Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale

The STSS is a 17-item self-report scale measuring secondary traumatic stress (STS)—trauma-related symptoms experienced by professionals exposed to others' trauma through their work. Developed by Bride and colleagues in 2004, the STSS operationalizes the concept of secondary traumatic stress disorder, a recognized occupational health concern affecting mental health professionals, physicians, first responders, and others in trauma-exposed occupations. The scale is used for occupational health screening, research on clinician burnout, and organizational assessment of workplace trauma exposure.