Psychological Preparedness for Secondary Traumatic Stress in Helping Professionals: A Scoping Review

Helping professionals exposed to secondary trauma are at risk of developing secondary traumatic stress (STS), which adversely affects individual well-being and quality of care. While interventions to reduce STS are well documented, less is known about psychologically preparing professionals in advance. This scoping review examined existing literature on psychological preparedness for secondary trauma (PPST) in helping professionals, focusing on (a) how PPST is conceptualised, (b) its contributors and associated outcomes, and (c) intervention strategies to develop it. A systematic search of CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Scopus was conducted for English, peer-reviewed papers published between 1990 and January 2025. Eligible studies focused on STS-related preparedness in helping professionals. Studies addressing direct trauma only, STS treatment, review articles, and animal or medical studies were excluded. Nineteen studies conducted across 11 countries between 2003 and 2024 met the inclusion criteria. The findings indicated that contemporary conceptualisations of PPST have drifted from an emphasis on predictability, controllability, and prior immunisation towards a mix of professional competence and personal coping. Where directly measured, preparedness appeared to function as a protective factor against STS, although the evidence remains small and methodologically modest. Training, social support, and organisational conditions were identified as contributors. Intervention research remains at an early stage and only partially aligns with these identified predictors. Ultimately, preparing helping professionals for secondary trauma is a shared responsibility across individuals and organisations. Conceptual consolidation and the development of validated measures must precede more systematic evaluation of preparedness interventions.