Coping styles and dispositional optimism as predictors of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms intensity in paramedics

Kucmin, Tomasz; Kucmin, Adriana; Turska, Dorota; Turski, Andrzej; Nogalski, Adam

doi:10.12740/pp/68514

Cited by 32 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…It should be emphasised that most of the surveyed rescuers were aware of the available support and how to access to it, where such support serves as a PTSD preventative measure [22]. In Poland, the frequency of elevated PTSS symptoms in EMS employees appears to be relatively high; it was 19% in the present study, which is similar to other reports [25,26]. According to Wojciszke (2005), a high percentage of PTSD can be explained by a cultural propensity, namely the Polish "culture of complaining" [27].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Peritraumatic distress among emergency medical system employees: A proposed cut-off for the Peritraumatic Distress Inventory

Rybojad¹,

Aftyka²,

Milanowska³

2019

Ann Agric Environ Med.

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Introduction. Emergency medical system (EMS) workers are exposed to traumatic events that may lead to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Objectives. The purpose of this study was to explore and discuss the relationship between peritraumatic distress (PD) and elevated posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in EMS employees. Material and methods. A cross-sectional study including 100 EMS employees was conducted. Demographic and occupational data were collected for each subject. The Polish version of the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) was used to evaluate PTSS and the Polish version of the Peritraumatic Distress Inventory (PDI) was used to determine the level of PD experienced during and immediately after a traumatic event. Results. The highest scores indicative of distress were obtained on the negative emotions subscale, and the lowest on the loss of control and arousal (LCA) subscales. A strong positive correlation was found between the severity of PD and PTSS. Among the PDI subscales, the severity of PTSS was most strongly correlated with LCA, and had the weakest correlation with sense of threat. The optimal PDI cutoff score for predicting elevated PTSS was 19. Conclusions. PD is strongly related to elevated PTSS and serves as a useful tool for screening EMS workers at risk of developing PTSD. Individuals with PDI scores of 19 or higher are good candidates for specialist consultations aimed at detecting and treating elevated PTSS.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Peritraumatic distress among emergency medical system employees: A proposed cut-off for the Peritraumatic Distress Inventory

Rybojad¹,

Aftyka²,

Milanowska³

2019

Ann Agric Environ Med.

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“…Rodríguez-Rey et al [72] revealed that among medical staff working in a pediatric emergency department, approximately 30% of the variance in PTSD was explained by the frequent use of emotion-focused coping strategies and the infrequent use of problem-focused ones. Furthermore, another study [73] showed that in 440 paramedics, the risk of developing PTSD symptoms was predictable given the use of emotion-focused coping strategies.…”

Section: The Role Of Coping Strategiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hardiness and Coping Strategies as Mediators of Stress and Secondary Trauma in Emergency Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic

et al. 2020

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The work environment of emergency workers is an important factor related to stress. Coping with the COVID-19 emergency is a factor that is highly related to stress, and severe stress is a risk factor for developing secondary trauma. Coping and resilience can help rescue workers to better respond in emergency situations and could protect them from secondary trauma. We aimed to explore the relationship of emergency stress, hardiness, coping strategies, and secondary trauma among emergency workers and the mediating roles of coping strategies and hardiness on the effect of stress in producing secondary trauma. The study involved 513 emergency workers from the Red Cross Committee in Veneto, one of the Italian regions most affected by the COVID-19. Participants completed questionnaires online to measure emergency stress (physical, emotional, cognitive, organizational‒relational, COVID-19, and inefficacy decisional), hardiness, coping strategies, and secondary trauma. Other variables analyzed were age, gender, weekly hours of service, and use of personal protective equipment (PPE). We performed t-tests, a correlational analysis, regressions, and a mediation analysis. Hardiness and coping strategies, in particular, which stop unpleasant emotions and thoughts and problem-focused, emerged as mediators in reducing the predicted effect of stress on secondary trauma. The mediating effects of hardiness and coping strategies were found to reduce the effect of stress on arousal by 15% and the effect on avoidance by 25%.

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“… Rodríguez-Rey et al (2019) revealed that among health workers working in a pediatric emergency department, approximately 30% of the variance in PTSD was explained by the frequent use of coping strategies focused on emotions and the infrequent use of those focused on the problem. In addition, Kucmin et al (2018) , who considered a sample of 440 paramedics, highlighted that the risk of developing PTSD symptoms was predicted by the use of coping strategies focused on emotions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coping With COVID-19: Emergency Stress, Secondary Trauma and Self-Efficacy in Healthcare and Emergency Workers in Italy

et al. 2020

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Coping with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a significant risk factor for the psychological distress of health workers. Hence, this study explores the relationship between coping strategies used by healthcare and emergency workers in Italy to manage the stress factors related to the COVID-19 emergency, which may result in the risk of developing secondary trauma. We study differences between healthcare (n = 121) and emergency workers (n = 89) in terms of their coping strategies, emergency stress, and secondary trauma, as well as the relationships of these differences to demographic variables and other stress factors (Instructions and Equipment). For this purpose, we collected data from participants through the following questionnaires online: Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale-Italian Version, The Coping Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form, an original questionnaire on stressors, and the Emergency Stress Questionnaire (to assess organizational-relational, physical, decisional inefficacy, emotional, cognitive, and COVID-19 stress). We performed a t-test, correlational analysis, and hierarchical regression. The analyses reveal that compared with the emergency worker group, the health worker group has greater levels of emergency stress and arousal and is more willing to use problem-focused coping. Healthcare workers involved in the treatment of COVID-19 are exposed to a large degree of stress and could experience secondary trauma; hence, it is essential to plan prevention strategies for future pandemic situations. Moreover, individual efficacy in stopping negative emotions and thoughts could be a protective strategy against stress and secondary trauma.

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Coping styles and dispositional optimism as predictors of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms intensity in paramedics

Abstract: Paramedics are more prone to develop PTSD symptoms than general population. This indicates the need for preventive steps to be taken in the professional group of paramedics taking into consideration their coping styles and level of dispositional optimism.

Cited by 32 publications

References 25 publications

Peritraumatic distress among emergency medical system employees: A proposed cut-off for the Peritraumatic Distress Inventory

Peritraumatic distress among emergency medical system employees: A proposed cut-off for the Peritraumatic Distress Inventory

Hardiness and Coping Strategies as Mediators of Stress and Secondary Trauma in Emergency Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Coping With COVID-19: Emergency Stress, Secondary Trauma and Self-Efficacy in Healthcare and Emergency Workers in Italy

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