Aleksandra Jasielska1, Michał Ziarko2. 1. Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu / Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland (Instytut Psychologii, Zakład Psychologii Ogólnej / Institute of Psychology, Department of General Psychology). aleksandra.jasielska@amu.edu.pl. 2. Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu / Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland (Instytut Psychologii, Zakład Psychologii Zdrowia i Psychologii Klinicznej / Institute of Psychology, Department of Health Psychology and Clinical Psychology). ziarko@amu.edu.pl.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Due to the nature of their work, paramedics face an increased risk of developing a post-traumatic stress disorder. The main goal of this research project was to point out specific correlates of post-traumatic stress. The authors decided to approach that issue from the perspective of emotional-cognitive deficits and resources, such as alexithymia, rumination and coping with stress. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The authors conducted 3 independent research projects in the first half of the year 2017 in the Wielkopolskie voivodship, that included paramedics. In each one of them, they estimated post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms using <i>The Impact of Event Scale-Revised</i> (IES-R). Additionally, in the first study the authors used alexthymia scale, Polish verion of <i>Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20</i> (TAS-20), in the second - rumination questionnaire, in the third - coping with stress measured with<i> Inventory for Measuring Coping with Stress Mini-COPE</i>. RESULTS: The analyses demonstrate a relationship between PTSD symptoms and both alexithymia and rumination. There was not any significant relationship between coping strategies and PTSD. The mediation analysis results prove the role of intrusion as a mediator in a relationship between hyperarousal and avoidance. Individuals with PTSD demonstrate high avoidance for situations similar to the original traumatic event because high hyperarousal increases the risk of intrusion. CONCLUSIONS: More than a half of paramedics demonstrated post-traumatic stress symptoms, which most likely is a prognosis factor for future development of PTSD among them. The emotional-cognitive deficits correlated with traumatic stress symptoms. Resources such as coping strategies were not sufficient enough mechanisms for coping with traumatic stress. Post-traumatic stress disorder may be seen as a dynamic sequence. The nature of paramedics work entails the risk for experiencing complex and/or secondary trauma, which represent the phenomena that should be further examined. Med Pr. 2019;70(1):53-66. This work is available in Open Access model and licensed under a CC BY-NC 3.0 PL license.
BACKGROUND: Due to the nature of their work, paramedics face an increased risk of developing a post-traumatic stress disorder. The main goal of this research project was to point out specific correlates of post-traumatic stress. The authors decided to approach that issue from the perspective of emotional-cognitive deficits and resources, such as alexithymia, rumination and coping with stress. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The authors conducted 3 independent research projects in the first half of the year 2017 in the Wielkopolskie voivodship, that included paramedics. In each one of them, they estimated post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms using <i>The Impact of Event Scale-Revised</i> (IES-R). Additionally, in the first study the authors used alexthymia scale, Polish verion of <i>Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20</i> (TAS-20), in the second - rumination questionnaire, in the third - coping with stress measured with<i> Inventory for Measuring Coping with Stress Mini-COPE</i>. RESULTS: The analyses demonstrate a relationship between PTSD symptoms and both alexithymia and rumination. There was not any significant relationship between coping strategies and PTSD. The mediation analysis results prove the role of intrusion as a mediator in a relationship between hyperarousal and avoidance. Individuals with PTSD demonstrate high avoidance for situations similar to the original traumatic event because high hyperarousal increases the risk of intrusion. CONCLUSIONS: More than a half of paramedics demonstrated post-traumatic stress symptoms, which most likely is a prognosis factor for future development of PTSD among them. The emotional-cognitive deficits correlated with traumatic stress symptoms. Resources such as coping strategies were not sufficient enough mechanisms for coping with traumatic stress. Post-traumatic stress disorder may be seen as a dynamic sequence. The nature of paramedics work entails the risk for experiencing complex and/or secondary trauma, which represent the phenomena that should be further examined. Med Pr. 2019;70(1):53-66. This work is available in Open Access model and licensed under a CC BY-NC 3.0 PL license.
Authors: Piotr Holajn; Agata Zdun-Ryżewska; Marlena Robakowska; Daniel Ślęzak; Anna Tyrańska-Fobke; Andrzej Basiński Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-05-02 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: Małgorzata Wojciechowska; Aleksandra Jasielska; Michał Ziarko; Michał Sieński; Maciej Różewicki Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-12-05 Impact factor: 3.390