title: Psychological Inflexibility and Psychopathology in 9-1-1 Telecommunicators.
abstract: Mental health in 9-1-1 telecommunicators has been understudied in comparison to other emergency responders. This study enrolled a sample of telecommunicators from across the United States (N = 808). As measured by self-report, the prevalence of current probable posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was 17.6% to 24.6%; it was 23.9% for probable major depression. Structural equation modeling revealed a significant direct effect of psychological inflexibility on psychopathology (path coefficient = .32) when considered among duty-related distress and dissociation, neuroticism, anger, and emotion dysregulation. The results provided further evidence of the adverse psychological effects of duty-related trauma exposure, including exposure that is vicarious in nature. The results indicate a need for prevention and intervention in this population, with psychological inflexibility as a potential target in these efforts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: Michelle M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Lilly
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: Christy E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Allen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D000786:Anger; D001008:Anxiety Disorders; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D004630:Emergencies; D060731:Emergency Responders / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D000075384:Neuroticism; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D010551:Personality; D015995:Prevalence; D011599:Psychopathology; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013685:Telecommunications; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult