Which of the following is an example of secondary traumatic stress?

• A. A student feels stressed before taking a final exam.
• B. A firefighter is physically injured while rescuing someone from a burning building.
• C. A person develops post-traumatic stress disorder after surviving a natural disaster.
• D. A therapist experiences anxiety and nightmares after repeatedly hearing clients describe their traumatic experiences.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of secondary traumatic stress (STS), which occurs when an individual experiences trauma symptoms indirectly by being exposed to others' traumatic experiences, rather than experiencing the trauma firsthand.
2. Review each option to identify whether the stress or trauma is a direct result of personal experience or indirect exposure through others.
3. Recognize that a student feeling stressed before an exam is a common stress reaction, not related to trauma exposure.
4. Note that a firefighter being physically injured or a person developing PTSD after surviving a disaster are examples of primary trauma, as they directly experienced the traumatic event.
5. Identify that a therapist experiencing anxiety and nightmares after hearing clients' traumatic stories exemplifies secondary traumatic stress, as the trauma symptoms arise from indirect exposure.