Traumatology, Vol 31(4), Dec 2025, 471-480; doi:10.1037/trm0000632
The measurement of secondary traumatic stress has been explored through various instruments; consequently, its prevalence varies markedly across studies as well as the type of helping professionals. In the present study, the measurement of secondary traumatic stress is explored using a sample of marriage and family therapists. A sample of marriage and family therapists practicing in the United States and Canada (N = 202) completed an online survey using the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale (STSS) to assess their levels of secondary trauma. The participants also completed items added to the STSS to align the measure with the symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual–5. Findings indicated a unidimensional scale of the original 17-item scale was the best-fitting model for the present sample, χ²(119) = 251.21, root-mean-square error of approximation = .07, comparative fit index = .97, standardized root-mean-square residual = .05, with model fit for the unidimensional STSS-20 item scale with the additional three items added demonstrating appropriate and similar model fit, χ²(170) = 317.44, root-mean-square error of approximation = .07, comparative fit index = .97, standardized root-mean-square residual = .05. Implications for further measurement and conceptualization of secondary trauma are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)