title: Characteristics of the traumatic stressors experienced by rural first responders.
abstract: First responders routinely experience work-related events that meet the definition of a traumatic stressor. Despite the high exposure to traumatic events, prevalence rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are relatively low. This discrepancy points to the potential value of identifying factors that distinguish those traumatic stressors that produce ongoing traumatic stress symptoms from those that do not. The present study surveyed 181 first responders from rural settings. A repeated-measures design was used to compare characteristics of traumatic stressors that were or were not associated with ongoing PTSD symptoms. A factor analysis revealed that distressing events were characterized by chaos and resource limitations. Consistent with contemporary models, two mediational analyses revealed that each event characteristic predicted peritraumatic dissociation and posttraumatic cognitions, which in turn predicted PTSD symptoms. Moreover, the effect of each event characteristic on PTSD symptoms was partially mediated by these cognitive processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, 2136 West Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4.
authors.forename: Marci J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Regambal
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, 2136 West Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4. Electronic address: lalden@psych.ubc.ca.
authors.forename: Lynn E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Alden
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Northern British Columbia, 3333 University Way, Prince George, British Columbia, Canada V2N 4Z9.
authors.forename: Shannon L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Northern British Columbia, 3333 University Way, Prince George, British Columbia, Canada V2N 4Z9.
authors.forename: Henry G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Harder
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Detwiller Pavilion, 2255 Westbrook Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 2A1.
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, 2136 West Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4.
authors.forename: Klint
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fung
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, 2136 West Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4.
authors.forename: Carly
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Parsons
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001955:British Columbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D004213:Dissociative Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D060731:Emergency Responders / Q000523:psychology*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012423:Rural Health; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: First responders; Posttraumatic stress symptoms; Traumatic stressor