The Relationship Between Grit and Resilience in Emergency Medical Service Personnel

Abstract

Background: Emergency medical service (EMS) personnel are regularly exposed to traumatic incidents and experience higher rates of symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than the general population. Grit is a construct proposed to be associated with achievement, but it has demonstrated preliminary evidence of an association with resilience. The current study examined the relationship between grit and resilience among EMS workers. Methods: A link to an online survey was sent to East Baton Rouge Parish Emergency Medical Services personnel via an email distribution list. Demographic variables and the following self-report measures were assessed: the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), the Grit Scale, the Brief COPE scale, and the Professional Exposure to Traumatic Experiences scale (modified from the Life Events Checklist). Results: PCL-5 scores were significantly and negatively correlated with the Grit Scale score (r=-0.57, P<0.01). Hierarchical regression revealed that grit and coping mechanisms were predictive of self-reported PTSD symptoms (adjusted R 2 =68.7%, F(15,67)=9.81, P<0.001). Examination of the coefficients revealed that lower total Grit Scale scores and higher scores on the following Brief COPE scales were significant predictors of PCL-5 scores: denial, substance abuse, disengagement, and self-blame. Conclusion: This study examined the relationship between grit and resilience, measured by self-reported PTSD symptoms. Our results demonstrate a significant relationship between grit and resilience. Grit is related to, but distinct from, other constructs that predict resilience, such as coping mechanisms. Large prospective studies could have significant implications for hiring practices and building grit in existing personnel to bolster resilience.

How resilient is your team? Exploring healthcare providers’ well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic

“… 15 , 16 Research on the relationship between grit and resilience in emergency medical service (EMS) workers has also shown that grit is associated with lower PTSD symptoms, and while associated with factors of resilience (i.e., coping mechanisms), grit appears to be a distinct construct. 17 Given the potential of frontline healthcare workers to experience significant stress during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to consider how resilience and grit may safeguard against these negative psychological factors.…”

A Predictive Study of Resilience and Its Relationship with Academic and Work Dimensions during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…At the same time, high resilience scores were uncovered in staff working in the context of emergency services. The ability to overcome adverse situations, adapt to them, and come out stronger the other end, was greater in individuals with stressful occupations as they require emotional management skills to carry out their work [ 21 , 22 , 24 , 25 ]. Studies have not only been performed directed towards this population; in fact, research has also been developed at a community level in relation to resilience in hospitals, given the importance of resilience when delivering quality care to service users [ 23 ].…”

“…In the same way, this skill is currently a hot topic of study in health workers and those working in emergency services because of the arduous work they perform and the stress it entails [ 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 ]. Studies carried out with patients with different pathologies at different stages of the disease process are also highly relevant, especially those conducted with oncology patients [ 26 , 27 , 28 ].…”

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“…Además, es una herramienta útil para la realización de encuestas a profesionales de distintos ámbitos, como la medicina y la salud (Ferguson et al, 2016;Iskander et al, 2017;Stanley et al, 2017;Holroyd y Edyvean, 2018;Bogetz et al, 2019;Musso et al, 2019;Peultier et al, 2019;DeBiasi et al, 2020;Grossman et al, 2020;Moran y Davis, 2020), la educación (Bolliger y Martin, 2018), o las bibliotecas (Kim, Geary y Bielefield, 2018;Reed, 2017;Williamson, 2017).…”