily living; Attention; Burnout; Child welfare; Child welfare workers; Children; Health research; Mental health; Mental health functioning; Mental health services; Secondary traumatic stress; Self care; Social workers; Supervision; Trauma; Trauma-informed self-care; Traumatic stress; Vicarious trauma; Work life balance; Work-Leisure conflict; Workers
• ISSN: 0190-7409; 1873-7765
• DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2019.04.013

The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine the relationship of trauma-informed self-care (TISC) on burnout and secondary trauma and mental health functioning among child welfare workers. The sample consisted of 177 child welfare workers who completed surveys during staff meetings about TISC, burnout, secondary traumatic stress and mental health functioning. The TISC subscales (e.g., Organization Resources related to trainings on the effects of trauma, Organizational Practices related to supervision and support and Personal Self-Care activities that included personal self-care activities and attention to work-life balance) were used to examine the mediation effects of TISC on worker negative outcomes. Findings suggest that personal self-care activities mediated the relationships between burnout and secondary trauma and mental health functions. Organizational resources mediated the relationship between secondary trauma and mental health but not burnout. Self-care practices that include specific personal activities and attention to work-life balance are critical for workers' mental health. More research on the role of trauma-informed trainings and supervision and support to buffer negative outcomes among workers is needed. •Trauma-informed self-care (TISC) is important for workers' mental health.•Self-care explained the relationship between burnout and mental health functioning.•Self-care explained relationships among secondary traumatic stress (STS) and mental health functioning.•Trauma-informed training explained the relationship among STS and mental health functioning.