OBJECTIVE: The concern that secondary gain may result in an overreporting of trauma symptoms in those seeking compensation or taking stress leave from work has raised questions about the relation between posttraumatic stress and disability. This study attempts to examines the relation between traumatic stress symptoms and the use of work leave in an anonymous sample of emergency-service workers who are not currently seeking compensation. METHOD: A total of 86 paramedics completed questionnaires that addressed exposure to traumatic events, use of mental health stress leave, social support, current level of distress, and personality patterns. Comparisons were made between groups who had used mental health stress (MHS) leave and those who had not. Logistic regression was used to determine the best predictors of using leaves. RESULTS: Current levels of social support were associated with previous use of mental health stress leave. In addition, significantly more individuals who had taken MHS leave in the past reported posttraumatic stress symptoms in the high or severe range. People with personality patterns characterized by suspiciousness, hostility, and isolation and having a tendency toward demanding, controlling, and manipulative behaviour in relationships were also more likely to have taken an MHS leave. CONCLUSION: Although social support and trauma symptoms were associated with the use of MHS leave, in this study, personality style was the strongest factor differentiating those individuals who took MHS leave from those who did not.
OBJECTIVE: The concern that secondary gain may result in an overreporting of trauma symptoms in those seeking compensation or taking stress leave from work has raised questions about the relation between posttraumatic stress and disability. This study attempts to examines the relation between traumatic stress symptoms and the use of work leave in an anonymous sample of emergency-service workers who are not currently seeking compensation. METHOD: A total of 86 paramedics completed questionnaires that addressed exposure to traumatic events, use of mental health stress leave, social support, current level of distress, and personality patterns. Comparisons were made between groups who had used mental health stress (MHS) leave and those who had not. Logistic regression was used to determine the best predictors of using leaves. RESULTS: Current levels of social support were associated with previous use of mental health stress leave. In addition, significantly more individuals who had taken MHS leave in the past reported posttraumatic stress symptoms in the high or severe range. People with personality patterns characterized by suspiciousness, hostility, and isolation and having a tendency toward demanding, controlling, and manipulative behaviour in relationships were also more likely to have taken an MHS leave. CONCLUSION: Although social support and trauma symptoms were associated with the use of MHS leave, in this study, personality style was the strongest factor differentiating those individuals who took MHS leave from those who did not.
Authors: Elizabeth A Donnelly; Paul Bradford; Matthew Davis; Cathie Hedges; Doug Socha; Peter Morassutti; Sathish Chandra Pichika Journal: J Am Coll Emerg Physicians Open Date: 2020-06-15
Authors: Justin Mausz; Elizabeth Anne Donnelly; Sandra Moll; Sheila Harms; Meghan McConnell Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-04-17 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: Eman Omar Khashaba; Mona Abdel Fattah El-Sherif; Adel Al-Wehedy Ibrahim; Mostafa Ahmed Neatmatallah Journal: Indian J Community Med Date: 2014-04