The perceived burden of working with traumatized youth: construction and psychometric investigation of the Trauma Professionals’ Burden Scale (TPBS)

<b>Background:</b> It is assumed that providing trauma-informed care for children and adolescents is a major challenge for professionals in child and youth welfare, psychiatric clinics and psychotherapy practices, yet studies are scarce. This is partly due to the fact that valid instruments that capture the specific stress caused by working with traumatized youths are missing. Our study aims to present the construction and results of the psychometric investigation of a scale that addresses the concerns, strains and needs of professionals, the Trauma Professionals’ Burden Scale (TPBS). <b>Methods:</b> In our cross-sectional survey with youth psychotherapists, welfare professionals and psychiatric care staff (<i>N</i> = 834), the psychometric properties of the TPBS were examined using standard item and reliability analyses, exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Convergent validity was assessed by testing the hypothesis that two TPBS subscales show high positive correlations with two established scales. <b>Results:</b> After deletion of eleven items, the remaining items of the TPBS show good discriminatory power, allowing to discriminate between participants with high or low scores, and high factor loadings. CFA results indicate fair model fit (RMSEA = .081, CFI = .81). Internal consistencies of the subscales range from <i>ω</i> = .76 to <i>ω</i> = .89. The expected correlations with the established scales are confirmed. A six-item short scale was created, showing excellent model fit (RMSEA = .047, CFI = .99) and good internal consistency (<i>ω</i> = .88). <b>Conclusions:</b> Although further validating research is required, the present study supports the psychometric validity of the TPBS enabling to assess professionals’ stress associated with providing trauma-informed care for youth. We present a scale that captures specific concerns, strains and consequences of stress as well as structural needs of professionals working with traumatized youth is presented, the Trauma Professionals’ Burden Scale (TPBS).A pragmatic short scale, the Professionals’ Burden Short Scale (PBSS), allows the assessment of professionals’ stress levels with six items.The results of our cross-sectional survey with professionals of mental health and youth welfare care confirm good psychometric properties. We present a scale that captures specific concerns, strains and consequences of stress as well as structural needs of professionals working with traumatized youth is presented, the Trauma Professionals’ Burden Scale (TPBS). A pragmatic short scale, the Professionals’ Burden Short Scale (PBSS), allows the assessment of professionals’ stress levels with six items. The results of our cross-sectional survey with professionals of mental health and youth welfare care confirm good psychometric properties.