Minnesota multiphasic personality inventory as related factor for post traumatic stress disorder symptoms according to job stress level in experienced firefighters: 5–year study

Abstract

ObjectivesAs first responders to an increasing number of natural and manmade disasters, active-duty firefighters are at increased risk for physical and psychiatric impairment as reflected by high rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Because little is known about related factor with PTSD according to job stress level among firefighters, we assessed utility of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) using 5-year medical surveillance.MethodsData were analyzed from 185 male firefighters without psychiatric disease history and who at assessments in 2006 and 2011 completed all questionnaires on personal behaviors (including exercise, drinking and smoking habits) and job history (including job duration and department). MMPI, Events Scale-Revised-Korean version (IES-R-K) and Korean Occupational Stress Scale-Short Form (KOSS-SF) were used to screen for personality trait, PTSD symptom presence and job stress level, respectively. IES-R-K subgroups were compared using two-sample t- and χ2 tests, and factors influencing IES-R-K according to KOSS-SF were determined using uni- and multivariate logistic regression.ResultsMean age and job duration were higher in PTSD-positive than negative groups. In multivariate analysis, increased PTSD risk was associated with: job duration (Odds ratio (OR) = 1.064, 95 % CI 1.012–1.118) for firefighters overall; masculinity-femininity (OR = 5.304, 95 % CI 1.191–23.624) and job duration (OR = 1.126, 95 % CI 1.003–1.265) for lower job stress level; and social introversion (OR = 3.727, 95 % CI 1.096–12.673) for higher job stress level.ConclusionsMMPI relates with PTSD according to job stress level among experienced firefighters. Masculinity-femininity and social introversion were the strongest related factor for PTSD symptom development in low and high job stress levels, respectively.

Occupational post-traumatic stress disorder: an updated systematic review

“…One of the major findings of trauma from previous research is that the majority of people are able to deal with their traumatic experiences well and rarely develop PTSD after a traumatic experience [2]. These findings suggest that for some workers, PTSD is an outcome of failure in recovery rather than the natural results of the traumatic exposure [37,38]. Studies have suggested that many factors determine the magnitude and duration of trauma responses.…”

Occupational stress and musculoskeletal symptoms in firefighters

“…It is also well documented that employee stress may negatively affect business performance since it has been associated with reduced productivity in the workplace [19]. Firefighters are exposed to many different workplace hazards that could lead to acute and/or chronic work-related stress throughout their career [20]. Particularly, firefighters' duties such as assisting, hoisting and carrying victims from accidents and/or fire scenes may be associated with extreme mental stress, especially when they involve fatalities of children and young adults [21].…”

Association between probable posttraumatic stress disorder and quality of life in emergency service workers: a mediation analysis using a third potential model with both in parallel and in series effects; a cross-sectional study

“…The Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) scale is the most commonly used measure for screening emergency service workers for mental health problems [38][39][40][41][42]. The IES-R has a three-factor structure (eight items assessing intrusion, eight items assessing avoidance, and six items assessing hyperarousal).…”