An Exploration of Resilience among Social Work Students with Histories of Trauma
Abstract
This study explored the impact of trauma histories on the strength of resilience among a sample of social work students. All BSW and MSW students (n=192) at a midwestern university were included in the sample. A total of 140 students accessed the Qualtrics survey by links or a QR code with 101 students having histories of trauma. Data was gathered using the Adverse Childhood Experiences Assessment Tool, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale and piloted questions constructed by the researcher. This study revealed prominent histories of trauma and related challenges to the levels of resilience existing in these social work students. It is essential to create an educational environment where social work students can explore their histories and honestly assess the potential impact of those histories on practice and on the need for their own strengthened resilience.