Secondary Traumatic Stress and Burnout Among Child Welfare Social Workers in Southern China: Focusing on Resilience and Social Support

ABSTRACT This study aimed to examine factors associated with secondary traumatic stress (STS) and burnout and test the direct effect of resilience and the indirect effect of resilience via social support on STS and burnout among child welfare social workers in Southern China. Results indicated that higher levels of resilience and social support were significantly associated with lower odds of STS and burnout, and there was a significant indirect effect of resilience via social support on STS and burnout. Results imply that it is critical to facilitate positive effects of resilience on decreasing STS and burnout via providing social support. Practice points Resilience has a direct effect on decreasing secondary traumatic stress (STS) and burnout among child welfare social workers in China. The indirect effect of resilience on STS and burnout is via social support. It is critical to facilitate the positive effect of resilience on decreasing STS and burnout via providing adequate social support to child welfare social workers.