The relationship between conscientiousness and posttraumatic stress disorder among young Chinese firefighters: The mediating effect of perceived social support

Longitudinal investigation of factors influencing mental health during centralized quarantine for COVID-19

BACKGROUND

Centralized quarantine was applied in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak. The present study aimed to investigate changes in psychological status of isolated individuals before and after quarantine.

METHODS

Between August 2020 and July 2021, 648 participants completed the following psychometric evaluations before and after centralized quarantine: 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire for depression, 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder for anxiety, the Chinese version of the Connor Davidson Resilience Scale for psychological resilience, the Chinese version of the Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire for coping style, Jiang's revised Chinese version of the Perceived Social Support Scale for social support and the Chinese version of the Impact of Events Scale for stress.

RESULTS

At the beginning of centralized quarantine, 83.2% (n=539) of participants had no depressive mood, 11% (n=71) had mild depressive mood and 5.8% (n=38) had moderate-severe depressive mood. At the end of quarantine, 80.8% (n=524) of participants had no depressive mood, 13% (n=84) had mild depressive mood and 6.2% (n=41) had moderate-severe depressive mood. At the beginning of the centralized quarantine, 86.7% (n=562) of participants had no anxiety, 9.6% (n=62) had mild anxiety and 3.7% (n=24) had moderate-severe anxiety. At the end of quarantine, 85.8% (n=556) of participants had no anxiety, 11.6% (n=75) had mild anxiety and 2.6% (n=17) had moderate-severe anxiety. After 2 weeks of centralized quarantine, anxiety (t=2.175, p<0.05), stress (t=7.453, p<0.01) and three stress subscale scores (p<0.01) decreased significantly; psychology resilience (t=-3.63, p<0.01), tenacity (t=-4.747, p<0.01), active coping style (t=-3.83, p<0.01) and support outside family (t=-3.07, p<0.05) all increased significantly. No significant change was observed in depression, strength, optimism, passive coping style or support inside family. Depression and anxiety scores associated significantly with resilience, stress, coping styles and social support scores. Anxiety (B=0.488, β=0.413, p<0.01), psychological resilience (B=-0.047, β=-0.203, p<0.01) and stress (B=1.475, β=0.167, p<0.1) scores before centralized quarantine were associated with depression after quarantine. Depression (B=0.323, β=0.422, p<0.01), psychological resilience (B=-0.022, β=-0.123, p<0.01) and stress (B=1.408, β=0.207, p<0.01) scores before quarantine also influenced anxiety levels after quarantine. A cross-lagged panel model indicated that depression, anxiety, resilience and stress scores at the first assessment were predictive of depression and anxiety levels at the second assessment.

CONCLUSIONS

Good mental health during centralized quarantine was associated with high scores of psychological resilience, impact of events, coping styles and social support and did not become worse in settings where adequate support was available.

Dean Y, Kishk RM, Elsaid NMAB, Salem A, Shah J, Aiash H, Eida M. Assessment of post-traumatic stress disorder and health-related quality of life among patients recovered from mild-to-moderate COVID-19 and their close contacts: A cross-sectional study

The pandemic of COVID-19 is a traumatic event with distressing implications for mental health and several aspects of life. This study aimed to assess Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) among patients who experienced mild-to-moderate COVID-19 and their household contacts. This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted between May 2020 and November 2020, in Ismailia and Suez governorates. A convenient sampling method was used. The sample size was calculated according to the prevalence of PTSD in COVID-19 patients to be 200 adult participants from both sexes, 100 patients with history of recent COVID-19 infection (up to 2 months after recovery) and their close family. COVID-19 was confirmed by a nasal swab sample tested by PCR in addition to suggestive symptoms and/or positive computed tomography lung findings. Data was collected by using the Arabic version of the Post-Traumatic Stress disorder checklist 5 (PCL5-PTSD) and the Arabic version of Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL). The questionnaire was collected through interviews at the Endemic and Infectious diseases and Family medicine outpatient clinics. Of the 200 studied participants, evidence of PTSD was found in 112 (56%) participants; all COVID-19 cases and 12 of their close-contact relatives. Impaired HRQoL was evident in 107 (53.5%) participants; all the COVID-19 cases and 7 contacts. The mean values total scores of the PTSD and HRQoL and its domains were significantly higher among cases compared to their contacts. The most frequently impaired domain was social (55%), psychological (54.5%), impairment (53.5%) followed by physical (48.5%) and the least was health perception (33.5%). The mean values of PTSD, HRQoL and their domains were significantly higher among participants who recalled respiratory symptoms and who had comorbid illness. The odds ratio of PTSD and HRQoL was 0.27 (95% CI: 0.2-0.36) and 0.3 (95% CI: 0.23-0.39) in participants who had more than a case of COVID-19 within their families. All the studied COVID-19 participants showed PTSD and impaired HRQoL, compared to 12% and 7% of their contacts, respectively. Past COVID-19 was associated with impairment of all domains of HRQoL and the most affected were the physical, psychological and impairment domains.

Psychometric Properties of the Chinese Version of the 10-Item Social Provisions Scale in Chinese Populations

This study performed a cross-cultural validation of the Chinese version of the 10-item Social Provisions Scale (C-SPS-10) in Chinese populations. Study 1 examined the factor structure, internal reliability, discrimination, criterion validity, and network structure of C-SPS-10 by utilizing a sample of disaster victims in the 2021 Henan floods. Study 2 substantiated the findings of Study 1 in a general population sample. Measurement invariances between populations and between sexes in terms of the C-SPS-10 were also tested using the network approach. Study 3 used three samples to examine the test-retest reliability of the C-SPS-10 over three different time periods. The general results showed that the C-SPS-10 has excellent factor structure, internal reliability, discrimination, and criterion validity. The C-SPS-10 was confirmed to have good psychometric properties. Although the full scale functions well, problems may exist at a domain level. Moreover, the full scale of the C-SPS-10 was varied as a useful tool to capture trait-like characteristics of individuals' perceptions of social support for the general population.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10862-023-10047-7.

Good Personality and Subjective Well-Being: Presence of Meaning in Life and Perceived Social Support as Mediators

BACKGROUND

Good personality is a positive moral personality in the context of Chinese Confucianism. Based on a social-cognitive model of normative well-being, we propose that good personality positively predicts subjective well-being, mediated by the perceived social support and presence of meaning in life in the context of Chinese culture.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, there were 665 Chinese adults (134 males and 531 females) who participated in the Good Personality Questionnaire, Multi-Dimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Presence of Meaning in Life Questionnaire, Positive and Negative Affect Scale, and Satisfaction with Life Scale.

RESULTS

Good personality was positively associated with subjective well-being (SWB). Both the presence of meaning in life and perceived social support independently mediated the link between good personality and subjective well-being (SWB), and in Chinese adults, perceived social support has a greater mediating effect than the presence of meaning in life.

CONCLUSION

These findings illustrate that the presence of meaning in life and perceived social support mediate the relationship between good personality and subjective well-being in the context of Chinese culture, which supports the model of normative well-being and can provide more targeted intervention guidance for research on promoting well-being in the Chinese context.

The mediating effect of symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder and depression on the relationship between personality traits and quality of life in emergency service workers

BACKGROUND

Emergency service workers are often exposed to fatalities during accidents or disasters. Therefore, they may be more prone to experiencing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. It has been shown that these comorbid disorders are related to personality traits and quality of life (QOL).

METHODS

We hypothesized that mental disorders, such as symptoms of PTSD and depression, mediate the relationship between personality traits, as measured on the 10-Item Personality Inventory (TIPI), and QOL, as measured on the MOS 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36).

RESULTS

Participants were aged 23-61 years. Questionnaires were sent to 373 participants, 220 of whom returned responses. A direct effect was found between two subscales of the TIPI (Extraversion and Emotional stability) and mental component summary scores of the SF-36 (Extraversion: β = 0.154, p < .001; Emotional stability: β = 0.179, p < .001), which indicated partial mediation. A significant indirect effect was revealed between two personality traits and mental health summary scores (Extraversion: β = 0.058, p < .001; Emotional stability: β = 0.087, p < .001). We also found a direct effect of extraversion scores of the TIPI on role/social component summary scores of the SF-36 (β = 0.084, p < .05). However, none of the 95% confidential intervals was significant, which indicated full mediation, and the indirect effect was significant (β = 0.023, p < .01). Sensitivity analysis indicated that a direct effect between extraversion scores of the TIPI and role/social component summary scores of the SF-36 was significant, which indicated partial mediation.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of direct and indirect effects highlight the importance of identifying effective methods for protecting individuals from developing symptoms of PTSD and depression; moreover, they may help improve QOL. The capacity of dealing with incidents among emergency service workers may vary depending on their personality traits. Therefore, the screening of mental health states that includes a personality trait inventory may be valuable.

The Mediating Role of Emotion Regulation Strategies in the Relationship Between Big Five Personality Traits and Anxiety and Depression Among Chinese Firefighters

Identification of protective factors to prevent firefighters' anxiety and depression is meaningful. We explored whether emotion-regulation strategies mediate the relationship between personality traits and anxiety and depression among Chinese firefighters. Approximately, 716 Chinese firefighters were recruited and completed the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), and Big Five Inventory−2 (BFI-2) Scale. Results (N = 622) indicated that only negative emotionality traits could predict anxiety symptoms. Meanwhile, the multilevel mediation effect analyses showed that conscientiousness through cognitive reappraisal could reduce anxiety and depression symptoms in Chinese firefighters. Our findings clarify Chinese firefighters' underlying emotion-regulation process between personality traits and anxiety and depression. Implications, limitations, and future directions are discussed.

The impact of the traditional male role norms on the posttraumatic stress disorder among Polish male firefighters

Background

The aim of this study was to explore potential associations between compliance with the traditional male role norms and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms.

Methods

The study was conducted on 135 male Polish firefighters. The study used the Impact Event Scale-Revised, the Relations/Social Support Scale and the Male Role Norms Scale.

Results

The study revealed that the firefighters that suffered from probable PTSD (over 34% of all the respondents) seemed to comply with the male role norms more strictly than those without PTSD. The reverse was found to be true for the perceived social support. Social status norms and toughness norms understood as expectations that men should achieve high status by means of successful career, etc., and be tough and resilient at all costs to be perceived as “manly” were found to be positively associated with the development of PTSD, while in the case of perceived social support, a negative association was confirmed. The results might yield important clinical implications—traditional male role norms pertaining to toughness and social status might be associated with the increase in chances of developing PTSD after the exposure to potentially traumatic events.

Conclusions

Firefighting as a stereotypically masculine occupation may be associated with the reinforcement of stereotypically masculine behaviors, which in turn is associated with a decreased ability to cope with potentially traumatic stimuli and favoring maladaptive behaviors. The results might suggest that addressing the beliefs about masculinity during psychological intervention in the case of PTSD might be beneficial especially among such masculinized groups as firefighters. The main limitations of the study are: participation of those more eager to participate and reveal personal information; the recall and report bias; the relatively small sample size; sociodemographic data omissions; the study group almost exclusively consisting of firefighters from large urban centers.

Influence of Avoidant Coping on Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms and Job Burnout Among Firefighters: The Mediating Role of Perceived Social Support

OBJECTIVE

The study aims to explore the effects of avoidant coping on posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and job burnout among firefighters, and to examine the mediating role of perceived social support on the relationship between avoidant coping and PTSS and job burnout.

METHOD

Assessments including the posttraumatic stress disorder checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey (MBI-GS), Coping Style Inventory (CSI), and Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS) were conducted among 431 firefighters studying in a school specializing in training firemen in Nanjing, China.

RESULT

The results show that: (1) Avoidant coping was positively related to PTSS and job burnout among firefighters; and (2) avoidant coping was positively related to PTSS and job burnout through the mediating effect of perceived social support.

CONCLUSION

These findings not only provide guiding information for relevant departments to prevent mental health issues of firefighters in the future, but also enlighten the psychological intervention for firefighters, that is, to encourage firefighters to actively face and solve problems and adopt positive coping styles, as well as offer them more care and support whenever possible.

Prevalence of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder among Firefighters in Iran: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective: Firefighters are exposed to many different chemicals and physical hazards and experience a significant number of accidents and injuries. They are exposed to high-risk of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of PTSD among Iranian firefighters.

Method: This was a systematic review and meta-analysis. Valid Persian and English keywords were searched in data resources, including SID, Magiran, Irandoc, Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science to retrieve articles on the prevalence of PTSD among Iranian firefighters. The STROBE checklist was used to assess the quality of the articles. Heterogeneity among the studies was assessed by I² index. The data were analyzed using Stata14 software.

Results: Of the 316 articles selected in the initial search, 3 articles the inclusion criteria and were used for the meta-analysis. A total of 274 firefighters were studied. The prevalence of PTSD was 23.17% among Iranian firefighters (I² = 92.4%, 95% CI = 6.71-39.62, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: The prevalence of PTSD is among Iranian firefighters relatively high and has been on the rise over the recent years.

The mediating role of coping in the relationship of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms (PTSS) and job burnout among Chinese firefighters

PURPOSE

The study aims to explore the relationship of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms (PTSS) and job burnout among firefighters, as well as the mediating effect of coping in the relationship of PTSS and job burnout.

METHODS

A total of 431 firefighters participated in the study by completing a questionnaire package including Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey (MBI-GS), PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), and Coping Strategy Indicator (CSI).

RESULTS

(1) The level of firefighters' emotional exhaustion of job burnout varied significantly by age groups [F (2, 428) = 4.33, p < 0.05], and working years [F (2, 428) = 3.22, p < 0.05]; the level of cynicism of job burnout varied significantly by working years [F (2, 428) = 3.63, p < 0.05]. (2) PTSS was significantly and positively associated with job burnout (β = 0.899, p < 0.001). (3) Both avoidant coping and problem-solving mediated the relationship between PTSS and job burnout (β = 0.212, p < 0.001; β = 0.145, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Firefighters with higher level of PTSS are more likely to have job burnout. Avoidant coping and problem-solving play the mediating role in the relationship between PTSS and job burnout. The clinical implications for firefighters' interventions are discussed.

Coping strategies as mediators in the relation between perceived social support and job burnout among Chinese firefighters

Perceived social support is a known factor in preventing job burnout in many professions. However, the influence of coping strategies on perceived social support and job burnout remains unclear. The current study investigated firefighters using data from a two-wave study to fill this gap in knowledge. Chinese firefighters (N = 340) participated in the study for 3-months. Results indicated that perceived social support at baseline predicted job burnout at the 3-month follow-up through coping strategies. We concluded that perceived social support acts through positive coping strategies to reduce job burnout in Chinese firefighters.

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

Firefighters are considered a high-risk group for the development of PTSD and other stress-related diseases. More than the exposure to potentially traumatic events, personal and occupational characteristics have been pointed out as interfering in the perception of stress, which may lead to the emergence of mental and physical symptoms. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between the main factors that contribute to stress-related diseases in firefighters. A systematic review was conducted in order to identify original articles focusing on risk and protective factors for stress in this population. Personality traits, training, experience in extreme situations and social and organizational support influence the perception of stress and, consequently, the choice of coping strategies, which may protect against or potentiate the stress reactions. The findings of this study allow us to draw a relational model that represents the dynamics among the factors related to stress in firefighters. The development of PTSD and other stress-related diseases depends on a host of pre-trauma and post-trauma factors and, although training is an important protective factor, being prepared to face extreme situations does not mean being immune to traumatic stress.