Adaptive and Maladaptive Cognitive-Emotional Strategies Associated With PTSD in First Responders: A Cross-Sectional
Leona Tan1, Mark Deady, Richard A Bryant
1From the School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, UNSW Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (L.T.); Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia (L.T., M.D., S.B.H.); and School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, UNSW Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (R.A.B.).
Objective:
To examine associations between cognitive-emotional strategies and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in first responders with high trauma exposure.
Method:
Our study used baseline data from a cluster randomized controlled study of first responders across Colorado in the United States. Those with high exposure to critical incidents were selected into the current study. Participants completed validated measures of PTSD, emotional regulation and stress mindsets.
Results:
A significant association was found for the emotion regulation strategy of expressive suppression and PTSD symptoms. No significant associations were found for other cognitive-emotional strategies. Logistic regression indicated that those with high use of expressive suppression were at significantly greater odds of probable PTSD compared to those with lower use (odds ratio, 4.89; 95% confidence interval, 1.37-17.41; P = 0.014).
Conclusions:
Our findings suggest that first responders with high use of expressive suppression are at significantly higher risk of probable PTSD.
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