Citation

McCarthy K. J. Am. Coll. Health 2019; ePub(ePub): 1-5.

Affiliation

Indiana University School of Social Work , Indianapolis , IN , USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/07448481.2019.1590374

PMID

30908135

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether or not encountering students struggling with nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) put resident assistants (RAs) at greater risk of burnout or secondary traumatic stress. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred and fifty-five RAs at three Midwest public university campuses between March and April 2016.

METHODS: RAs participated in an anonymous online survey that collected demographics, information on RAs' experiences and thoughts related to their work, RAs' exposure to NSSI struggle of a resident, and measurements of compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress.

RESULTS: RAs who encountered resident NSSI demonstrated significantly higher levels of burnout and secondary traumatic stress than RAs who did not encounter resident NSSI.

CONCLUSION: College students struggle with NSSI can significantly affect the people around them. Residence life administration and college counseling centers should provide training, support, and supervision to RAs in a way that addresses and reduces the RAs' potential distress.

Language: en

Keywords

College counseling; community health; mental health