Law Enforcement Officers’ Experiences with Secondary Traumatic Stress and Coping While Working with Child Molesters

This study was focused on law enforcement officers’ experiences with secondary traumatic stress and coping while working with child molesters. Lazarus and Folkman’s cognitive model of stress and coping were used to examine how law enforcement officers manage stress, focusing on their cognitive processes and thought patterns. Using a basic qualitative approach, eight law enforcement officers who work with child molesters in the state of South Carolina were interviewed to hear their personal experiences. Interviews were semi-structured interview questions via a video-conferencing platform. The data were analyzed and coded using Braun and Clarke’s six-step thematic analysis. The study’s findings confirmed that police officers’ experiences with secondary traumatic stress and coping while working with child molesters had emotional effects on law enforcement officers. Three main themes emerged from the interviews: secondary traumatic stress, coping mechanisms (positive/negative), and emotional turmoil. One subtheme was: avoidance/suppression. Social change can be encouraged through the findings by raising awareness and emphasizing officer wellness, mental health support, and de-stigmatizing conversations about mental health in law enforcement.