The Relationship Between Secondary Traumatic Stress and Social Problem-Solving Skills of School Counselors

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between school psychological counselors’ secondary traumatic stress and social problem-solving levels. The sample of this research was consisted of 268 school psychological counselors who were working affiliated to Turkey Ministry of National Education in Amasya, Istanbul and Samsun. Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale and Social Problem Solving Inventory were used as data collection tools in this study. As a result of the research, while there were significant positive correlations between participants’ the secondary traumatic stress levels and negative problem orientation, impulsive-careless style, avoidance style dimensions of the social problem solving, there were not significant correlations between positive problem orientation and rational problem-solving style of the social problem solving. Another finding of the study, as psychological counselors’ level of social problem solving increased, secondary traumatic stress levels were found to decreased. As psychological counselors’ levels of negative problem orientation, impulsive-careless style and avoidance styles were increased, secondary traumatic stress levels were found to increased. Finally, while negative problem orientation was found a positive predictor of the school counselors’ secondary traumatic stress levels, positive problem orientation, rational problem solving, impulsive-careless style and avoidant style were not significant predictor of the secondary traumatic stress.