Deanne Armstrong

Trauma Type and Posttrauma Outcomes: Differences Between Survivors of Motor Vehicle Accidents, Sexual Assault, and Bereavement

Research examining posttrauma pathology indicates negative outcomes can differ as a function of the type of trauma experienced. Such research has yet to be published when looking at positive posttrauma changes. Ninety-four survivors of trauma, forming three groups, completed the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory and Impact of Events Scale-Revised. Groups comprised survivors of (a) sexual abuse, (b) motor vehicle accidents, and (c) bereavement. Results indicated differences in growth between the groups, with the bereaved reporting higher levels of growth than other survivors and sexual abuse survivors demonstrating higher levels of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms than the other groups. However, this did not preclude sexual abuse survivors from also reporting moderate levels of growth. Results are discussed with relation to fostering growth through clinical practice.

Relationship to the bereaved and perceptions of severity of trauma differentiate elements of posttraumatic growth.

The field of bereavement and grief has been expanding to recognise the potential for growth following the loss of a loved one. This study sought to examine the effect of the relationship to the deceased and perceptions of the severity of the trauma on dimensions of posttraumatic growth. Participants were 146 people who had lost either: a) a first degree relative, b) a second degree relative, or c) a non-related friend. Results demonstrated that both severity and the relationship to the bereaved differentiate posttraumatic growth outcomes. For example, participants who had lost a first degree relative reported higher levels of growth than those who had lost a second degree relative. Consistent with previous research in general trauma populations, the more severe the loss was rated, the higher the levels of growth. Implications for practice are discussed.

An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Stress and Well-Being in Emergency Medical Dispatchers

This study explored stress and well-being among emergency medical dispatchers (EMDs) who remotely provide crisis intervention to medical emergencies through telehealth support. Semistructured interviews with 16 EMDs were conducted, and interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to identify themes in the data. Results indicated that despite their physical distance from the crisis scene, EMDs can experience vicarious trauma through acute and cumulative exposure to traumatic incidents and their perceived lack of control, which can expound feelings of helplessness. Three superordinate themes of operational stress and trauma, organizational stress, and posttraumatic growth were identified. Practical implications are suggested to enable emergency services organizations to counteract this job-related stress and promote more positive mental health outcomes.

Organizational belongingness mediates the relationship between sources of stress and posttrauma outcomes in firefighters.

RATIONALE Previous research with emergency service workers has examined the relationship between operational and organizational stress and negative indicators of mental health, and generally found that organizational stress is more strongly related to pathology than operational stress. METHOD The current study aimed to create and test a model predicting both posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and posttraumatic growth (PTG) simultaneously in a sample of firefighters (N = 250). RESULTS The results found that the model demonstrated good fit for the data. In contrast to previous research operational stress was directly related to PTSD symptoms, whereas organizational stress was not. Organizational stress was indirectly related to PTG, through the mediating role of organizational belongingness. CONCLUSION This research identified organizational belongingness as a good target for psychosocial interventions aimed at promoting positive adaptation following the experience of trauma in emergency services. (PsycINFO Database Record