Resilience over Adversity: Predictors of Secondary Traumatic Stress in Graduate Social Work Students.

This article examines the prevalence and predictors of secondary traumatic stress (STS) among graduate social work students, focusing on the roles of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), adverse community environments, and childhood resilience. Using a national cross-sectional survey of 343 Master of Social Work (MSW) students, the study found that sexual and gender minority (SGM) students experienced more identity-based childhood discrimination and fewer resilience experiences than non-SGM peers, while participants of color reported more identity-based discrimination than White students. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that childhood resilience—measured by the Resilience Questionnaire and childhood counseling—was a stronger predictor of lower STS than childhood adversity, with childhood counseling notably reducing the odds of moderate to severe STS. The findings highlight the high prevalence of STS in social work students and underscore the importance of early interventions and trauma-informed, resilience-building supports tailored to this population.