The Invisible Face of Social Work Field Education: Secondary Traumatic Stress Experiences of BSW Students

Abstract

Abstract This study aims to examine the experiences of secondary traumatic stress of Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) students’ field education process in Turkey. In the scope of the research, nineteen BSW students, eleven of whom were female and eight of whom were male, who performed field education were interviewed. A semi-structured interview form consisting of twenty-three questions was used to collect the data. The obtained data were analysed using the descriptive analysis approach of qualitative research. The findings express the different experiences of BSW students in challenging cases encountered during the field education process and effects of challenging cases after field education and coping. Based on the research findings, it was concluded that BSW students are at risk of experiencing secondary traumatic stress throughout the entire field education process, and some recommendations were developed in this regard.