title: Stressful but rewarding: Norwegian personnel mobilised for the 2004 tsunami disaster.
abstract: Adequate responses to disasters and emergency situations rely, among other factors, on coping abilities in disaster workers and emergency personnel. In this study, different aspects of disaster-related stressors and training/experience were investigated in Norwegian personnel (n = 581) mobilised for the 2004 tsunami disaster. The level of stress reactions, measured nine to ten months after the tsunami, was relatively low in this sample, indicating that the personnel coped well with the challenges of the disaster. The level of intrusive memories was higher in disaster-area personnel (n = 335) than in home-base personnel (n = 246). Stress reactions were significantly associated with witnessing experiences (disaster-area group) and with having to reject victims in need of help (both groups). Specific preparation for the mission was associated with a lower level of stress reactions in disaster-area personnel. Such factors may be considered in training and preparation programmes for disaster workers.
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Centre for Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies, Oslo, Norway. siri.thoresen@nkvts.unirand.no
authors.forename: Siri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thoresen
authors.forename: Arnfinn
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tønnessen
authors.forename: Camilla Vibe
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Lindgaard
authors.forename: Anne Lie
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Andreassen
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Weisaeth
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007214:Indonesia; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D016272:Occupational Health; D012066:Relief Work; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055871:Tidal Waves