Understanding the landscape of secondary trauma and archive in Malta

Abstract

This thesis explores Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS) among archivists and archival users in Malta who engage with traumatic collections documenting violence, abuse, and displacement. While STS is recognised in professions such as healthcare and social work, it remains largely unexamined in archival contexts, especially locally. Through interviews and qualitative analysis, the study finds that traumatic collections can trigger emotional and psychological responses consistent with STS, including empathic distress and emotional exhaustion. Although participants were unfamiliar with the concept, their experiences reflected its defining features. Coping strategies were improvised and individual, underscoring the lack of institutional policies, structured support, or trauma informed practices. The research identifies a gap between lived experiences and professional recognition, and recommends measures such as content warnings, mental health resources, and trauma-awareness training. By situating Malta within international discourse, this study highlights archives as affective spaces requiring both ethical responsibility and protective practices.