title: Posttraumatic stress symptoms in police staff 12-18 months after the Canterbury earthquakes.
abstract: Understanding posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in police first-responders is an underdeveloped field. Using a cross-sectional survey, this study investigated demographic and occupational characteristics, coping resources and processes, along with first-responder roles and consequences 18 months following a disaster. Hierarchical linear regression (N = 576) showed that greater symptom levels were significantly positively associated with negative emotional coping (β = .31), a communications role (β = .08) and distress following exposure to resource losses (β = .14), grotesque scenes (β = .21), personal harm (β = .14), and concern for significant others (β = .17). Optimism alone was negatively associated (β = -.15), with the overall model being a modest fit (adjusted R(2) = .39). The findings highlight variables for further study in police.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Lois J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Surgenor
authors.forename: Deborah L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Snell
authors.forename: Martin J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Dorahy
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004190:Disasters; D055866:Earthquakes; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000067656:Optimism / Q000523:psychology; D016495:Police / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000523:psychology