Secondary traumatic stress and resilience among EMS

Aim: The current study investigated the positive and negative psychological adaptations that are a result of secondary traumatic stress, and the role of resilience among paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Methods: Emergency medical service (EMS) providers anonymously completed four validated questionnaires on: secondary traumatic stress, post-traumatic growth, resilience, and changes in outlook. Relationships between these constructs and demographics were explored. Findings: Overall, EMS participants reported a higher-than-average positive change in outlook. Resilience (p0.05) were detected between years of experience for any attributes analysed. Conclusion: Findings demonstrated significant correlations between secondary traumatic stress, resilience, post-traumatic growth, and changes in outlook in EMTs and paramedics.