Abstract: Listening to the Workforce: Demographic Variation in Staff Experiences of Trauma-Informed Social Service Settings (Society for Social Work and Research 30th Annual Conference Anniversary)

Schedule:

Friday, January 16, 2026

Independence BR F, ML 4 (Marriott Marquis Washington DC)

* noted as presenting author

Jennifer Middleton, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY

Kathryn Tillett, MSSW, Doctoral Student, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY

Becky Antle, PhD, Professor, University Scholar, Director Center for Family and Community Well-Being, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY

Ashley Logsdon, PhD, Research Manager, Center for Family & Community Well-being, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY

Andreana Bridges, MSSW, Doctoral student, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY

Garrett Hardy, BA, Research Associate, University of Louisville, KY

Mackenzie Antle, Research Assistant, University of Louisville

Background and Purpose:
High turnover among social service providers impairs service delivery and imposes substantial organizational costs. Adverse workplace conditions contribute to secondary traumatic stress (STS), burnout, and intent to leave (ITL). Trauma-informed organizational approaches have been proposed to improve working conditions, yet little is known about how staff members with different social identities experience these environments. This study explores (1) how workforce members perceive trauma-informed practices and culture in their agencies; (2) their experiences of STS, burnout, and ITL; and (3) how these vary by age, gender identity, racial/ethnic identity, education, and job role.

Methods:
We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 371 employees across 11 U.S. child-serving agencies using the Trauma Resilient Communities Organizational Assessment Survey (TRC-OAS). Demographic data were collected on age, racial/ethnic identity, gender identity, education, and job role. The TRC-OAS assessed trauma-informed organizational readiness, clinical practices, physical and social environments, racial justice, and values such as nonviolence, shared decision-making, and growth. Additional measures included transformational leadership, STS, burnout, and ITL.

Descriptive statistics and mean item analyses were used to address research questions 1 and 2. To examine differences by identity (research question 3), we conducted one-way ANOVAs, MANOVAs, and post hoc tests. Where appropriate, univariate general linear models tested for interaction effects.

Results:
Overall, participants perceived their organizations as moderately trauma-informed. However, transformational leadership ratings were slightly lower. On average, STS, burnout, and ITL scores were low.

Significant differences emerged by age across multiple domains. Respondents aged 25–34 reported more negative perceptions of organizational climate, lower transformational leadership ratings, and higher levels of STS and burnout. Racial/ethnic identity, gender identity, education, and job role also influenced perceptions and outcomes. Non-Hispanic white staff reported lower organizational readiness and higher STS and burnout. Women reported higher STS, and leadership staff were less likely to intend to leave and more likely to endorse racial justice efforts. Participants with graduate degrees reported greater burnout and less use of trauma-informed practices. No interaction effects were statistically significant.

Conclusions and Implications:
Findings reveal that employee experiences in trauma-informed environments differ by demographic characteristics, especially age. Younger staff (ages 25–34) appear particularly vulnerable to stress and disengagement, signaling a need for targeted retention and wellness strategies. Organizations must move beyond one-size-fits-all approaches to trauma-informed care by accounting for intersectional differences in workforce experience. These results underscore the importance of disaggregating organizational assessment data to inform equitable and responsive workforce support.