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Mental health and social support among public safety personnel
- Source :
- Occup Med (Lond)
- Publication Year :
- 2020
- Publisher :
- Oxford University Press (OUP), 2020.
-
Abstract
- Background Social support may be a protective factor for the mental health of public safety personnel (PSP), who are frequently exposed to potentially psychologically traumatic events and report substantial post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) symptoms. Research examining perceived social support and its association with PTSD and MDD in different PSP categories (e.g. firefighters, paramedics) is limited. Aims To examine differences in perceived social support across PSP and determine whether perceived social support is associated with differences in rates of MDD and PTSD. Methods We asked Canadian PSP, including correctional workers and officers, public safety communications officials, firefighters, paramedics, municipal and provincial police officers, and Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers, to complete an online anonymous survey that assessed socio-demographic information (e.g. occupation, sex, marital status, service years), social supports and symptoms of mental disorders, including PTSD and MDD. Analyses included ANOVA and logistic regression models. Results Perceived social support differed by PSP occupation. RCMP officers reported lower social support than all other PSP except paramedics. For most PSP categories, PSP who reported greater social support were less likely to screen positive for PTSD (adjusted odds ratios [AORs]: 0.90–0.93). Across all PSP categories, greater perceived social support was associated with a decreased likelihood of screening positive for MDD (AORs: 0.85–0.91). Conclusions Perceived social support differs across some PSP categories and predicts PTSD and MDD diagnostic status. Studies involving diagnostic clinical interviews, longitudinal designs and social support interventions are needed to replicate and extend our results.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Male
Canada
050103 clinical psychology
Protective factor
Psychological intervention
behavioral disciplines and activities
Occupational safety and health
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
03 medical and health sciences
Social support
0302 clinical medicine
Surveys and Questionnaires
mental disorders
medicine
Humans
0501 psychology and cognitive sciences
Depressive Disorder, Major
05 social sciences
Emergency Responders
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Social Support
Odds ratio
Middle Aged
medicine.disease
Original Papers
Mental health
eye diseases
030227 psychiatry
3. Good health
Prisons
Marital status
Major depressive disorder
Female
Psychology
Clinical psychology
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 14718405 and 09627480
- Volume :
- 70
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Occupational Medicine
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....f9ed6118f434bbd91003d5002df6ba91