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Dissertation
The relationship between critical incidents, hostility and PTSD symptoms in police officers
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Drexel University
Aug 2006
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/etd-1118
Abstract
Research indicates that 12-35% of police officers in the United States suffer from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). To experience PTSD symptoms, an individual must be exposed to a traumatic event, which is referred to in the police literature as a critical incident. Some research suggests that the more critical incidents to which an individual is exposed, the more intense PTSD symptoms they are likely to experience. However, not everyone who experiences numerous critical incidents develops more intense PTSD symptoms indicating that other variables may influence this relationship. The current study examined the relationship between frequency of critical incidents, organizational stressors, coping appraisal, hostility negative life events, and intensity of PTSD symptoms in a sample of police officers. The results suggest that although frequency of critical incidents predicted intensity of PTSD symptoms in a simple regression analysis, when all of the independent variables were simultaneously entered into a multiple regression analysis, only coping appraisal and negative life events emerged as significant predictors of intensity of PTSD symptoms. Coping appraisal and hostility did not moderate the relationship as hypothesized. Clinical and research implications are discussed.
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Details
- Title
- The relationship between critical incidents, hostility and PTSD symptoms in police officers
- Creators
- Mary Elizabeth Clair - DU
- Contributors
- Christine M. Nezu (Advisor) - Drexel University (1970-)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences (Psychology); College of Arts and Sciences; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 1118; 991014632684404721