title: Police officers' experiences of supportive and unsupportive social interactions following traumatic incidents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Police officers are routinely exposed to potentially traumatic incidents yet the majority do not develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Social support has been identified as one factor that may maintain wellbeing in this population, although what constitutes supportive or unsupportive interactions is unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore police officers' experiences of supportive and unsupportive interactions following distressing incidents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 police officers. Transcripts were analysed using Braun and Clarke's (2006) thematic analysis approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants described a range of supportive interactions with colleagues, friends, and family, as well as social constraints that hindered interactions. Ambivalence about talking about the impact of distressing events was striking throughout the accounts. The context and source of available support, as well as beliefs about talking, influenced their interactions. Humour was a central feature of interactions with colleagues; more emotional talk occurred with partners and close family, albeit with officers limiting details in order to protect others.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings provide tentative insights into the processes of social support that may contribute to the resilience of police officers following traumatic incidents. Further research is needed to examine whether the experiences of supportive and unsupportive interactions differ for those with and without PTSD.
authors.affiliation: Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pistrang
authors.forename: Jo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Billings
keywords: Post-traumatic stress disorder; coping; emergency services; partners; peers; qualitative interviews; relationships; social constraints; social interactions