Which term describes vicarious trauma from exposure to others’ trauma?

Which term describes vicarious trauma from exposure to others’ trauma?

• A. Compassion fatigue
• B. Secondary trauma
• C. Suicidal ideation
• D. Stigma

Answer: (B)

When you’re exposed to other people’s trauma through your work, the experience is described as secondary trauma. This term captures the trauma-like symptoms that can arise from hearing, witnessing, or processing others’ traumatic stories—things like intrusive thoughts, hyperarousal, or avoidance—even though you weren’t the one who was directly traumatized. Compassion fatigue is related and often used to describe general caregiver burnout from sustained stress, but it’s a broader idea not specifically about trauma-related symptoms. Suicidal ideation and stigma aren’t about the effects of exposure to others’ trauma. So the best fit for vicarious trauma from exposure to others’ trauma is secondary trauma.

When you’re exposed to other people’s trauma through your work, the experience is described as secondary trauma. This term captures the trauma-like symptoms that can arise from hearing, witnessing, or processing others’ traumatic stories—things like intrusive thoughts, hyperarousal, or avoidance—even though you weren’t the one who was directly traumatized. Compassion fatigue is related and often used to describe general caregiver burnout from sustained stress, but it’s a broader idea not specifically about trauma-related symptoms. Suicidal ideation and stigma aren’t about the effects of exposure to others’ trauma. So the best fit for vicarious trauma from exposure to others’ trauma is secondary trauma.