Gender differences in response to war stress in hospital personnel: Does profession matter? A preliminary study

Abstract

ISRAELABSTRACT -Background and Objectives: To study gender differences and the impact of trauma on hospital personnel during war. In addition, to test the relationship between gender and PTSD symptoms via mediation model.Methods: A random sample of physicians, nurses and administrative staff (n = 106) that were assessed for demographics, and PTSD symptoms a month after the war between Lebanon and Israel erupted.Results: Women had higher IES-R scores in comparison to men (25.27 vs. 16.18). Gender differences were reduced when accounted for profession. In each profession, no significant gender differences were found. The results of the mediation model showed significant mediation by profession and education.Conclusions: These results may suggest that gender differences in response to traumatic events may not be explained by exposure per se, but rather may result from various possible factors such as profession, education and control over the situation. The results warrant further longitudinal study.

PTSD, ASD, Secondary-Traumatization, and Death-Anxiety among Civilians and Professionals as Outcomes of On-Going Wars, Terror Attacks and Military Operations: An Integrative View

“…Several earlier studies conducted among nurses and other staff members in general hospitals, in Israel (Ben-Ezra, Palgi, & Essar, 2007;Essar, Ben-Ezra, Langer, & Palgi, 2008;Cohen, 2008), in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and in the US claimed that working with traumatized clients often increases the level of personal stress, which is manifested through symptoms of STSD, PTSD, and/or burnout (Chen, Chen, Tsai, & Lo, 2007;Hyman, 2001;Lind, 2000). Most of those studies concluded that the particular impact that long-term-caring for terror/war and/or trauma victims has on the individual is determined by numerous factors, including geographic location vis-à-vis the traumatic event, gender, age, cultural, mentality and participants' profession and seniority at work (Essar et al, 2008). For example, one study found higher levels of stress among the nursing profession in comparison to social workers (both professions are considered feminine professions in the country of study) (Dekel, Hantman, Ginzburg, & Solomon, 2006).…”

The Relationship between Internal and External Resources, Coping Strategies, Post-Traumatic Symptoms, and Death-Anxiety of Round-the-Clock Paid Philippine Immigrants and Local Workers Taking Care for the Elderly during and after the Gaza War

“…Ron's study (2015aRon's study ( , 2015b suggested some explanations for high levels of PTS that were fund among the Philippines workers. For example: most of those workers had never experienced events such as wars or military operations; the fact that their job demanded that they continue functioning in a routine fashion increased the sense of stress, both during the event and after-wards; studies have claimed that working with traumatized clients and the exposure to traumatic events often decreases personal stress levels, manifested by PTS symptoms (Dekel & Hobfoll, 2007;Essar et al, 2008;Ron & Shamai, 2013;Ron & Shamai, 2011;Arvay, 2001) or death anxiety. Among the local workers, it seems that the PTS symptoms levels were lower than those among the Philippine workers.…”

Changes in Post-Traumatic Symptom Pattern during and after Exposure to Extreme War Stress: An Uncontrolled, Preliminary Study Supporting the Dose-Response Model

“…The effects of prolonged stress during the war on hospital personnel were found to be substantial. [14][15][16] The objective of this study was to check the dose-response model during exposure to prolonged war stress where the external traumatic stressors changed in magnitude over time. The hypothesis is derived from the dose-response model for PTSD symptoms [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] that states that the more severe the external stressor, the more severe the exhibition of traumatic symptoms will be.…”

“…The hospital itself also was targeted by missile, and 40 missiles landed within hospital vicinity. [14][15][16] Sample Thirteen special army administrative staff (SAAS) members from the Rambam Medical Center in Haifa attended seven intervention meetings during the war. These intervention meetings were conducted in order to relieve stress from the soldiers.…”