Secondary Traumatic Stress in Interpreters for Refugees: Why Training and Supervision Matter

Interpreters who translate for refugees are regularly confronted with traumatic content. Listening regularly to and translating potentially traumatizing stories make interpreters vulnerable to secondary traumatization. The current study aimed to investigate secondary traumatic stress (STS) in interpreters working with refugees and to identify potential risk and protective factors. In this cross-sectional study, 64 interpreters from Austria, Germany, and Switzerland participated. STS, compassion satisfaction, burnout, and resilience were assessed using the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale, Professional Quality of Life Scale, and Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale. Sociodemographic data were collected (e.g., experiences with translation in psychotherapy, personal backgrounds of forced displacement, and personal experiences with psychotherapy as a client). Subgroup comparisons were conducted to identify risk factors for STS. A total of 43 participants (67%) showed at least mild STS. STS was significantly associated with burnout. Personal experiences of forced displacement, gender, and working context had no impact on STS. Interpreters with personal experiences of psychotherapy showed a higher level of STS as well as higher resilience than those without personal experiences of psychotherapy. Independent of personal experiences of forced displacement, gender, and working context, interpreters who work with refugees are at high risk of STS. Regular training and supervision for interpreters who work with refugees should thus be offered as standard practice.