Work outcomes in public safety personnel after potentially traumatic events: A systematic review

Abstract

BackgroundIt is well documented that public safety personnel are exposed to potentially traumatic events (PTEs) at elevated frequency and demonstrate higher prevalence of trauma‐related symptoms compared to the general population. Lesser studied to date are the organizational consequences of workplace PTE exposure and associated mental health outcomes such as acute/posttraumatic stress disorder (ASD/PTSD), depression, and anxiety.MethodsThe present review synthesizes international literature on work outcomes in public safety personnel (PSP) to explore whether and how PTE and trauma‐related symptoms relate to workplace outcomes. A total of N = 55 eligible articles examining PTE or trauma‐related symptoms in relation to work outcomes were systematically reviewed using best‐evidence narrative synthesis.ResultsThree primary work outcomes emerged across the literature: absenteeism, productivity/performance, and costs to organization. Across n = 21 studies of absenteeism, there was strong evidence that PTE or trauma‐related symptoms are associated with increased sickness absence. N = 27 studies on productivity/performance demonstrated overall strong evidence of negative impacts in the workplace. N = 7 studies on cost to organizations demonstrated weak evidence that PTE exposure or trauma‐related mental health outcomes are associated with increased cost to organization.ConclusionsBased on available evidence, the experience of workplace PTE or trauma‐related symptoms is associated with negative impact on PSP occupational functioning, though important potential confounds (e.g., organizational strain and individual risk factors) remain to be more extensively investigated.