Conceptualizing secondary traumatic stress among emergency service workers in Madrid, Spain

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Eugenia Morante Benadero ◽  
Bernardo Moreno Jimenez ◽  
Alfredo Rodriguez Muñoz ◽  
B. Hudnall Stamm
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Secondary Traumatic Stress ◽  
Emergency Service ◽  
Service Workers ◽  
Emergency Service Workers

Spirituality and the negative and positive effects of traumatic experiences in a group of emergency service workers

2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 9-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina Ogińska-Bulik ◽  
Magdalena Zadworna-Cieślak
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Growth ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Emergency Service ◽  
Traumatic Events ◽  
Stress Disorders ◽  
Traumatic Experiences ◽  
Service Workers ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Emergency Service Workers ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Objective: Studies concerning the importance of spirituality on the negative and positive effects of traumatic experiences are very rare. Our study attempts to determine the role of spirituality in posttraumatic stress disorders, approached as a negative result of facing traumatic events, and profiting from such experiences in the form of posttraumatic growth. Method: The study covered 116 emergency service workers (only men), including 43 firefighters (37.1%), 43 police officers (37.1%) and 30 paramedics (25.8%), who experienced a traumatic event in their line of work. Those surveyed were between 21 and 57 years of age (M = 35.28; SD = 8.13). The Impact of Event Scale was used to assess the negative effects of traumatic experience, and Posttraumatic Growth Inventory for assessing the positive effects. Spirituality was measured using the Selfdescription Questionnaire. Results: 61.2% of the workers displayed at least moderate symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, whereas 38.8% displayed low intensity symptoms. Taking into consideration the positive effects of experienced traumatic events, it was discovered that almost 40% of those surveyed displayed low levels of posttraumatic growth, 34.5% average and 25.8% high. Correlation analysis was been performed to establish the relation between spirituality and posttraumatic stress and posttraumatic growth. Posttraumatic growth predictors were determined. Conclusions: Study results show that spirituality is not related to the intensification of posttraumatic stress symptoms, whereas it contributes to positive posttraumatic changes. Among different aspects of spirituality, harmony plays a major role.

scholarly journals Violence against emergency service workers

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felix Leuchter ◽  
Thomas Hergarten ◽  
Ulrich Heister ◽  
Detlef Struck ◽  
Stefan Schaefer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Service ◽  
Service Workers ◽  
Emergency Service Workers

scholarly journals Trauma and Mental Health Awareness in Emergency Service Workers: A Qualitative Evaluation of the Behind the Seen Education Workshops

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 4418
Author(s):  
Andrea Fogarty ◽  
Zachary Steel ◽  
Philip B. Ward ◽  
Katherine M. Boydell ◽  
Grace McKeon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Emergency Service ◽  
Organizational Context ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Qualitative Evaluation ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Perceived Usefulness ◽  
Service Workers ◽  
Emergency Service Workers

Emergency service workers (ESWs) are at high risk of experiencing poor mental health, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Programs led by ex-service organizations may play an unrecognized but critical role in mental health prevention and promotion. Behind the Seen (BTS) is an Australian ex-service organization that runs workshops to raise awareness and facilitate conversations around the mental health of ESWs. The purpose of the study is to conduct a qualitative evaluation of workshop participants’ experiences, to understand the acceptability and perceived usefulness over the immediate- (within 1 month), intermediate- (6 months) and longer-terms (12 months). Participants (n = 59 ESWs) were recruited using purposive sampling across five fire and rescue services in metropolitan, regional, and rural locations. Focus groups methodology was used for data collection and data were analyzed using iterative categorization techniques. Participants reported (i) a high perceived need for education about PTSD, (ii) highly salient aspects of the presentation that made for a positive learning experience, including the importance of the lived experiences of the facilitators in the learning process, (iii) key features of changes to intentions, attitudes, and behavior, and (iv) major aspects of the organizational context that affected the understanding and uptake of the program’s key messages. BTS was perceived as an acceptable means of delivering mental health, PTSD, and help-seeking information to ESWs. The program is a promising candidate for scaling-up and further translation.

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