Posttraumatic stress symptoms in police staff 12-18 months after the Canterbury Earthquakes.

Type of content
Journal Article
Publisher's DOI/URI
Thesis discipline
Degree name
Publisher
University of Canterbury. Psychology
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Language
Date
2015
Authors
Surgenor, L.J.
Snell, D.L.
Dorahy, M.J.
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 R2 = .39). The findings highlight variables for further study in police.

Description
Citation
Surgenor, L.J., Snell, D.L., Dorahy, M.J. (2015) Posttraumatic stress symptoms in police staff 12-18 months after the Canterbury Earthquakes.. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 28(2), pp. 162-166.
Keywords
Ngā upoko tukutuku/Māori subject headings
ANZSRC fields of research
Fields of Research::44 - Human society::4402 - Criminology::440211 - Police administration, procedures and practice
Field of Research::17 - Psychology and Cognitive Sciences::1701 - Psychology::170107 - Industrial and Organisational Psychology
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