Personal History of Psychosocial Trauma in the Early Life of Social Work and Business Students

The incidence of psychosocial trauma in the families of origin of master’s-level social work students was compared with that of their counterparts in a nonhelping profession (master’s-level business majors). Students at one private college in northeastern Pennsylvania completed a questionnaire that sought to examine the extent of alcohol and drug abuse; physical, sexual, and emotional abuse; physical and mental illness; death; suicide; and other traumatic events, such as separation and divorce of parents, during childhood. Demographic data also were obtained. Social work students reported a high frequency of family trauma in early life that was significantly greater than that of the business students. These findings have implications for effective social work practice, social work education, and professional responsibility.