Replication Data for: The Unseen Scars of Experiential Learning: Secondary Trauma in Political Science Internships

Public service internships are a staple in contemporary political science curricula. Research shows that internships produce better thinkers, employees, and citizens. Yet political science interns are on the front lines in observing the firsthand trauma, stress, and mental health challenges of many people seeking support and services from the government. In turn, students may internalize this stress and trauma, a phenomenon recognized as secondary traumatic stress (STS). This study addresses a significant gap in the discipline’s understanding of the frequency and severity of STS experienced by political science interns in their fieldwork. We rely on surveys and written assessments from students enrolled in internship courses at two public universities. We find that interns report increased exposure to STS at the end of the semester. Furthermore, STS vulnerability varies among interns, with higher incidence rates among those with a history of primary trauma, older students, and women. We outline coping strategies for students, propose adaptations to experiential learning to enhance support, and emphasize the need for further research on this issue.公共服务实习是当代政治学课程体系中的核心实践环节。已有研究表明，实习经历能够培养更具思辨能力的个体、更优秀的从业者与更具责任感的公民。然而，政治学专业实习生身处服务一线，能够亲眼目睹众多寻求政府支持与服务的群体所承受的创伤、压力及心理健康困境。相应地，实习生可能会将这些压力与创伤内化，这一现象被称为次级创伤应激（Secondary Traumatic Stress, STS）。本研究填补了该学科的一处显著认知空白：即针对政治学专业实习生在实地实习期间所经历的次级创伤应激的发生频率与严重程度的研究缺口。本研究依托两所公立高校修读实习课程的学生的问卷调查数据与书面评估结果展开分析，结果显示，学期末时实习生报告的次级创伤应激暴露水平显著提升。此外，实习生的次级创伤应激易感性存在显著个体差异：曾有原发性创伤史的学生、年长学生以及女性群体的次级创伤应激发生率更高。本研究为学生梳理了应对策略，提出优化体验式学习模式以强化支持的具体方案，并强调了针对该议题开展后续研究的必要性。