PTSD Symptom Trajectories in Disaster Volunteers: The Role of Self‐Efficacy, Social Acknowledgement, and Tasks Carried Out

Abstract

Millions of volunteers respond after disasters, with a 24% to 46% risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is unclear which symptom trajectories develop and how they differ between core (volunteering before the disaster) and noncore volunteers (joining after the disaster) and which factors predict trajectories. Symptoms of PTSD were assessed at 6-, 12-, and 18-months postearthquake in 449 volunteers in Indonesia. Demographics, previous mental health service use, self-efficacy, social acknowledgment, and type of tasks were assessed at 6 months. In both core and noncore volunteers, 2 PTSD symptom trajectories emerged: a resilient trajectory (moderate levels of symptoms with a slow decrease over time; 90.9%) and a chronic trajectory (higher levels of symptoms with an increase over time; 9.1%). In both trajectories, core volunteers had fewer symptoms than noncore volunteers. Core volunteers in the chronic trajectory were characterized by having sought prior mental help, reported lower levels of self-efficacy and social acknowledgment, and were more likely to have provided psychosocial support to beneficiaries (Cramér's V = .17 to .27, partial η(2) = .02 to .06). Aid organizations should identify and follow up chronic PTSD trajectories in volunteers, including the noncore, who may be out of sight to the organization after the acute response phase.

Social and occupational factors associated with psychological wellbeing among occupational groups affected by disaster: a systematic review

“…Social acknowledgement was also found to be important, with a lack of positive acknowledgement from others associated with poorer outcomes. This supports previous research on disaster responders, which has suggested lack of social acknowledgement is associated with PTSD symptoms (Thormar et al, 2016).…”

Health Risks in Disaster Responders: A Conceptual Framework

“…Minor depression and anxiety can account for short-term mental health problems that are likely to develop into chronic forms, such as PTSD, in later stages. 4,[16][17][18] Medical personnel 19 and professional disaster workers 20 in particular were reported as being more exposed to emotionally traumatic events during disaster response, such as injuries, losses incurred by disaster victims, violence, deaths, separation, and grief. Relating to this, PTSD emerged amongst the literature as a common long-term outcome of trauma exposure.…”

Which groups affected by Potentially Traumatic Events (PTEs) are most at risk for a lack of social support? A prospective population-based study on the 12-month prevalence of PTEs and risk factors for a lack of post-event social support

“…It differs from social support as an interactional process in that it includes the entire perceived societal context and not only the support from a person´s direct environment. Relatively few studies have assessed event-related social acknowledgment by the social environment [4,[22][23][24][25].…”