Carrying the Weight of Trauma Home: Secondary Traumatic Stress and Family Relationships among Probation Officers in Nairobi County, Kenya

Background: Probation officers are regularly exposed to traumatic narratives, violent cases, and distressed clients, placing them at risk of secondary traumatic stress (STS). Such occupational stress may extend beyond the workplace and affect communication, emotional availability, and role functioning within families. Aim: This study examined the relationship between secondary traumatic stress and family relationships among probation officers in Nairobi County, Kenya. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional design was employed among 108 probation officers across eight Probation and Aftercare Service stations in Nairobi County. Census sampling was used, and data were collected using a structured questionnaire incorporating the 17-item Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale and an adapted 33-item Family Assessment Device. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson product-moment correlation, and multiple regression analysis using SPSS. Results: Secondary traumatic stress was moderate overall (M = 3.19, SD = 0.98), while family relationships had an overall mean of 2.35 (SD = 0.95). STS demonstrated strong negative correlations with communication (r = −.834, p < .001), emotional availability (r = −.785, p < .001), and overall family relationships (r = −.849, p < .001), while its relationship with role functioning was moderate and negative (r = −.409, p < .001). Regression analysis showed that STS significantly predicted family relationships (B = −.429, p < .001), with the model explaining 72.5% of variance. Conclusion: Higher secondary traumatic stress was associated with poorer family relationship functioning among probation officers.

secondary traumatic stres s, family relationships, probation officers, occupational trauma, Kenya

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