Understanding posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in police first-responders is an underdeveloped field. Using a cross-sectional survey, this study investigated demographic and occupational characteristics, coping resources and processes, along with first-responder roles and consequences 18 months following a disaster. Hierarchical linear regression (N = 576) showed that greater symptom levels were significantly positively associated with negative emotional coping (β = .31), a communications role (β = .08) and distress following exposure to resource losses (β = .14), grotesque scenes (β = .21), personal harm (β = .14), and concern for significant others (β = .17). Optimism alone was negatively associated (β=−15), with the overall model being a modest fit (adjusted R2 = .39). The findings highlight variables for further study in police.
Civil Defence staff conferring at their headquarters in the Christchurch Art Gallery during the immediate aftermath of the 22 February earthquake.
Civil Defence staff conferring at their headquarters in the Christchurch Art Gallery during the immediate aftermath of the 22 February earthquake.
Civil Defence staff conferring at their headquarters in the Christchurch Art Gallery during the immediate aftermath of the 22 February earthquake.
Civil Defence staff conferring at their headquarters in the Christchurch Art Gallery during the immediate aftermath of the 22 February earthquake.
A photograph of University of Canterbury Geology staff and students using a dynamic cone penetrometer to measure soil strength of a paddock on the Greendale fault line.
Police officers and staff in Christchurch, who have been called the heroes of the February 2011 earthquake, have been honored today for their actions including a daring crane rescue.
Vice Chancellor Rod Carr preparing to enter and retrieve his work from the 6th floor of the Registry Building, with an emergency and security staff member.
A new report says the Earthquake Commission was ill-prepared for a major earthquake and had to use inexperienced staff to respond to the Canterbury earthquakes.
In Christchurch Hospital’s busy, twenty first century entrance foyer, patients, staff and visitors hurry past a distinguished man immortalised in bronze. These days, many do not have time to …
The EQC says it has enough staff and money in the kitty to respond to the latest earthquakes, despite still having work to do in Christchurch - five years after on.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Ian Town preparing to enter and retrieve his work from the 6th floor of the Registry Building, with an emergency and security staff member.
The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority spent more than three million dollars on communications staff and consultants in the last financial year, up by a third on the previous year.
Treasury warns the Government's books will get worse because of the Christchurch earthquake and schools in Christchurch's eastern suburns fear they will have to lay off staff.
A sign on the cordon fence around the CTV Building site shows the CTV logo and the faces of the staff who died, with the words "Always remembered".
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Ian Town preparing to enter and retrieve his work from the 6th floor of the Registry Building, with an emergency and security staff member.
A photograph of a laminated poster of images of CTV staff who died on 22 February 2011. The photograph is captioned by Paul Corliss, "CTV site, Madras Street".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Christchurch earthquake. Press news room staff relocated in the 2nd floor of the Novotel Hotel Cathedral Square".
A document which outlines how to work safely around underground services, created to discuss with site staff at on-site "toolbox talks".
A document which outlines how to work safely in confined spaces, created to discuss with site staff at on-site "toolbox talks".
A document which outlines how to safely carry out lifting operations, created to discuss with site staff at on-site "toolbox talks".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Christchurch earthquake. Press news room staff relocated in the 2nd floor of the Novotel Hotel Cathedral Square".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Christchurch earthquake. Press news room staff relocated in the 2nd floor of the Novotel Hotel Cathedral Square".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Christchurch earthquake. Press news room staff relocated in the 2nd floor of the Novotel Hotel Cathedral Square".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Christchurch earthquake. Press news room staff relocated in the 2nd floor of the Novotel Hotel Cathedral Square".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Christchurch earthquake. Press news room staff relocated in the 2nd floor of the Novotel Hotel Cathedral Square".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Christchurch earthquake. Press news room staff relocated in the 2nd floor of the Novotel Hotel Cathedral Square".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Christchurch earthquake. Press news room staff relocated in the 2nd floor of the Novotel Hotel Cathedral Square".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Christchurch earthquake. Press news room staff relocated in the 2nd floor of the Novotel Hotel Cathedral Square".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Christchurch earthquake. Press news room staff relocated in the 2nd floor of the Novotel Hotel Cathedral Square".