The impact of cohesive groups in the trauma recovery context: Police spouse survivors and duty‐related death

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of surviving spouse social interactions on psychological distress following the death of a police officer. It was hypothesized that satisfactory interactions within the police work group would lower distress, and unsatisfactory interactions outside the police environment (justice system, media, community persons) would increase distress. Results indicated that increased quality of interaction with police groups lowered psychological distress scores. Despite increased satisfaction with groups outside of policing, spouse's distress still increased, suggesting that satisfaction with and support by police groups appears to ameliorate distress more effectively than others. These findings suggest that police agencies and personnel may be helpful to surviving spouses after the death of an officer and should formulate policy to provide long term contact and assistance.

Experiences and perceptions of family members of emergency first responders with post-traumatic stress disorder: a qualitative systematic review

“…22 The identity of the member also translates to family members, the "serving family," who share the lifestyle and the anticipation or reality of sacrifices, possible injury, and intensive service periods during natural disasters or overseas conflicts. 22,23 An understanding of the impacts of PTSD on the families of service populations can provide important information on how to best support the needs of service members. It is important to understand similarities, but also the different cultural nuances, between EFR and military populations and their families to support the development of targeted clinical interventions.…”

“…There is limited but growing discourse about proposed mechanisms of transmission of trauma from one family member to another. 23 Where transmission is from parent to child, it is referred to as intergenerational transmission of trauma, and the phenomenon was originally identified in the children of Holocaust survivors. 25 The current research on mechanisms of transmission of trauma includes literature on the biological transmission to offspring studied through epigenetics, which examines genetic changes due to PTSD being passed on during conception, 26 through to vicarious, primary, and secondary traumatization.…”

“…23 Vicarious traumatization is defined as an individual's psychoemotional reactions due to exposure to others' traumatic experiences, for example, via verbal accounts or photographs. 23 Secondary (indirect) traumatization is where an individual is affected by another individual's PTSD symptoms and starts to experience their own symptoms, adopting a similar worldview and maladaptive behaviors. 23 Primary (direct) traumatization occurs when an individual may be directly traumatized by another's behaviors, for example, as a victim or witness of violence.…”

“…23 Secondary (indirect) traumatization is where an individual is affected by another individual's PTSD symptoms and starts to experience their own symptoms, adopting a similar worldview and maladaptive behaviors. 23 Primary (direct) traumatization occurs when an individual may be directly traumatized by another's behaviors, for example, as a victim or witness of violence. 23 If a child is experiencing traumatization, and exposure is prolonged, this can lead to complex or developmental trauma, especially if the trauma occurs at a vulnerable developmental age or by a primary attachment figure.…”

“…23 Primary (direct) traumatization occurs when an individual may be directly traumatized by another's behaviors, for example, as a victim or witness of violence. 23 If a child is experiencing traumatization, and exposure is prolonged, this can lead to complex or developmental trauma, especially if the trauma occurs at a vulnerable developmental age or by a primary attachment figure. 27,28 For children, in particular, these mechanisms of primary, secondary, and vicarious traumatization are often attributed to reduced parental capacity due to PTSD.…”