Perceptions of belongingness and social support attenuate PTSD symptom severity among firefighters: A multistudy investigation.

Abstract

Firefighters experience high rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is imperative to identify malleable factors that protect against the development of PTSD symptoms among this population. We examined whether perceptions of belongingness broadly (Study 1) and social support from supervisors, coworkers, and family/friends specifically (Study 2) are associated with lower PTSD symptom severity among firefighters. Study 1 included 840 U.S. firefighters (91.1% male); participants completed the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire and PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version. Study 2 included 200 U.S. women firefighters exposed to a Criterion A traumatic event; participants completed the Generic Job Stress Questionnaire, Life Events Checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5, and PTSD Checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5. Linear regression analyses were conducted, adjusting for the number of years participants served as firefighters. Greater belongingness broadly (Study 1; b = -0.740, p < .001) as well as social support specifically (Study 2) from supervisors (b = -4.615, p < .001), coworkers (b = -4.465, p = .001), and family/friends (b = -3.206, p = .021) were associated with less severe PTSD symptoms. When all sources of social support were entered into a single model, only support from supervisors was significantly associated with lower overall PTSD symptom severity (b = -4.222, p = .004). Belongingness and social support may protect against the development of PTSD among firefighters. Supervisor social support may be particularly salubrious, suggesting that top-down mental wellness promotion within the fire service may be indicated to protect firefighters against PTSD. (PsycINFO Database Record

A Relational Model for Stress: A Systematic Review of the Risk and Protective Factors for Stress-Related Diseases in Firefighters

“…These findings were associated with less formal training [17] and work experience (p range <0.05 to <0.01) [12,23]. Finally, organizational support, from supervisors and co-workers, was associated with fewer PTSD symptoms (p <0.001) [42,44], while the feeling of organizational belongingness was associated with PTG (p <0.001) [41,44].…”

“…Although there is an agreement regarding the role of support from family and friends, the organizational support, in terms of relationships with leaders and peers, is underlined as essential to overcome crisis situations [36,42,44]. The role of social support inside departments/organizations was highlighted, offering evidence that both training and the perception of organizational support reduce the risks of developing stress-related diseases.…”

“…Notably, personality traits such as extraversion (p <0.001) [40], impulsivity (p = 0.003) [21], optimism (p <0.05) [40], self-forgiveness (p <0.001) [18], distress tolerance ( p<0.001) [50], and resiliency (p <0.001) [24,33,55] seem to affect all other variables which influence the perception of stress, thereby affecting the choice of coping strategies. Moreover, personality traits were directly associated with the choice of coping strategies (p range <0.05 to <0.001) [21,36,40,44], which can lead to either stress-related diseases or normal stress reactions and a recovery process. However, the professional aspects, which include occupational conditions [23,24,34,38], training and experience [12,14,17,29], and organizational support [36,41,44], may assume a relevant role in the subjective appraisal of the event and, subsequently, in the choice of coping strategies to deal with stress.…”

“…Moreover, personality traits were directly associated with the choice of coping strategies (p range <0.05 to <0.001) [21,36,40,44], which can lead to either stress-related diseases or normal stress reactions and a recovery process. However, the professional aspects, which include occupational conditions [23,24,34,38], training and experience [12,14,17,29], and organizational support [36,41,44], may assume a relevant role in the subjective appraisal of the event and, subsequently, in the choice of coping strategies to deal with stress.…”

“…Lee's study [30] indicated that the indirect effect of traumatic events on PTSD symptoms through intrusive rumination (p <0.001) and entrapment (p <0.05) differed according to the degree to which individuals perceived social support. Stanley et al [44] investigated the perceptions of belongingness and social support and found that social support from supervisors (p <0.001), co-workers (p <0.001), and family/friends (p = 0.021) were associated with less severe PTSD symptoms. Their study replicated the findings by Armstrong et al [41] that belongingness, particularly to the fire service, mitigates the negative effects of trauma exposure (p <0.001) [44].…”