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 master’s-level business majors. Students completed a questionnaire that examined the extent of alcohol & drug abuse; physical, sexual, & emotional abuse; physical & mental illness; death; suicide; & other traumatic events, such as separation & divorce of parents, during childhood. Social work students reported a high frequency of family trauma in early life that was significantly greater than that of the business students. (31 refs)