Abstract
United States Probation Officers (USPOs) are at risk of experiencing vicarious trauma as a result of indirect exposure to the graphic and distressing material of those they serve. Vicarious trauma is represented through cognitive and affective alterations in the helping professional's self-identity and worldview and can have a negative impact on the relationship with those they serve. Recent research has suggested that psychological flexibility may mitigate negative symptomology associated with trauma
exposure; however, no prior research had studied vicarious trauma among probation officers. The current study employed an explanatory correlational design to identify a potential relationship between vicarious trauma and psychological flexibility. Results indicated a significant negative correlation between the psychological flexibility of USPOs and their experienced level of vicarious trauma. Additionally, there was a significant negative correlation between vicarious trauma and the three subscales of psychological flexibility: openness to experience, behavioral avoidance, and values awareness. Findings showed no difference in levels of vicarious trauma among pretrial, presentence, and post sentence units, and no correlation between vicarious trauma and length of service. Further, probation officers, officer specialists, and supervising probation officers all experienced vicarious trauma at the same rates. The only difference in vicarious trauma levels was found between officer specialists and probation officer assistants. The insights gained from this study lead to the proposal of implementing ACT training, focused on increasing
psychological flexibility within the probation system.
Keywords: psychological flexibility, vicarious trauma, probation officers