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Coping Behavior and Risk of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Among Federal Disaster Responders

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 December 2015

George T. Loo ,
Charles J. DiMaggio ,
Robyn R. Gershon ,
David B. Canton ,
Stephen S. Morse  and
Sandro Galea
George T. Loo*
Affiliation:
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
Charles J. DiMaggio
Affiliation:
New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York
Robyn R. Gershon
Affiliation:
University of California at San Francisco, Institute for Health Policy Studies, San Francisco, California
David B. Canton
Affiliation:
Shasta Community Health Center, Redding, California
Stephen S. Morse
Affiliation:
Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York
Sandro Galea
Affiliation:
Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to George T. Loo, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Department of Emergency Medicine, Department of Population Health Science and Policy, 19 East 98 Street, Suite 3D, Box 1062, New York, New York 10029 (e-mail: george.loo@mountsinai.org).
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Abstract

Background

Our knowledge about the impact of coping behavior styles in people exposed to stressful disaster events is limited. Effective coping behavior has been shown to be a psychosocial stress modifier in both occupational and nonoccupational settings.

Methods

Data were collected by using a web-based survey that administered the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Checklist–Civilian, General Coping Questionnaire-30, and a supplementary questionnaire assessing various risk factors. Logistic regression models were used to test for the association of the 3 coping styles with probable PTSD following disaster exposure among federal disaster responders.

Results

In this sample of 549 study subjects, avoidant coping behavior was most associated with probable PTSD. In tested regression models, the odds ratios ranged from 1.19 to 1.26 and 95% confidence intervals ranged from 1.08 to 1.35. With control for various predictors, emotion-based coping behavior was also found to be associated with probable PTSD (odds ratio=1.11; 95% confidence interval: 1.01-1.22).

Conclusion

This study found that in disaster responders exposed to traumatic disaster events, the likelihood of probable PTSD can be influenced by individual coping behavior style and other covariates. The continued probability of disasters underscores the critical importance of these findings both in terms of guiding mental health practitioners in treating exposed disaster responders and in stimulating future research. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;10:108–117)

Keywords

stress disorderspost-traumaticmental healthemergency responderscoping behaviordisaster medicine
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 10 , Issue 1 , February 2016 , pp. 108 - 117
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2015 

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