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Background/purpose: Traumatic events can have lasting mental health consequences for individuals. This impact goes beyond the individual who has experienced the traumatic event to include those family members or close friends who have learned about the traumatic event. This study aimed to explore relationships between secondary traumatic stress and various mental health outcomes among a nationally representative sample of New Zealand high school students.
Methods: This is a secondary data analysis study using the Youth 2012 National Youth and Wellbeing Survey conducted by the Adolescent Health Research Group of the University of Auckland. Measures include the WHO-5, RADS-2, and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Univariate, bivariate, and Ordinary Least Squares regression estimates were used to examine the relationship between traumatic events of close friends/family members and mental health.
Results: There were significant correlations (p<.01) between the predictor variable (trauma experienced by close friends/family members) and emotional wellbeing, depression, emotional problems, conduct problems, and hyperactivity. OLS regression model estimates further supported bivariate output.
Conclusions and Implications: The findings suggest that there is a relationship between trauma in close family/friends and mental health among youth sampled in this study. It is important to provide appropriate services for adolescents who may have been affected by trauma in their communities and to consider possible secondary trauma among distressed adolescents. Therapists working with youth who are experiencing emotional or behavioral symptoms should investigate the role secondary trauma might have in these symptoms.