title: Factors influencing post-traumatic stress in Korean forensic science investigators.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to understand factors that influence post-traumatic stress (PTS) in Korean forensic science investigators.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 111 forensic science investigators were recruited in Korea. PTS was measured using the tool modified by Choi (2001) from the original developed by Foa, Riggs, Dancu, and Rothbaum (1993) based on DSM-IV. Factors influencing PTS included demographic and job-related characteristics, emotional intelligence, and death anxiety.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PTS scores were positively correlated with personality type, fatigue from work, and death anxiety. PTS scores were negatively correlated with length of career as a forensic science investigator and emotional intelligence. The factors that had the greatest influence on PTS were death anxiety, years spent as a forensic science investigator, personality type, emotional intelligence, fatigue, and homicide experience. The explanatory power of these six factors was 44.0%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Therefore, it is necessary to regularly evaluate the mental health of those who are vulnerable to PTS. Based on these results, various interventions could be implemented for promoting overall health of the forensic science investigators.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, The Catholic University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Yang-Sook
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Jeju National University, Jeju, South Korea. Electronic address: ohcho@jejunu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Ok-Hee
authors.initials: OH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Daegu Haany University, Daegu, South Korea.
authors.forename: Kyeong-Sook
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Jeju National University, Jeju, South Korea.
authors.forename: Yun-Jeong
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Boo
keywords: attitude to death; forensic sciences; post-traumatic stress disorders