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First Responders During COVID-19: Career Calling, PTSD, and Work Self-Efficacy.
- Source :
-
American journal of preventive medicine [Am J Prev Med] 2024 Jun; Vol. 66 (6), pp. 1017-1023. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Jan 09. - Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- Introduction: During the COVID-19 pandemic, first responders were identified as a high-risk group for developing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, which are commonly associated with negative thoughts about oneself. This may pose risk to perceptions of work self-efficacy, an integral component of employee well-being and occupational functioning. In line with the Job Demands-Resources Model (Demerouti et al., 2001), the present study examined whether the degree to which first responders' perceived career calling (i.e., a "summons" to work) served as a protective factor in the relationship between PTSD symptoms associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and perceptions of self-efficacy in the workplace.<br />Methods: Participants were 138 first responders from local county police and fire departments who completed online screening measures for probable PTSD and depression, as well as self-reports of work self-efficacy and career calling, between May and June 2020. Statistical analysis occurred between 2020 and 2021.<br />Results: Moderation analysis, controlling for depression and relevant covariates, revealed an interaction between PTSD symptoms and career calling, ΔR <superscript>2</superscript> =0.04, p=0.017. At low levels of career calling, there was a significant and negative relationship between PTSD symptoms and work self-efficacy (b=‒0.14, p=0.023), but not among first responders with average or high calling (p's>0.58). Positive screening rates were 22% for probable PTSD and 19% for depression.<br />Conclusions: Perceiving a career calling may help protect first responders during COVID-19 from the deleterious effects of PTSD symptomatology on work self-efficacy. Prevention efforts targeting first responders with low calling strength may be warranted.<br /> (Copyright © 2024 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
- Subjects :
- Humans
Male
Female
Adult
Middle Aged
Depression psychology
Depression epidemiology
SARS-CoV-2
Workplace psychology
COVID-19 psychology
COVID-19 epidemiology
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic psychology
Self Efficacy
Emergency Responders psychology
Emergency Responders statistics & numerical data
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1873-2607
- Volume :
- 66
- Issue :
- 6
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- American journal of preventive medicine
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 38211731
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2024.01.001