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 mast er's-level social work students was compared with that of their counte rparts in a nonhelping profession (master's-level business majors). St udents at one private college in northeastern Pennsylvania completed a questionnaire that sought to examine the extent of alcohol and drug a buse; physical, sexual, and emotional abuse; physical and mental illne ss; death; suicide; and other traumatic events, such as separation and divorce of parents, during childhood. Demographic data also were obta ined. 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 implication for effective social work p ractice, social work education, and professional responsibiltiy.