Silent Struggles: Navigating Secondary Traumatic Stress in Dutch Practitioners Working With Individuals Who Have Committed Sexual Violence

BACKGROUND: Exposure to stories of sexual violence can lead to secondary traumatic stress (STS) or the occurrence of posttraumatic stress symptoms in forensic nurses and other professionals. AIMS: To investigate the prevalence of STS among Dutch nurses and other professionals involved in the treatment of individuals convicted of sex offenses, and the predictive impact of coping styles and social support on STS levels. METHOD: Using a cross-sectional survey design, we collected data from 37 nurses and 66 other practitioners. RESULTS: Our findings indicate a low prevalence of STS symptoms among the participants. Avoidant and active coping were associated with STS, but social support was not. CONCLUSION: The relationship between social support and STS may be more complex than previously thought and warrants further research. Targeted interventions are needed to support the development of effective coping mechanisms that have the potential to mitigate the impact of STS.