What type of stress occurs as a result of observing someone else's traumatic experience?

Vicarious stress, also known as vicarious trauma or secondary trauma, occurs when an individual experiences emotional or psychological distress as a result of witnessing or hearing about someone else's traumatic experiences. This type of stress can significantly impact professionals in fields such as law enforcement, healthcare, and social work, where they are frequently exposed to the suffering of others.

When officers or professionals work with victims of trauma, they may empathize deeply with those individuals, leading to feelings of anguish, helplessness, or anxiety about similar events occurring in their own lives or to others they care about. This response can manifest in various ways, including emotional exhaustion, changes in mood, and stress-related symptoms.

In contrast, other types of stress listed, such as acute stress, refers to a short-term reaction to a specific event, cumulative stress accumulates over time from multiple stressors, and chronic stress results from ongoing stressors that are persistent and pervasive. Vicarious stress is unique because it specifically arises from the indirect experience of trauma, highlighting the emotional toll that working with trauma-affected individuals can have on those in supportive roles.