Examining School Psychologists’ Predictions of Trauma Symptom Identification Self-efficacy using Trauma-Informed Training, Years of Experience, and Provision of Therapy

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between school psychologists’ previous trauma-informed training, years of experience, and direct therapeutic interventions and examine which of these variables is the strongest predictor of trauma symptom identification self-efficacy. Participants were active school psychologists across the United States. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire, the Trauma Training Survey (TTS), a 13-item measure created to assess participants' beliefs that their previous trauma-informed training contained information to help them identify trauma symptoms., and the Trauma Symptom Identification Self-Efficacy Survey (TSISE). The Trauma Symptom Identification Self-Efficacy Scale (TSISE) is a 13-item measure created to assess school psychologists’ beliefs in their ability to identify trauma symptoms. Following data cleaning, a principal axis exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with Promax rotation was conducted to analyze the structure of TTS and TSISE. The finished solution for TTS resulted in a factor structure similar to the developed initial structure, comprised of two subscales that retained 11 of the 13 original items. The finished solution for TSISE did not need to be rotated and retained all original items. Cronbach's alphas were calculated for each subscale and TSISE to assess reliability. Scores for both subscales and TSISE had good internal consistency. Finally, multiple regression was conducted to determine the relationship and predictors between scores on the TTS, years of experience, direct therapeutic intervention and TSISE. There was a significant relationship between both TTS subscales and TSISE and direct therapeutic intervention and TSISE. However, there was no significant relationship between years of experience and TSISE. Results also revealed that the TTSRecognition subscale is the strongest predictor of TSISE and that three of the predictor variables significantly contribute to the overall TSISE model. These findings and implications are discussed in further chapters.

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